"초 (Initial)" refers to the first consonant sound in a syllable in the Korean writing system, known as Hangul. Each syllable block in Hangul is composed of an initial consonant, a vowel, and sometimes a final consonant. The initial consonant plays a crucial role in determining the pronunciation and meaning of the syllable. In the context of the Korean language, there are 19 basic initial consonants, including sounds like ㄱ (g/k), ㄴ (n), and ㅅ (s). Understanding these initial sounds is essential for reading and speaking Korean, as they form the foundation of syllable construction and overall language comprehension.