The H-Drop Irregulars: Colors & How (ㅎ)
ㅎ adjectives meet a vowel, drop the ㅎ and often shift the vowel to 애 or 얘.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When a word ends in ㅎ, the ㅎ disappears and the following vowel changes when adding endings starting with vowels.
- If the stem ends in ㅎ, drop the ㅎ before adding a vowel-starting ending.
- Change the vowel 'ㅏ' or 'ㅓ' to 'ㅐ' (e.g., 파랗다 + 아요 = 파래요).
- If the ending starts with a consonant, keep the ㅎ (e.g., 파랗다 + 고 = 파랗고).
Overview
The ㅎ irregular (ㅎ 불규칙 동사/형용사) describes a specific phonological change that affects a small but highly frequent group of Korean descriptive verbs (adjectives) and one demonstrative verb. This irregularity centers on the final ㅎ of the verb stem and its interaction with certain vowel-initial grammatical endings. Unlike most descriptive verbs that retain their final consonant, ㅎ irregulars behave like vowel-final stems when followed by a vowel, leading to the dropping of ㅎ and often a change in the preceding vowel.
This rule is a fundamental aspect of A2-level Korean, essential for accurately describing colors and expressing agreement or inquiry.
The ㅎ irregular pattern arises from processes of phonological assimilation and historical sound changes in Korean, simplifying pronunciation by avoiding a sequence of sounds that is difficult or unnatural for native speakers. While the rule itself is relatively straightforward—ㅎ drops before a vowel—the subsequent vowel changes can initially seem complex. Mastering this irregularity is crucial because it applies to everyday words like color adjectives (빨갛다 - to be red, 노랗다 - to be yellow) and the critical demonstrative 어떻다 (to be how) and 그렇다 (to be so).
Ignoring this rule would lead to unnatural-sounding and often unintelligible conjugations, hindering effective communication.
Conjugation Table
| Base Form | Meaning | Stem + -아/어요 (Polite Present) | Stem + -아/어 (Casual Present) | Stem + -(으)ㄴ (Noun Modifier) | Stem + -(으)면 (Conditional) | Stem + -(ㅂ/습니다) (Formal Present) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :-------- | :---------------- | :------------------------------- | :----------------------------- | :------------------------------ | :--------------------------- | :---------------------------------- | ||
빨갛다 |
to be red | 빨개요 (ppal-gae-yo) |
빨개 (ppal-gae) |
빨간 (ppal-gan) |
빨가면 (ppal-ga-myeon) |
빨갛습니다 (ppal-gat-sseum-ni-da) |
||
노랗다 |
to be yellow | 노래요 (no-rae-yo) |
노래 (no-rae) |
노란 (no-ran) |
노라면 (no-ra-myeon) |
노랗습니다 (no-rat-sseum-ni-da) |
||
하얗다 |
to be white | 하얘요 (ha-yae-yo) |
하얘 (ha-yae) |
하얀 (ha-yan) |
하야면 (ha-ya-myeon) |
하얗습니다 (ha-yat-sseum-ni-da) |
||
파랗다 |
to be blue | 파래요 (pa-rae-yo) |
파래 (pa-rae) |
파란 (pa-ran) |
파라면 (pa-ra-myeon) |
파랗습니다 (pa-rat-sseum-ni-da) |
||
까맣다 |
to be black | 까매요 (kka-mae-yo) |
까매 (kka-mae) |
까만 (kka-man) |
까라면 (kka-ra-myeon) |
까맣습니다 (kka-mat-sseum-ni-da) |
||
어떻다 |
to be how | 어때요 (eo-ttae-yo) |
어때 (eo-ttae) |
어떤 (eo-tton) |
어떠면 (eo-tto-myeon) |
어떻습니다 (eo-ttot-sseum-ni-da) |
||
그렇다 |
to be so | 그래요 (geu-rae-yo) |
그래 (geu-rae) |
그런 (geu-reon) |
그러면 (geu-reo-myeon) |
그렇습니다 (geu-reot-sseum-ni-da) |
||
이렇다 |
to be like this | 이래요 (i-rae-yo) |
이래 (i-rae) |
이런 (i-reon) |
이라면 (i-ra-myeon) |
이렇습니다 (i-reot-sseum-ni-da) |
||
저렇다 |
to be like that | 저래요 (jeo-rae-yo) |
저래 (jeo-rae) |
저런 (jeo-reon) |
저라면 (jeo-ra-myeon) |
저렇습니다 (jeo-reot-sseum-ni-da) |
||
좋다 |
to be good (Regular) | 좋아요 (jo-a-yo) |
좋아 (jo-a) |
좋은 (jo-eun) |
좋으면 (jo-eu-myeon) |
좋습니다 (jot-sseum-ni-da) |
How This Grammar Works
ㅎ of a descriptive verb stem disappears when followed by any ending that begins with a vowel. This dropping of ㅎ is not random; it's a simplification of pronunciation. When ㅎ is followed by a vowel, it is often phonologically weakened or elided in natural speech, and this irregularity formalizes that tendency into a grammatical rule.빨갛다 + -아요 would theoretically become 빨갛아요, which is awkward to pronounce. The rule streamlines this to 빨개요.ㅎ drop, the preceding vowel of the stem often undergoes a change. This vowel change is a form of vowel contraction or assimilation that depends on the original vowel sound and the vowel of the ending. The most common interaction is with the -아/어요 ending.ㅏ or ㅗ (bright vowels), it typically merges with ㅏ from -아/어요 to form ㅐ. If the stem's last vowel is ㅓ, ㅜ, or ㅡ (dark vowels), it merges with ㅓ from -아/어요 to also form ㅐ. A special case exists for ㅑ and ㅛ which typically merge to ㅒ.-고, -지만, -습니다), the ㅎ is retained, and the verb conjugates regularly. For instance, 빨갛다 + -고 becomes 빨갛고 (ppal-gat-go), with no ㅎ drop or vowel change.Formation Pattern
ㅎ dropping and a subsequent vowel change.
-아/어요, -(으)ㄴ, -(으)면, -을/ㄹ), the ㅎ irregular rule applies. Proceed to Step 2.
-고, -지만, -습니다), the ㅎ irregular rule does not apply. The verb conjugates regularly.
파랗다 (to be blue) + -지만 (but) → 파랗지만 (pa-rat-ji-man)
까맣다 (to be black) + -습니다 (formal polite) → 까맣습니다 (kka-mat-sseum-ni-da)
ㅎ
ㅎ of the verb stem is dropped. The stem is now effectively treated as ending in a vowel. For instance, 노랗다 becomes 노라 before adding a vowel-initial ending.
-아/어요 endings)
ㅎ drops, the remaining last vowel of the stem combines with the ㅏ or ㅓ of the -아/어요 ending.
ㅏ (e.g., 빨갛다, 노랗다, 하얗다, 파랗다, 까맣다)
ㅎ drops, leaving _ㅏ. The ㅏ then merges with the ㅏ from the -아요 ending to form ㅐ.
빨갛다 → 빨가 + -아요 → 빨개요 (ppal-gae-yo)
노랗다 → 노라 + -아요 → 노래요 (no-rae-yo)
파랗다 → 파라 + -아요 → 파래요 (pa-rae-yo)
ㅕ (e.g., 하얗다)
ㅎ drops, leaving _ㅑ. The ㅑ then merges with the ㅏ from the -아요 ending to form ㅒ.
하얗다 → 하야 + -아요 → 하얘요 (ha-yae-yo)
ㅓ (e.g., 그렇다, 어떻다, 이렇다, 저렇다)
ㅎ drops, leaving _ㅓ. The ㅓ then merges with the ㅓ from the -어요 ending to form ㅐ.
그렇다 → 그러 + -어요 → 그래요 (geu-rae-yo)
어떻다 → 어떠 + -어요 → 어때요 (eo-ttae-yo)
이렇다 → 이러 + -어요 → 이래요 (i-rae-yo)
-(으)ㄴ)
-(으)ㄴ ending is used to modify nouns (e.g., "red car"). When ㅎ drops, the stem is treated as vowel-final. Therefore, you do not add 으; you directly attach ㄴ.
빨갛다 → 빨가 + ㄴ → 빨간 (ppal-gan) (e.g., 빨간 사과 - red apple)
노랗다 → 노라 + ㄴ → 노란 (no-ran) (e.g., 노란 우산 - yellow umbrella)
어떻다 → 어떠 + ㄴ → 어떤 (eo-tton) (e.g., 어떤 사람 - what kind of person)
-(으)면)
ㅎ drops, the stem becomes vowel-final. Therefore, you directly attach 면 (not 으면).
그렇다 → 그러 + 면 → 그러면 (geu-reo-myeon) (e.g., 그러면 갈까요? - If so, shall we go?)
어떻다 → 어떠 + 면 → 어떠면 (eo-tto-myeon) (e.g., 어떠면 좋겠어요? - How would it be good?)
When To Use It
ㅎ, and they are all ㅎ irregulars. When you wish to describe something's color, you'll apply this rule. This includes colors like 빨갛다 (to be red), 노랗다 (to be yellow), 파랗다 (to be blue), 까맣다 (to be black), and 하얗다 (to be white).- Example 1:
이 꽃은 아주 빨개요.(i kko-cheun a-ju ppal-gae-yo.) - This flower is very red. - Example 2:
저는 파란 하늘을 좋아해요.(jeo-neun pa-ran ha-neu-reul jo-a-hae-yo.) - I like the blue sky. - Example 3:
그녀는 하얀 옷을 입었어요.(geu-nyeo-neun ha-yan o-seul i-beo-sseo-yo.) - She wore white clothes.
그렇다):그렇다 (to be so/like that) is one of the most versatile and frequently used verbs in Korean. It forms the basis of many expressions related to agreement, contradiction, reasoning, and transitions.- Agreement:
네, 맞아요. 그래요.(ne, ma-ja-yo. geu-rae-yo.) - Yes, that's right. It is so. - Questioning:
정말 그래요?(jeong-mal geu-rae-yo?) - Is that really so? - Transition/Reason:
날씨가 좋으면, 그러면 나갈 수 있어요.(nal-ssi-ga jo-eumyeon, geu-reo-myeon na-gal su i-sseo-yo.) - If the weather is good, then we can go out. - Related forms like
그래서(geu-rae-seo - so, therefore) and그러니까(geu-reo-ni-kka - that's why, in that case) also originate from그렇다and its irregular conjugation.
어떻다):어떻다 (to be how) is crucial for asking about conditions, states, or soliciting opinions. It's the root for common questions like "How is it?" or "What do you think?"- Asking about a state:
오늘 기분 어때요?(o-neul gi-bun eo-ttae-yo?) - How's your mood today? - Asking for an opinion:
이 디자인 어떠세요?(i di-ja-in eo-tteo-se-yo?) - How about this design? (polite form of어때요?) - Asking for advice:
어떻게 해야 할까요?(eo-tteo-ke hae-ya hal-kka-yo?) - How should I do it? (Here,어떻게is an adverbial form of어떻다meaning 'in what way').
이렇다, 저렇다):이렇다) and "to be like that" (저렇다). They are used to describe something in relation to the speaker or listener.- Example:
이야기가 이래요.(i-ya-gi-ga i-rae-yo.) - The story is like this (referring to something near the speaker). - Example:
저런 옷은 처음 봐요.(jeo-reon o-seun cheo-eum bwa-yo.) - I've never seen clothes like that (referring to something far from both).
When Not To Use It
ㅎ Verbs:ㅎ are irregular. The most prominent and often-confused example is 좋다 (to be good). 좋다 is a regular descriptive verb. Its ㅎ does not drop, and it conjugates like any other regular consonant-final verb. This means it follows the standard ㅏ/ㅓ conjugation rule.- Incorrect:
이 음식은 조애요.(X) - Correct:
이 음식은 좋아요.(i eum-si-geun jo-a-yo.) - This food is good.
ㅎ:ㅎ, such as 놓다 (to put down, to place), 넣다 (to put in, to insert), and 쌓다 (to stack). These verbs are always regular. The ㅎ irregular rule is exclusively for descriptive verbs (형용사) and the aforementioned demonstrative verbs.- Incorrect:
가방에 책을 내요.(X) (Intended:넣어요) - Correct:
가방에 책을 넣어요.(ga-bang-e chae-geul neo-eo-yo.) - I put the book in the bag. - Incorrect:
여기 돈을 놔요.(X) (Intended:놓아요) - Correct:
여기 돈을 놓아요.(yeo-gi do-neul no-a-yo.) - Put the money here.
ㅎ is retained, and the verb conjugates regularly.- Example:
비록 빨갛지만 예뻐요.(bi-rok ppal-gat-ji-man ye-ppeo-yo.) - Although it's red, it's pretty. - Example:
날씨가 어떻습니까?(nal-ssi-ga eo-tteot-sseum-ni-kka?) - How is the weather? (Formal speech,-습니까starts withㅅ)
어떻게 (how, adverb) is derived from 어떻다 but is a fixed adverb and doesn't get further conjugated by this rule. Similarly, 노랑 (yellow, noun) is the color noun and is not conjugated.Common Mistakes
좋다 with Irregulars:좋다 (to be good) ends in ㅎ, learners instinctively try to apply the ㅎ irregular rule, leading to incorrect forms like 조애요. However, 좋다 is a regular verb. The ㅎ in 좋다 is pronounced and retained, followed by the ㅏ from -아요 to form 좋아요.- Reason: Overgeneralization of the
ㅎending pattern without distinguishing between regular and irregular verbs. - Correction: Memorize
좋다as the primary exception. It always conjugates regularly.
-아/어요:ㅎ drops can be challenging. Learners might forget the ㅏ/ㅗ + ㅏㅐ and ㅓ + ㅓ → ㅐ patterns, or they might confuse ㅐ and ㅔ.- Example Error: Conjugating
그렇다to그레요instead of그래요. - Reason: The
-아/어요rule itself has variations based on stem vowel harmony. The ㅎ irregular rule has its own specific vowel contractions (ㅏ/ㅗ + 아 -> ㅐ,ㅓ + 어 -> ㅐ,ㅑ + 아 -> ㅒ), which can be tricky to distinguish from standard vowel harmony rules. - Correction: Pay close attention to the merged vowel.
ㅏ,ㅗ,ㅓin the stem always becomeㅐwith-아/어요.ㅑbecomesㅒ.
ㅎ (e.g., 놓다, 넣다) are regular. Beginners often extend the ㅎ irregular rule to these verbs, leading to errors like 내요 or 뇌요 instead of 놓아요 and 넣어요.- Reason: Focusing only on the final
ㅎwithout considering the verb type (descriptive vs. action). - Correction: Remember that the ㅎ irregular rule is predominantly for descriptive verbs (adjectives) and the
그렇다/어떻다family. Action verbs withㅎare regular.
ㄴ for Noun Modifiers:은 instead of ㄴ (e.g., 노랗은 instead of 노란). After the ㅎ drops, the stem effectively ends in a vowel, so you should always use ㄴ.- Reason: Standard
-(으)ㄴrule applies은to consonant-final stems andㄴto vowel-final stems. Whenㅎdrops, the stem becomes vowel-final. - Correction: Always attach
ㄴdirectly to the stem after theㅎhas dropped for noun modification.
해요체 but then incorrectly apply the irregularity to formal 합니다체 or informal 해체 forms that begin with a consonant.- Example Error: Saying
빨갭니다(X) instead of빨갛습니다(O). - Reason: Not fully grasping that the trigger is a vowel-initial ending.
-(스)ㅂ니다starts with a consonant (ㅅ), so no irregularity occurs. - Correction: Reiterate that formal conjugations (
-(스)ㅂ니다) are always regular for ㅎ irregulars because they begin with a consonant.
Memory Trick
A helpful way to remember the ㅎ irregular verbs and their behavior is to associate them with a "color palette" and the idea of "how it is."
The Color Palette Rule:
- Rule: Most fundamental Korean color adjectives (빨갛다, 노랗다, 파랗다, 까맣다, 하얗다) are ㅎ irregulars. Think of a painter mixing colors; the ㅎ (like an extra sound) drops out when you blend it with other sounds (vowels), and the color itself (the vowel) changes slightly in the process.
- Exception: 좋다 (to be good) is the "Golden Rule" – it's good because it follows all the rules, even though it looks like it should be irregular. It never drops its ㅎ.
The "How It Is" Family:
- Rule: The family of verbs that describe "how" something is, or "like that," are also ㅎ irregulars: 어떻다 (how), 그렇다 (like that/so), 이렇다 (like this), 저렇다 (like that over there). Think of these as chameleon words; they change their sound (ㅎ drops, vowel changes) to match the flow of the conversation, much like a chameleon changes its color to adapt to its surroundings.
Visual Aid / Sound Association:
- Imagine the ㅎ as a soft breath sound. When a strong vowel sound comes immediately after it, the ㅎ is simply "blown away" or absorbed, and the preceding vowel adjusts for smoother transition. The resulting ㅐ or ㅒ sound is a common merger in Korean phonology, making the words flow more naturally.
- You can also think of the ㅎ as shy. It hides away when a bright, strong vowel comes along, leaving the other vowels to mix and mingle to create a new, harmonious sound.
Real Conversations
The ㅎ irregulars are ubiquitous in spoken and written Korean, from casual chats to formal reports. Understanding their natural usage allows you to sound more native and comprehend everyday expressions.
1. Casual Agreement/Disagreement (Texting/Chat):
- A: 오늘 날씨 진짜 좋다! (o-neul nal-ssi jin-jja jot-da!) - The weather's really good today!
- B: 응, 그러게. 완전 파래. (eung, geu-reo-ge. wan-jeon pa-rae.) - Yeah, I know. It's totally blue. (파랗다 + -어 → 파래)
- C: 내 생각은 좀 달라. 너무 더워서 그래. (nae saeng-ga-geun jom dal-la. neo-mu deo-wo-seo geu-rae.) - My opinion's a bit different. It's because it's too hot. (그렇다 + -어 → 그래)
2. Describing Products/Fashion (Online Shopping/Social Media):
- 와, 이 코트 색깔 진짜 예쁘다! 빨간색인데 과하지 않아서 좋아. (wa, i ko-teu saek-kkal jin-jja ye-ppeu-da! ppal-gan-saek-in-de gwa-ha-ji a-na-seo jo-a.) - Wow, the color of this coat is really pretty! It's red, but it's not too much, so I like it. (빨갛다 + -ㄴ → 빨간)
- 노란색 운동화 사고 싶은데 어떤 브랜드가 제일 좋을까요? (no-ran-saek un-dong-hwa sa-go si-peun-de eo-tton beu-raen-deu-ga je-il jo-eul-kka-yo?) - I want to buy yellow sneakers, what brand would be the best? (노랗다 + -ㄴ → 노란; 어떻다 + -ㄴ → 어떤)
3. Asking for Opinions/Advice (Work/Friends):
- Manager: 이 프로젝트 계획서, 어떠세요? (i peu-ro-jek-teu gye-hoek-seo, eo-tteo-se-yo?) - How is this project proposal? (어떻다 + -으세요 → 어떠세요 - honorific polite)
- Friend: 어제 시험 어땠어? (eo-je si-heom eo-ttae-sseo?) - How was yesterday's exam? (어떻다 + -었어 → 어땠어 - past tense casual)
- Colleague: 제가 이렇게 하면 될까요? 아니면 다르게 해야 할까요? (je-ga i-reo-ke ha-myeon doel-kka-yo? a-ni-myeon da-reu-ge hae-ya hal-kka-yo?) - Should I do it like this? Or should I do it differently?
- Response: 음... 저라면 다르게 할 것 같아요. 그게 더 좋을 것 같은데요. (eum... jeo-ra-myeon da-reu-ge hal geot ga-teun-de-yo. geu-ge deo jo-eul geot ga-teun-de-yo.) - Hmm... If it were me, I think I'd do it differently. I think that would be better. (저렇다 + -라면 → 저라면)
These examples demonstrate how ㅎ irregulars are woven into the fabric of daily communication, making their correct usage indispensable for fluent Korean.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
ㅂ Irregular Verbs (ㅂ 불규칙):- ㅎ Irregular: Primarily affects descriptive verbs ending in
ㅎ(colors,그렇다,어떻다).ㅎdrops, and the preceding vowel changes (e.g.,빨갛다→빨개요). The stem becomes vowel-final before vowel endings. - ㅂ Irregular: Affects descriptive verbs and some action verbs ending in
ㅂ(e.g.,돕다- to help,춥다- to be cold,아름답다- to be beautiful). When followed by a vowel,ㅂchanges toㅜorㅗ. The stem effectively ends in a vowel (ㅜorㅗ) before vowel endings. - Example:
춥다+-어요→추워요(chu-wo-yo) - Example:
돕다+-아요→도와요(do-wa-yo) - Key Difference:
ㅎdrops completely with vowel change;ㅂchanges toㅜ/ㅗand then combines with the ending vowel.
ㄷ Irregular Verbs (ㄷ 불규칙):- ㅎ Irregular: Descriptive verbs,
ㅎdrops, vowel change. - ㄷ Irregular: Affects some action verbs ending in
ㄷ(e.g.,듣다- to listen,걷다- to walk,묻다- to ask). When followed by a vowel,ㄷchanges toㄹ. - Example:
듣다+-어요→들어요(deu-reo-yo) - Example:
걷다+-어요→걸어요(geo-reo-yo) - Key Difference:
ㅎdrops and causes a vowel shift;ㄷchanges toㄹ, a consonant change.
르 Irregular Verbs (르 불규칙):- ㅎ Irregular: Descriptive verbs,
ㅎdrops, vowel change. - 르 Irregular: Affects verbs whose stem ends in
르(e.g.,모르다- not to know,부르다- to call,빠르다- to be fast). When conjugated with an-아/어요type ending, the르syllable changes: theㄹpreceding르is reduplicated (ㄹㄹ), and theㅡvowel is replaced byㅏorㅓbased on vowel harmony of the preceding syllable. - Example:
모르다→몰라요(mol-la-yo) - Example:
빠르다→빨라요(ppal-la-yo) - Key Difference:
ㅎirregularity involves the finalㅎand a vowel change;르irregularity involves르andㄹreduplication and vowel change based on stem internal vowel harmony.
- Type of Verb: ㅎ irregulars are mostly descriptive verbs (adjectives) and demonstratives.
ㅂandㄷirregulars are often action verbs, thoughㅂalso applies to descriptive verbs. - Nature of Change: ㅎ irregulars involve
ㅎdropping and vowel change. Other irregulars involve consonant changes (ㅂtoㅜ/ㅗ,ㄷtoㄹ) or syllable restructuring (르).
Progressive Practice
To solidify your understanding of ㅎ irregulars, work through these exercises. Start simple and move towards more complex applications, paying close attention to the triggers and transformations.
Practice 1: Basic Conjugation (-아/어요)
Conjugate the following ㅎ irregular verbs into the polite present tense (-아/어요):
하얗다 (to be white) → _________
까맣다 (to be black) → _________
어떻다 (to be how) → _________
그렇다 (to be so) → _________
파랗다 (to be blue) → _________
Practice 2: Noun Modification (-(으)ㄴ)
Change the following ㅎ irregulars into noun modifying forms and use them with a suitable noun:
노랗다 (to be yellow) + 모자 (hat) → _________
이렇다 (to be like this) + 사람 (person) → _________
빨갛다 (to be red) + 벽 (wall) → _________
어떻다 (to be how) + 방법 (method) → _________
Practice 3: Regular vs. Irregular Discrimination
Conjugate the following verbs with -아요/어요 and explain whether they are regular or irregular:
좋다 (to be good) → _________ (Regular/Irregular? Why?)
놓다 (to put down) → _________ (Regular/Irregular? Why?)
노랗다 (to be yellow) → _________ (Regular/Irregular? Why?)
Practice 4: Sentence Completion (Real-world Usage)
Complete the sentences using the correct conjugated form of the verb in parentheses. Provide both polite (-아/어요) and formal (-(스)ㅂ니다) options where appropriate.
이 꽃은 색깔이 참 (빨갛다). (polite) → 이 꽃은 색깔이 참 _________.
하늘이 정말 (파랗다) 날씨가 좋아요. (noun modifier) → 하늘이 정말 _________ 날씨가 좋아요.
선생님, 이 문제 (어떻다)? (formal polite) → 선생님, 이 문제 _________?
친구가 "영화를 봤는데 정말 좋았어." 라고 했어요. (그렇다) (casual, agree) → 응, _________!
Practice 5: Error Correction
Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences, explaining why they are wrong.
나는 조은 책을 읽고 싶어.
이 옷은 색깔이 빨갛어요.
가방에 핸드폰을 내요.
Answers:
Practice 1:
하얘요
까매요
어때요
그래요
파래요
Practice 2:
노란 모자
이런 사람
빨간 벽
어떤 방법
Practice 3:
좋아요 (Regular. 좋다 is an exception; its ㅎ does not drop, and it conjugates like other regular consonant-final verbs.)
놓아요 (Regular. 놓다 is an action verb, and action verbs ending in ㅎ are regular.)
노래요 (Irregular. 노랗다 is a descriptive verb ending in ㅎ; the ㅎ drops before vowel-initial endings, and the vowel changes.)
Practice 4:
빨개요
파란
어떻습니까
그래
Practice 5:
나는 좋은 책을 읽고 싶어. (Error: 좋다 is regular, so 좋은 not 조은.)
이 옷은 색깔이 빨개요. (Error: 빨갛다 is irregular; ㅎ drops and ㅏ + 어 merges to ㅐ.)
가방에 핸드폰을 넣어요. (Error: 넣다 is an action verb and regular, so 넣어요 not 내요.)
Quick FAQ
ㅏ/ㅓ to ㅐ or ㅑ to ㅒ?ㅎ drops, the remaining stem vowel (ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅑ) merges with the initial vowel of the ending (ㅏ or ㅓ from -아/어요) to form a new diphthong (ㅐ or ㅒ). This creates a smoother, more natural sound.노라 + 아요 naturally contracts to 노래요 over time in speech.빨갛다, 노랗다, 파랗다, 까맣다, 하얗다) and the demonstrative family (어떻다, 그렇다, 이렇다, 저렇다). While some rarer or archaic forms might exist, these are the most important ones for practical use.좋다 (regular) and the ㅎ irregulars?좋다 is the primary, high-frequency exception. While many verbs ending in ㅎ are irregular, 좋다 consistently behaves regularly.-아요/어요: if it sounds like 좋아요, it's regular. If it sounds like a vowel contraction (e.g., 빨개요), it's irregular.-(으)세요 (polite honorific request/statement) starts with a vowel, so it triggers the rule: 어떻다 + -(으)세요 → 어떠세요. However, -(으)십니다 (formal honorific statement) starts with a consonant (ㅅ), so it does not trigger the rule: 어떻습니다.ㅎ?ㅎ dropping and vowel change in descriptive verbs. There are no other major irregular patterns directly named after ㅎ that would cause confusion with this rule. However, other irregulars (like ㅂ or ㄷ irregulars) have their own distinct rules.어떻게 (how)? How is it related to 어떻다?어떻게 is the adverbial form of 어떻다 (to be how). It is formed by taking the stem 어떠 (after ㅎ drops) and attaching the adverbial ending -게: 어떠 + -게 → 어떻게. While it originates from the irregular 어떻다, 어떻게 itself is a fixed adverb and does not undergo further ㅎ irregular conjugation.빨강 instead of 빨간? What's the difference?빨강 (ppal-gang) is the noun for the color red, similar to "redness." 빨간 (ppal-gan) is the adjectival form (noun modifier) derived from the descriptive verb 빨갛다, meaning "red" when placed before a noun. You would say 빨간 사과 (red apple) using the modifier, but 빨강이 예뻐요 (Red is pretty) using the noun.H-Irregular Conjugation Table
| Stem | Ending (-아요) | Ending (-고) | Ending (-면) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
하얗다
|
하얘요
|
하얗고
|
하야면
|
|
파랗다
|
파래요
|
파랗고
|
파라면
|
|
빨갛다
|
빨개요
|
빨갛고
|
빨가면
|
|
노랗다
|
노래요
|
노랗고
|
노라면
|
|
까맣다
|
까매요
|
까맣고
|
까마면
|
|
어떻다
|
어때요
|
어떻고
|
어떠면
|
Meanings
This rule applies to descriptive verbs (adjectives) ending in 'ㅎ' that describe colors or states. It simplifies pronunciation by dropping the 'ㅎ' and merging the vowel.
Color description
Describing the color of an object.
“하얀 구름이 떠 있어요.”
“파란 하늘이 예뻐요.”
State/Quality
Describing a state like 'how' (어떻다) or 'so' (그렇다).
“어때요?”
“그렇네요.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + 아요/어요
|
하얘요
|
|
Negative
|
Stem + 지 않다
|
하얗지 않아요
|
|
Question
|
Stem + 아요/어요?
|
어때요?
|
|
Adnominal
|
Stem + ㄴ/은
|
하얀
|
|
Adverbial
|
Stem + 게
|
하얗게
|
|
Conjunctive
|
Stem + 고
|
하얗고
|
Formality Spectrum
하늘이 파랗습니다. (Describing weather)
하늘이 파래요. (Describing weather)
하늘이 파래. (Describing weather)
하늘 완전 파래! (Describing weather)
H-Irregular Logic
Vowel Ending
- Drop ㅎ Delete
- Add ㅐ Vowel Shift
Consonant Ending
- Keep ㅎ No change
Examples by Level
하얘요.
It is white.
어때요?
How is it?
파래요.
It is blue.
노래요.
It is yellow.
이 꽃은 노란색이에요.
This flower is yellow.
그렇지 않아요.
It is not like that.
하얀 눈이 와요.
White snow is falling.
빨간 사과가 맛있어요.
The red apple is delicious.
아무렇지도 않아요.
It is nothing at all.
파랗고 예쁜 바다예요.
It is a blue and pretty sea.
어떻게 할까요?
How should we do it?
까만 밤하늘을 보세요.
Look at the black night sky.
그렇게 말하지 마세요.
Don't say it like that.
하얘서 눈에 잘 띄어요.
Because it is white, it stands out.
빨개진 얼굴이 귀여워요.
Your reddened face is cute.
노랗게 물든 잎들이에요.
They are leaves turned yellow.
그는 아무렇지 않게 행동했어요.
He acted as if nothing happened.
하얗게 질린 얼굴로 돌아왔다.
He returned with a pale face.
어떻게든 해결해야 합니다.
We must solve it somehow.
파랗게 질린 채 서 있었다.
He stood there, turned blue (terrified).
그렇다 할 이유가 없습니다.
There is no particular reason for that.
하얗게 불태웠어.
I burned it all white (gave it my all).
빨갛게 달아오른 난로.
The stove that turned red-hot.
노랗게 뜬 얼굴을 보니 걱정된다.
Seeing your sallow face, I am worried.
Easily Confused
Both involve stem changes.
Both involve dropping a consonant.
Not all ㅎ verbs are irregular.
Common Mistakes
파라아요
파래요
하얗아요
하얘요
노라아요
노래요
빨가아요
빨개요
파래고
파랗고
어떠요
어때요
그래고
그렇고
아무래지 않아요
아무렇지 않아요
까매고
까맣고
하얘고
하얗고
Sentence Patterns
이것은 ___요.
오늘 기분은 ___?
___ 보니까 예뻐요.
___ 말하지 마세요.
Real World Usage
어때?
이거 하얘요?
하늘 파래!
그렇습니다.
어떻게 배달할까요?
바다가 파래요.
Check the suffix
Don't over-apply
Memorize the list
Natural speech
Smart Tips
Check if the suffix starts with a vowel.
Don't change anything!
Always use '어때요' for questions.
Double check your spelling for 'ㅐ'.
Pronunciation
H-Drop
The 'ㅎ' is silent before vowels, and the vowel 'ㅏ' or 'ㅓ' merges with the suffix to become 'ㅐ'.
Question
어때요? ↗
Rising intonation for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
The 'H' is a ghost; it vanishes when the vowel-sun shines, leaving 'ㅐ' behind.
Visual Association
Imagine a white ghost (ㅎ) disappearing in the sun (vowel ending), leaving a white puddle (ㅐ).
Rhyme
When the vowel starts the show, the H must go, and A-E will grow.
Story
The letter H was a shy ghost. Whenever a vowel came to visit, he would hide. But before he left, he left a mark on the floor: the letter ㅐ. Now, whenever you see a vowel, you know the H is hiding and the ㅐ is left behind.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences describing 5 different colored objects in your room using the correct conjugation.
Cultural Notes
This rule is strictly followed in standard Seoul speech.
Dialects may vary, but the H-irregular is generally consistent.
Young people often shorten these even further in text.
The H-irregular stems from the historical weakening of the glottal fricative 'ㅎ' in Middle Korean.
Conversation Starters
오늘 날씨 어때요?
이 옷 색깔 어때요?
그 사람 성격이 어때요?
이 상황을 어떻게 생각해요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
하얗다 + 아요 = ___
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
노라아요
빨갛다
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
하늘 / 파랗다 / -아요
까맣다 + -어서
그렇다 + -면 = ___
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises하얗다 + 아요 = ___
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
노라아요
빨갛다
어떻다
하늘 / 파랗다 / -아요
까맣다 + -어서
그렇다 + -면 = ___
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercises요즘 건강이 ___?
Match the adjective to its modifier form.
하늘이 / 왜 / 노래요 / ?
Select the regular verb.
I like blue clothes.
이 사과는 정말 빨갛요.
___ 안 돼요.
눈이 와서 세상이 ___.
___ 사람 (이렇다)
Don't be like that.
오늘 기분 어때?
이 노래 정말 ___!
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
It's a result of the 'ㅎ' disappearing and the preceding vowel merging with the suffix.
No, only to specific descriptive verbs ending in 'ㅎ'.
Then you keep the 'ㅎ' exactly as it is.
Yes, it comes from '어떻다'.
Yes, but be careful with the register.
Some words like '좋다' are regular.
Use the color verbs in daily descriptions.
It's tricky at first but very consistent once learned.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Adjective agreement
Korean uses suffix-based conjugation, Spanish uses gender-based inflection.
Liaison
Korean is internal morphophonology, French is external phonology.
Strong/Weak verbs
German vowel change is for tense, Korean is for suffix compatibility.
I-adjectives
Japanese adjectives don't have this specific H-drop rule.
Root system
Arabic is non-concatenative, Korean is concatenative.
None
Chinese is isolating, Korean is agglutinative.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
Irregular ㅎ Verbs: Colors & 'Like that' (파랗다, 그렇다)
Overview The `ㅎ` irregular (히읗 불규칙 동사) rule governs a specific set of Korean descriptive verbs, primarily those...
The ㅂ Melting Rule: Hot & Cold Verbs (chupda/chuwoyo)
Overview The Korean `ㅂ` irregular rule, often dubbed the "Hot & Cold Verbs," is a crucial phonological phenomenon that...
Irregular Verbs (ㄷ → ㄹ): Walking, Hearing, Asking
Overview In Korean, verb conjugation often follows predictable patterns. However, certain verbs undergo systematic chang...
The 'Eu' Drop Pattern: Why 으 Disappears
Overview The Korean '으' (eu) drop pattern is a fundamental phonological rule governing the conjugation of many verbs an...
Korean Honorific Infix: Respecting the Subject (-(으)시)
Overview The Korean honorific infix `-(으)시` (\[-(eu)si]) serves a fundamental role in expressing **subject honorificat...
