Yakiniku TAJA

Hangul Basics

Hangul (한글) is the alphabet used to write Korean. It was created by King Sejong the Great (세종대왕), the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty, in 1443 and announced in 1446 as Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음), "the correct sounds for instructing the people."

Hangul is a phonetic alphabet: like the Latin alphabet, it has letters for consonants and vowels. The difference is that the letters are grouped into syllable blocks. Once you know which shape makes which sound, you can read words you have never seen before.

Each block is "consonant + vowel (+ final consonant)"

One block (one syllable) is made of a first consonant, a vowel, and sometimes a final consonant called batchim (받침).

Tall vowels (ㅏ, ㅣ, etc.) go to the right of the consonant, and wide vowels (ㅗ, ㅜ, etc.) go below it. The batchim always sits at the bottom.

The 10 basic vowels

ㅓ (eo) is an open "aw" sound, close to the "u" in "fun", while ㅗ (o) is pronounced with rounded lips, as in "go". ㅜ (u) is the "oo" in "moon", and ㅡ (eu) is the same sound with your lips spread flat instead of rounded. There are also combined vowels such as ㅐ (ae) and ㅔ (e).

The 14 basic consonants

ㅇ is silent at the start of a syllable (아 = a) and sounds like "ng" as a batchim. ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ and ㅍ are aspirated, pronounced with a strong puff of air. There are also tense consonants written as doubled letters (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ), said with a tight throat and no puff of air.

The Korean Keyboard Layout (Dubeolsik)

The most common Korean keyboard layout is Dubeolsik (두벌식, "two-set"). Consonants are on the left hand and vowels on the right hand. You just type consonant → vowel → (batchim), and the letters are assembled into syllable blocks automatically.

■ Left hand (consonants)　■ Right hand (vowels)　* ㅠ (B) is a vowel, but you type it with your left index finger

Typing examples

한 (han) = ㅎ (G) → ㅏ (K) → ㄴ (S), and 국 (guk) = ㄱ (R) → ㅜ (N) → ㄱ (R). Type them in a row and you get 한국 (Hanguk, "Korea").

The tense consonants (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ) and ㅒ, ㅖ are typed by holding Shift and pressing the base key. You don't need to install a Korean keyboard on your computer: Yakiniku TAJA reads the physical key position, so you can practice right away on a regular QWERTY keyboard.

Korean Typing Practice: Learn to Touch Type

Touch typing means typing without looking at the keyboard. Instead of searching for each key with your eyes, every finger is responsible for a fixed set of keys, and your fingers remember where they are. Once it clicks, you can type quickly and accurately while keeping your eyes on the screen.

Start from the home position

The home position is where your fingers rest before you start typing. Place your left index finger on F (ㄹ) and your right index finger on J (ㅓ), then line up the other fingers on the same row. Your thumbs rest lightly on the space bar.

■ Pinky　■ Ring　■ Middle　■ Index　/　outlined = home position

The F and J keys have small bumps, so you can find them by touch. After every key, bring your fingers straight back to the home position. Because you always return to the same place, you'll know where the next key is without looking.

Each finger covers the keys directly above and below its home key. The index fingers also cover the inner columns (T, G, B on the left and Y, H, N on the right). Since Dubeolsik puts consonants on the left and vowels on the right, you'll find yourself alternating hands in a steady rhythm (ㅠ on B is the one vowel typed with the left index finger).

What "learning with your fingers" means

The key to touch typing is not to recall "where was ㄱ again?" in your head, but to train the motion itself into your fingers: "ㄱ = left index finger, one row up." Like riding a bike, with enough repetition your hands move without you having to think.

Practicing with real words ties together the shape, the sound and the finger motion. For 고기 (gogi, "meat"), you learn the feel of ㄱ → ㅗ → ㄱ → ㅣ as your left and right fingers take turns. That's what our tagline, "Learn Korean with your fingers," is all about.

Steps to improve

1. Check your home position　Put your index fingers on the F and J bumps before you start, and return there after every key.
2. Don't look down　If you get lost, look at the on-screen keyboard instead of your hands. Going slowly at first is fine.
3. Accuracy before speed　Focus on making fewer mistakes first. Once you use the right fingers, speed comes naturally.
4. A little every day　Five to ten minutes a day sticks better than one long session.
5. Start easy　Move up step by step: single letters → short words → long words and phrases.

How to Practice Korean Typing with Yakiniku TAJA

• Banchan: no time limit. Press keys from the home position and see which finger makes which letter, at your own pace.
• Veggie: consonants → vowels → one-syllable words. Perfect for learning finger positions one key at a time.
• The next key lights up on the on-screen keyboard, so you can practice looking only at the screen, not your hands.
• Struggling with a word? Use Refill mode on the bill screen to practice it 10 times in a row.

How to Play Yakiniku TAJA

Type the order (in Hangul) shown on screen, and the meat on the grill is cooked and added to your bill. Type too slowly and it burns to a crisp! It's an all-you-can-eat course: eat more than the course price within the time limit and you come out ahead.

• The next key to press lights up on the on-screen keyboard
• Keep typing without mistakes to build combos for bonus time and higher prices, and hit 15 combos for a "Charcoal Boost"
• After the game, check the pronunciation on Today's Menu, or drill a tricky word 10 times in Refill mode

Courses (levels)

• PracticeBanchanNo time limit or score. Press any key and watch Hangul blocks being built
• BasicVeggieConsonants (10s) → vowels (10s) → one-syllable words like 물 (water) (20s). Start here if you're new
• BeginnerGopchangShort words without batchim (고기 = meat, 우유 = milk, etc.)
• IntermediateSamgyeopsalBasic words with batchim and tense consonants (김치 = kimchi, 삼겹살 = pork belly, etc.)
• AdvancedPrime GalbiLonger words (닭갈비 = dakgalbi, 부대찌개 = budae-jjigae, etc.)
• ExpertRoyal HanjeongsikPhrases for ordering, travel and fan life (계산해 주세요 = "The check, please," etc.)

▶ Start the Game

FAQ

Do I need a Korean keyboard or Korean input (IME)?

No. The game reads the physical position of each key, so it works with your usual English keyboard and input settings.

Can I play on my phone?

This is a keyboard typing game, so we recommend a computer with a physical keyboard.

Is it free?

Yes, it's completely free and no account is needed.

I can't read Hangul at all. Is that OK?

Yes. The Veggie course starts with single consonants and vowels, and shows romanization and plays audio for each one.

What does "Yakiniku TAJA" mean?

Yakiniku is the Japanese word for grilled meat (Korean BBQ), and taja (타자) means "typing" in Korean. The game was made in Japan, hence the mix!