How do I know the difference between ㅐ and ㅔ in Korean words?
I realise the pronunciation is almost identical. But for example, if I hear "dae", is there a way to know if I should write it 대 or 데?Also: I realise writing Korean using the roman alphabet is not a perfect way to indicate the sounds, but if there's a clear difference when hearing "de/dae", I'd like to know. Thankyou! ^^Thanks Ino: my Korean friends have explained that there is almost no difference - usually the pronunciation is the same. So I guessed the context of the word would indicate the spelling.

I was wondering if there was some way(s) to tell, eg 동대문 I can read as taken from the chinese 东大门; so if I know the "dae" syllable in a word means "big/大" then I can always write it as 대. For example.

Correct?

Question

How do I know the difference between ㅐ and ㅔ in Korean words?
I realise the pronunciation is almost identical.  But for example, if I hear "dae", is there a way to know if I should write it 대 or 데?Also: I realise writing Korean using the roman alphabet is not a perfect way to indicate the sounds, but if there's a clear difference when hearing "de/dae", I'd like to know.  Thankyou! ^^Thanks Ino: my Korean friends have explained that there is almost no difference - usually the pronunciation is the same.  So I guessed the context of the word would indicate the spelling.

I was wondering if there was some way(s) to tell, eg 동대문  I can read as  taken from the chinese 东大门; so if I know the "dae" syllable in a word means "big/大" then I can always write it as 대.  For example.

Correct?

Answer

its difficult to Korean. 
even Korean cant discriminate correctly about pronunciation)

u must discriminate it in talk situation. 
if someone talk to u like "dae" or "de", perhaps its 대(dae)". 
coz "데(de) is unable to use solo(1 syllabary)" 
but "대(dae) is able to use solo" 

for example) in situation that someone give u something(like gift). 
someone talk to u "대(dae)". 

its ellipsis of "너의 손바닥을 대봐(put ur hand to me). 

its sorry u need only learn Korean hard.

Answer

Think how you know the difference between bone and born, or warm and worm. You will not be sure that you always pronounce them correctly unless you're American. The exact word would pop into your head once you hear the word because you're a native speaker. Many non-native speakers have no many opportunities to pick up words with the situation, and as a result of that, they lack of capability to process information in a total viewpoint. 

Yes, there's no Sino Korean word written as "데".

Answer

Hi Peachey, have a look at the answers here
http://www.italki.com/answers/question/20045.htm

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