받다 is the Korean verb meaning "to receive," "to get," or "to accept." It's the counterpart to 주다 (to give).
Basic Conjugations
Present Tense
Formal (합니다체):
- 받습니다 (receive)
Polite (해요체):
- 받아요 (receive)
Casual (반말):
- 받아 (receive)
Past Tense
Formal: 받았습니다 (received) Polite: 받았어요 (received) Casual: 받았어 (received)
Future Tense
Formal: 받을 것입니다 (will receive) Polite: 받을 거예요 (will receive) Casual: 받을 거야 (will receive)
Basic Structure
Pattern: [Receiver] + [Giver]에게서/한테서 + [Object]을/를 + 받다
Components:
- Receiver: Subject (person receiving)
- Giver: Person giving + 에게서/한테서
- Object: What's received + 을/를
Examples:
- 나는 친구에게서 선물을 받았어요 (I received a present from my friend)
- 학생이 선생님께 상을 받았어요 (Student received an award from teacher)
- 동생이 언니한테 돈을 받아요 (Younger sibling receives money from older sister)
Particles with 받다
Giver Particles: 에게서/한테서/께
에게서: Neutral, "from"
- 친구에게서 받아요 (receive from friend)
한테서: Casual, "from"
- 친구한테서 받아요 (receive from friend)
께: Honorific giver (no 서 needed)
- 선생님께 받아요 (receive from teacher)
Note: Often shortened to 에게/한테 in casual speech
Object Particle: 을/를
을: After consonant
- 책을 받아요 (receive a book)
를: After vowel
- 편지를 받아요 (receive a letter)
Common Patterns
Receiving Things
물건 받다 (receive objects):
- 선물을 받아요 (receive a present)
- 돈을 받아요 (receive money)
- 책을 받아요 (receive a book)
- 꽃을 받아요 (receive flowers)
Receiving Communication
연락/정보 받다:
- 전화를 받아요 (receive/answer a phone call)
- 메시지를 받아요 (receive a message)
- 이메일을 받아요 (receive an email)
- 편지를 받아요 (receive a letter)
Receiving Abstract Things
추상적인 것:
- 상을 받아요 (receive an award)
- 도움을 받아요 (receive help)
- 교육을 받아요 (receive education)
- 영향을 받아요 (receive influence / be influenced)
- 스트레스를 받아요 (receive stress / be stressed)
Special Meanings of 받다
Answer/Accept
전화 받다: Answer the phone
- 전화 받으세요 (Please answer the phone)
- 전화 못 받았어요 (Couldn't answer the phone)
주문 받다: Take an order
- 주문 받겠습니다 (I'll take your order)
Undergo/Experience
Testing, procedures:
- 시험을 받아요 (take a test)
- 수술을 받아요 (undergo surgery)
- 치료를 받아요 (receive treatment)
- 검사를 받아요 (undergo examination)
Honorific Considerations
No Special Honorific Form
Unlike 주다 (→ 드리다), 받다 has no separate honorific form
Instead, use honorific particles and subject markers:
- 선생님께 받았어요 (received from teacher)
- 할머니께서 주신 선물을 받았어요 (received the gift that grandma gave)
Negative Forms
Not Receive
안 받다:
- 안 받아요 (don't receive / am not receiving)
- 안 받았어요 (didn't receive)
받지 않다:
- 받지 않아요 (don't receive)
- 받지 않았어요 (didn't receive)
Can't Receive
못 받다:
- 못 받아요 (can't receive)
- 못 받았어요 (couldn't receive)
Common Expressions
Receiving Things
- 선물 받았어요 (I received a present)
- 돈 받았어요? (Did you receive the money?)
- 편지 받았어요 (I got your letter)
- 아직 안 받았어요 (Haven't received it yet)
Phone Calls
- 전화 받으세요 (Please answer the phone)
- 전화 못 받았어요 (Couldn't answer the call)
- 전화 안 받아요 (Not answering the phone)
Payment
- 월급 받았어요 (Received salary)
- 돈 받았어요 (Got paid)
- 용돈 받았어요 (Received allowance)
Awards/Recognition
- 상 받았어요 (Received an award)
- 칭찬 받았어요 (Received praise)
- 인정받았어요 (Received recognition)
Question Forms
Asking About Receiving
Did you receive?:
- 받았어요? (Did you receive it?)
- 뭐 받았어요? (What did you receive?)
- 누구한테 받았어요? (Who did you receive it from?)
- 언제 받았어요? (When did you receive it?)
Contrast: 주다 vs 받다
Different Perspectives
주다: Giver's perspective
- 나는 친구에게 책을 줬어요 (I gave a book to my friend)
받다: Receiver's perspective
- 나는 친구에게서 책을 받았어요 (I received a book from my friend)
Particle Differences
주다: 에게/한테 (to)
- 친구에게 줘요 (give TO friend)
받다: 에게서/한테서 (from)
- 친구에게서 받아요 (receive FROM friend)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 친구를 선물을 받았어요
Wrong particle on giver
✅ Correct: 친구에게서 선물을 받았어요
Use 에게서/한테서 for source
❌ Incorrect: 전화를 대답해요
Wrong verb for answering phone
✅ Correct: 전화를 받아요
Use 받다 for phone calls
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Gift
A: 생일 선물 받았어요?
(Did you receive birthday presents?)
B: 네, 친구들한테서 많이 받았어요.
(Yes, I received a lot from my friends.)
Dialogue 2: Phone Call
A: 왜 전화 안 받았어요?
(Why didn't you answer the phone?)
B: 죄송해요. 회의 중이어서 못 받았어요.
(Sorry. I was in a meeting so I couldn't answer.)
Dialogue 3: Payment
A: 월급 받았어요?
(Did you get your salary?)
B: 네, 어제 받았어요.
(Yes, I received it yesterday.)
Dialogue 4: Help
A: 도움 많이 받았어요.
(I received a lot of help.)
B: 천만에요. 언제든지 말씀하세요.
(You're welcome. Say anytime.)
Special Expressions with 받다
Emotional/Physical States
스트레스 받다: Be stressed
- 요즘 스트레스 많이 받아요 (I'm very stressed lately)
충격 받다: Be shocked
- 그 소식에 충격 받았어요 (I was shocked by that news)
상처 받다: Be hurt (emotionally)
- 그 말에 상처 받았어요 (I was hurt by those words)
Influence
영향 받다: Be influenced
- 친구들한테 영향을 많이 받아요 (I'm greatly influenced by my friends)
With Other Patterns
Can Receive: -(으)ㄹ 수 있다
- 받을 수 있어요 (can receive)
- 못 받을 수도 있어요 (might not be able to receive)
Must Receive: -아/어야 하다
- 받아야 해요 (must receive)
- 꼭 받아야 돼요 (definitely must receive)
Want to Receive: -고 싶다
- 받고 싶어요 (want to receive)
- 선물 받고 싶어요 (want to receive a present)
Summary Table
| Tense | Polite Form | Casual Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | 받아요 | 받아 | receive(s) |
| Past | 받았어요 | 받았어 | received |
| Future | 받을 거예요 | 받을 거야 | will receive |
| Can | 받을 수 있어요 | 받을 수 있어 | can receive |
| Can't | 못 받아요 | 못 받아 | can't receive |
Key Takeaways
✅ Basic meaning: To receive, get, accept
✅ Giver particle: 에게서/한테서 (from)
✅ Object particle: 을/를
✅ No special honorific: Use particle 께 for honored giver
✅ Special uses: Answer phone, take orders, undergo tests
✅ Opposite of 주다: Receiver's perspective
받다 is essential for expressing the receiver's perspective in giving and receiving situations, and has many special uses in Korean including answering phones, taking orders, and undergoing experiences.