Discover why Japanese K-pop idols like Sana, Sakura, and Tsuki struggle with the Korean word “공룡.” Explore Korean pronunciation challenges, Japanese phonetics, and how language systems affect idol performances.
1. Why is “공룡 (dinosaur)” one of the hardest words for Japanese K-pop idols?
If you’re a K-pop fan, you’ve probably noticed something funny. TWICE’s Sana, despite her fluent Korean, always struggles with the word “공룡.” Instead of saying [공뇽], she often says “골룡.” Fans found this so adorable that they nicknamed her “골룡사나,” and even entire YouTube compilations celebrate this tiny pronunciation quirk.
But here’s the twist: it’s not only Sana. LE SSERAFIM’s Sakura and Billlie’s Tsuki—both Japanese idols—face the exact same problem. Whenever they try to say 공룡, it somehow turns into 골룡.
So why is this one word, 공룡 (恐竜), such a stumbling block for Japanese speakers? The answer isn’t just about “cute mistakes.” It reveals something deeper about the fundamental differences between Korean phonology (한국어 음운 체계) and Japanese phonology (日本語の音韻体系).
2. Sana’s Struggle with “공룡”
Among all Japanese idols in K-pop, Sana (사나, TWICE) is the most famous case. Fans quickly noticed that she can pronounce 공 [koŋ] and 룡 [ʎoŋ] separately with no problem.
For example:
- 공 (ball / 空) → clear pronunciation.
- 룡 (dragon / 龍) → also correct when spoken alone.
But when she tries to put them together as 공룡 (恐竜 / dinosaur), something strange happens. Instead of 공뇽 [koŋɲoŋ], it comes out as 골룡 [kolʎoŋ].
Sana herself is fully aware of this mistake. In fact, she laughs at it and even admits, “I can never get 공룡 right!” But the repeated mispronunciation became so iconic that fans now call her “골룡사나.” Some fan edits on YouTube even title their videos: “The Legend of Golryong Sana.”
What’s fascinating here is that this isn’t just a “cute foreigner mistake.” It’s actually the result of deep phonological differences between Korean (한국어) and Japanese (日本語).
Sana’s 골룡 is not random—it reflects a systematic difficulty that many Japanese learners of Korean face.
3. Sakura and Tsuki: Similar Struggles
Sana’s challenge with 공룡 is not unique. Other Japanese K-pop idols experience the same difficulty.
Sakura (사쿠라, LE SSERAFIM) and Tsuki (츠키, BILLIE) both face the same pronunciation pattern. When they try to say 공룡, it comes out as 골룡 [kolʎoŋ], just like Sana.
Why does this happen? There are a few linguistic reasons:
1. Korean Final Consonants (받침) vs Japanese Phonetics
Japanese has a very limited set of final consonants, mainly ん (n).
- Korean ㄴ, ㅇ, ㅁ → have distinct pronunciations in Korean.
- Japanese learners tend to merge these into a single “n-like” sound.
For example:
- Korean 강남 → Japanese learners often say 간남 [kan-nam] instead of 강남 [kaŋ-nam].
- Korean 진짜로 → Japanese ほんとうに [hontou ni] → /혼또니/, showing that the Japanese ん covers both /n/ and /ŋ/ sounds.
2. Influence of Korean Pronunciation Rules
Korean pronunciation involves subtle linking (연음) rules.
- The proper pronunciation of 공룡 is actually [공:뇽 / koŋɲoŋ].
- Japanese idols often try to pronounce the two syllables separately (공 + 룡), which leads to [골룡 / kolʎoŋ].
3. Stress and Phonetic Tension
When performing on stage or recording, idols are hyper-aware of pronunciation. This awareness can increase tension in the mouth and tongue, which ironically makes precise articulation more difficult.
These examples show that the difficulty with 공룡 is not a random mistake but a predictable result of the interaction between Japanese phonology and Korean pronunciation rules.
4. Why “공룡” Is Especially Tricky for Japanese Learners
While Japanese K-pop idols like Sana (사나), Sakura (사쿠라), and Tsuki (츠키) can pronounce Korean syllables individually, the word 공룡 [koŋɲoŋ] presents a specific challenge.
Here’s why:
1. Final Consonants (받침) Are Rare in Japanese
- In Japanese, only ん (n) and っ (sokuon) act as “final consonants.”
- Korean has multiple final consonants: ㄴ, ㅇ, ㅁ, and others.
- For 공룡: 공 ends with ㅇ [ŋ] / 룡 starts with ㄹ [ɾ~l]
- Japanese learners often substitute [ŋ] + [ɾ] with a simpler approximation like [l], resulting in 골룡 [kolʎoŋ].
2. Palatalization Effects
- Korean ㄴ + ㅇ/ㅈ/ㄹ sequences can become palatalized.
- 공룡 [koŋɲoŋ] has a palatalized ㄴ + ㅛ/ㅕ sound, which does not exist in Japanese phonology.
- Japanese speakers naturally split the word into 공 + 룡, losing the subtle palatal transition.
3. Tense and Aspirated Consonants
- Japanese has no tense consonants like Korean’s ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅉ, ㅆ.
- Korean pronunciation demands micro-control over tongue placement.
- Even experienced Japanese speakers may overcompensate, producing a distorted version like 골룡 [kolʎoŋ].
4. Performance Pressure
- On stage, idols are aware of cameras, lyrics, and fan expectations.
- This awareness creates muscle tension, which ironically makes precise articulation harder.
💡 Observation:
The “공룡 problem” illustrates a broader pattern in language learning: even highly trained bilingual speakers can struggle with subtle phonetic features that exist in the target language but not in their native phonology.
5. Tips for Teaching Japanese Learners Korean Words like “공룡”
For Japanese learners such as Sana (사나), Sakura (사쿠라), and Tsuki (츠키), mastering the pronunciation of words like 공룡 [koŋɲoŋ] requires a combination of phonetic awareness and practical exercises. Here are some effective strategies:
1. Focus on the Final Consonant (받침)
- Korean final consonants are challenging because Japanese learners often only have ん (n).
- Tip: Practice 공 [koŋ] separately, exaggerating the nasal ŋ sound before moving to 룡 [ɲoŋ].
- Gradually connect them to produce 공룡 [koŋɲoŋ] without splitting the syllables.
- Example: Start with slow repetition: /공/ → /룡/ → /공-룡/ Then increase speed while maintaining the correct final consonant sound.
2. Teach Palatalization
- In 공룡 [koŋɲoŋ], the ㄴ + ㅛ combination creates a palatalized [ɲ] sound.
- Japanese speakers can approximate it by lightly placing the tongue on the hard palate when pronouncing the second syllable.
- Visual cue: Imagine 공 and 룡 merging smoothly like a sliding motion rather than two separate chunks.
3. Use Familiar Analogs
- Compare difficult sounds to easier ones already present in Japanese.
- Example: 용 [joŋ] can be approximated with Japanese ヨン [yon], then gradually adjust to palatalization.
- This method was helpful for idols: trainers often first allow them to use a “Japanese-like” pronunciation, then refine toward native Korean articulation.
4. Incorporate Muscle Relaxation
- Onstage tension can worsen mispronunciation.
- Suggest exercises: slow tongue drills, jaw relaxation, and lip mobility exercises.
- Example: Repeat the word 공룡 softly and slowly, then increase volume while keeping the muscles relaxed.
5. Contextual Practice with Lyrics
- K-pop idols don’t just speak—they sing.
- Embedding difficult words in song lyrics or fan chants helps internalize pronunciation.
- Example: Trainers can include 공룡 in a short lyric, then gradually increase tempo as pronunciation improves.
💡 Observation:
Even though idols like Sana, Sakura, and Tsuki struggle with 공룡, consistent practice using these strategies can significantly improve their articulation. It also highlights the importance of phonological transfer: the influence of native Japanese phonology on Korean speech.
6. What “공룡” Teaches About Korean Pronunciation
The struggles of Sana (사나), Sakura (사쿠라), and Tsuki (츠키) with pronouncing 공룡 [koŋɲoŋ] provide a window into the broader challenges Japanese learners face when acquiring Korean pronunciation.
1. Final Consonants Matter
Japanese phonology does not have a direct equivalent for Korean final consonants (받침).
Words like 공룡 highlight how the ㄴ + ㅛ → ɲ palatalization is difficult for learners, even for those with advanced Korean skills.
Example: Sana pronounces 공룡 as /골:룡/ [kol:joŋ], which demonstrates both the influence of Japanese phonology and the effect of speech muscle tension under pressure.
2. Importance of Contextual Learning
For idols, pronunciation is not only about speaking; it is also crucial for singing and stage performance.
Learning words like 공룡 in songs, scripts, or fan interactions allows learners to internalize pronunciation patterns naturally.
3. Phonological Transfer
Japanese learners often unconsciously apply Japanese rules to Korean.
Examples from Sana, Sakura, and Tsuki illustrate how Japanese learners may simplify complex consonant clusters or approximate palatalized sounds to familiar Japanese equivalents, such as /ん/ or /ヨン/.
4. Practical Tips for Learners
Break down difficult words into manageable segments: /공/ → /룡/ → /공룡/.
Use analogies with familiar Japanese sounds.
Relax the speech muscles to reduce tension.
Practice words in context, like lyrics or sentences, rather than in isolation.
💡 Takeaway:
The pronunciation of 공룡 is not just a fun linguistic challenge—it reveals key aspects of Korean phonology, including 받침 usage, palatalization, and consonant clusters. Observing how professional K-pop idols navigate these challenges helps learners understand the real-world difficulties and provides effective strategies for mastering Korean pronunciation.
7. Other Tricky Korean Words for Japanese Learners
Beyond 공룡, Japanese K-pop idols often struggle with other Korean words that contain consonant clusters, tense consonants, or palatalized sounds. Words like 밟다 [bap̚da], 흙 [hɯk̚], or 잊다 [it̚da] frequently cause mispronunciation. These challenges arise because Japanese syllables typically follow a simple CV (consonant + vowel) structure, and final consonants are very limited. Learning to control tongue placement, airflow, and subtle transitions is key. Language instructors who help foreigners with Korean pronunciation often break down these words into smaller parts, start with slow articulation, and gradually increase speed. Watching how idols work through these tricky words provides learners with a practical glimpse into the real challenges of mastering Korean pronunciation.