Beginner Estimated read: 3 mins

'ㅎ' 불규칙 (Irregular Conjugation)

When an irregular adjective ending in 'ㅎ' (usually colors or demonstratives) meets an ending starting with a vowel, the 'ㅎ' drops. If meeting '-아/어', both drop and the stem vowel changes to 'ㅐ' (or 'ㅒ' if it was 'ㅑ').

Summary

Equivalent

'ㅎ' Irregular

Example

The sky is really blue and pretty.

하늘이 참 파랗고 예쁘네요. (파랗다 + 고)

Grammar rules

  • Example: 빨갛다 + 아요 -> 빨개요.
  • 그렇다 + 어요 -> 그래요.
  • 하얗다 + (으)면 -> 하야면 (only ㅎ drops before 으).
  • Before consonants, it is regular (그렇고, 빨갛지만). Also, verbs ending in ㅎ are completely REGULAR (좋다 -> 좋아요, 낳다 -> 낳아요, 넣다 -> 넣어요).

    파랗다 -> 파래요 (Blue), 이렇다 -> 이래요 (Like this)

Patterns

1

Adjectives ending in 'ㅎ'

Meeting a Vowel · Stem (drop ㅎ and change vowel to ㅐ/ㅒ)

Example sentences

Adjectives ending in 'ㅎ' · Meeting a Vowel · Stem (drop ㅎ and change vowel to ㅐ/ㅒ)

The sky is really blue and pretty.

하늘이 참 파랗고 예쁘네요. (파랗다 + 고)

Adjectives ending in 'ㅎ' · Meeting a Vowel · Stem (drop ㅎ and change vowel to ㅐ/ㅒ)

Why are you like this? Is something wrong?

왜 이래요? 무슨 일 있어요? (이렇다 + 어요)

Adjectives ending in 'ㅎ' · Meeting a Vowel · Stem (drop ㅎ and change vowel to ㅐ/ㅒ)

Your face became red.

얼굴이 빨개졌어요. (빨갛다 + 아지다)

Conversation

A: What color do you like?

어떤 색을 좋아해요?

B: I wear black clothes often. (까맣다 + (으)ㄴ)

저는 까만색 옷을 자주 입어요.

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct conjugated form for the 'ㅎ' irregular.

Like that.

White.