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    • Aug 26

Korean Keyboard: Using QWERTY Keyboard for Computers and Mobile


💎 What you'll learn in this post

📌 Heads up before you read


Did you read the post about the Chunjiin keyboard? While the Chunjiin keyboard is great, it's only available for mobile devices and can't be used on computers. Today, let's take a closer look at the QWERTY keyboard, which is just as popular as the Chunjiin but can be used on both computers and mobile devices. Let's get started and see what makes QWERTY so awesome 😍


 

🔥 Boosting Korean Knowledge



 

🖐️ How to use the QWERTY Keyboard



On a QWERTY keyboard, consonants are usually on the left side and vowels on the right, making it super easy and fast to type since the letters are placed based on how often you use them.​


🧐 For example, if you're typing 'MOTHER' on an English QWERTY keyboard:


  • MO (right hand for M, right hand for O)

  • THER (left hand for T, right hand for H, left hand for E, left hand for R)


🧐 Conversely, if you type '어머니 (MOTHER)' on a Korean QWERTY keyboard:


  • 어 (left hand for ㅇ, right hand for ㅓ)

  • 머 (left hand for ㅁ, right hand for ㅓ)

  • 니 (left hand for ㄴ, right hand for ㅣ)


This means that unlike English, the Korean QWERTY keyboard layout encourages you to alternate between your left and right hands for consonants (left hand) and vowels (right hand), making typing super efficient and balanced!


🖐️ However, for syllables with a final consonant, you may need to press the consonant keys on the left side of the keyboard twice.

 

🚨 Because the principle behind computer and phone keyboards is the same, we'll use the computer keyboard to make it easier to understand.



Just like in the image above, you alternate between using your left hand to press the consonants on the left side and your right hand to press the vowels on the right side!


 

⌨️ How to Type​


​나는 당신을 사랑합니다 (I love you)​



📌 나는 (I):

ㄴ → ㅏ → ㄴ → ㅡ → ㄴ → space key​


📌 당신을 (you):

ㄷ → ㅏ → ㅇ → ㅅ → ㅣ → ㄴ → ㅇ → ㅡ → ㄹ → space key​


📌 사랑합니다 (love):

ㅅ → ㅏ → ㄹ → ㅏ → ㅇ → ㅎ → ㅏ → ㅂ → ㄴ →​ ㅣ → ㄷ → ㅏ


 

🖐️ I Have a Question 🖐️


“ How do I type double consonants? ”​



In this case, you must use the Shift key!


​📌 For ㄲ: The basic letter is ㄱ, so you press the Shift key and ㄱ together.​

🖐 It's important to hold down the Shift key while pressing ㄱ! Don't let go of the Shift key.


​📌 For ㄸ: The basic letter is ㄷ, so you press the Shift key and ㄷ together.​


​📌 For ㅃ: The basic letter is ㅂ, so you press the Shift key and ㅂ together.​


​📌 For ㅆ: The basic letter is ㅅ, so you press the Shift key and ㅅ together.​


​📌 For ㅉ: The basic letter is ㅈ, so you press the Shift key and ㅈ together.​


On a computer keyboard, the double consonants ㅃ, ㅉ, ㄸ, ㄲ, ㅆ are marked above the Q, W, E, R, T keys. You can change them to double consonants ㅃ, ㅉ, ㄸ, ㄲ, ㅆ by holding down the Shift key and pressing the basic consonant keys Q, W, E, R, T.


Mobile Keyboard


Remember, mobile keyboards may not display double consonants like computer keyboards do, so pressing <basic consonant(ㅂ, ㅈ, ㄷ, ㄱ, ㅅ) + shift(↑) key> will change it to a double consonant.


 

🖐️ I Have a Question 🖐️


“ How do I type vowels

like ㅒ, ㅖ, ㅘ, ㅞ, etc.? ”​


We'll explain how to type vowels not directly available on the right-hand vowel keys (such as ㅒ, ㅖ, ㅘ, ㅞ, ㅟ, ㅢ, etc.). There are two different methods for typing vowels depending on their type, but don't worry, it's quite simple.​



1️⃣ First, let's look at ㅒ and ㅖ


In this case, you also neet to use the Shift key!


📌 To type ㅒ, press the ㅐ key, which is located on the English O key, while holding down the Shift key.


📌 And for ㅖ? You do the same with the ㅔ key, which is located on the P key.



2️⃣ For all vowels except ㅒ and ㅖ, combine the vowel keys under your right hand


​📌 Want to type ㅘ? Press the ㅗ key, then the ㅏ key.​


​📌 How about ㅞ? Press the ㅜ key, then the ㅔ key.​


 

💋 Wait, Quizzes


1. Which of the following correctly types the vowel ㅟ?

① ㅡ key → ㅣ key​

② ㅜ key → ㅣ key​

③ ㅠ key → ㅣ key


Answer:

② ㅜ key → ㅣ key​


 

❔❔ Should I use the Chunjiin keyboard or the QWERTY keyboard ❔❔


If you want to learn only one keyboard layout for both computers and mobile devices, we definitely recommend the QWERTY keyboard.​ But wait! The biggest downside of the QWERTY keyboard shows up on mobile devices. 😥​



Because mobile screens are smaller, fitting both consonants and vowels like a QWERTY keyboard means the keys are tiny and hard to press, causing lots of typos.​ 🥶


For example, trying to press ㄴ might make you accidentally hit ㅁ or ㅇ too 😨!!​


That's why many Koreans prefer the Chunjiin keyboard on mobile devices. It has bigger keys, is easy to learn, and you can type super fast once you get used to it. But they stick to the QWERTY keyboard for computers.


So if you have smaller fingers or are super accurate at pressing on mobile devices, go with the QWERTY keyboard! Otherwise, use the Chunjiin keyboard for mobile devices and the QWERTY keyboard for computers.


 

🎁 More About the Korean QWERTY Keyboard



1️⃣ Improve Speed and Efficiency

Switching between consonants and vowels lets one hand get ready for the next letter while the other hand types, making you type faster. That’s why Koreans can type super quickly!


2️⃣ Balanced Hand Usage

Using both hands equally means less finger fatigue, so you can type longer without getting tired. No more one hand doing all the work!


3️⃣ Reduced Typing Errors

Alternating hands means you’re less likely to use the same finger twice in a row, which helps reduce typing mistakes.



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