Mixed Script in Korean

(Chinese characters and Korean Characters)

In Korean peninsula usage of Chinese characters for Sino-Korean words had been in fashion till 20th Century. But since the time North Korea has totally replaced it with Hangul, usage of Chinese Characters or Hanja have been in decline in South Korea aswell. Though knowing Hanja is not an important prerequisite fir learning Korean, but is very beneficial for anyone who wants to influence their learning with a better result. Most of Korean words are related to Chinese or Hanja in one way or other. Hanja is basically used in Korean Official documents, Newspapers or very formal papers.

Basics of Hanja (漢字or 한자)

In Korean, the Chinese characters or Hanja are used as the way they were used in ancient days. The Hanja characters used are Traditional characters. So the number of strokes (no. of lines used in one character), is much more than simplified Chinese characters.

One cannot possibily learn all the Hanja but they can at least familiarize with some basic Hanja.

Basics One

Basics Two

Basics Three

Basics Four