Causative verbs express making or causing someone to do something. Korean forms causatives by adding specific suffixes to verb stems: -이-, -히-, -리-, -기-, -우-, -추-.
Structure
Verb stem + Causative suffix + -다
Meaning: "Make/cause someone to [verb]"
Causative Suffixes
-이- (Most Common)
Added to certain verb stems:
- 먹다 → 먹이다 (feed = make eat)
- 죽다 → 죽이다 (kill = make die)
- 웃다 → 웃이다 (make laugh)
- 신다 → 신기다 (put shoes on someone)
- 앉다 → 앉히다 (seat = make sit)
-히-
Added to certain verb stems:
- 읽다 → 읽히다 (make read / be read)
- 입다 → 입히다 (dress = make wear)
- 앉다 → 앉히다 (seat = make sit)
- 맡다 → 맡히다 (entrust)
- 잡다 → 잡히다 (catch = make caught)
-리-
Added to specific verb stems:
- 알다 → 알리다 (inform = make know)
- 울다 → 울리다 (make cry / ring)
- 흐르다 → 흐르리다 → 흘리다 (spill = make flow)
-기-
Added to certain verb stems:
- 보다 → 보이다 (show = make see)
- 신다 → 신기다 (put shoes on)
- 벗다 → 벗기다 (undress = make take off)
- 쫓다 → 쫓기다 (chase = make flee)
-우-
Added to specific verb stems:
- 자다 → 재우다 (put to sleep)
- 서다 → 세우다 (make stand / stop)
- 차다 → 채우다 (fill)
- 깨다 → 깨우다 (wake up)
- 맞다 → 맞추다 (match / adjust)
-추-
Added to few verb stems:
- 낮다 → 낮추다 (lower)
- 높다 → 높이다 (raise)
- 맞다 → 맞추다 (match)
Core Meaning: Making Someone Do
Basic vs Causative
Without causative: Action by subject
- 먹다 (eat)
- 입다 (wear)
- 앉다 (sit)
- 보다 (see)
With causative: Making someone do action
- 먹이다 (feed = make eat)
- 입히다 (dress = make wear)
- 앉히다 (seat = make sit)
- 보이다 (show = make see)
Common Causative Verbs
Eating & Drinking
- 먹다 → 먹이다 (feed)
- 아기에게 밥을 먹여요 (I feed the baby)
Clothing
- 입다 → 입히다 (dress someone)
- 아이에게 옷을 입혀요 (I dress the child)
- 벗다 → 벗기다 (undress someone)
- 신발을 벗겨요 (Take off shoes for someone)
- 신다 → 신기다 (put shoes on someone)
- 아이에게 신발을 신겨요 (I put shoes on the child)
Position & Movement
- 앉다 → 앉히다 (seat someone)
- 손님을 앉혀요 (I seat the guest)
- 서다 → 세우다 (make stand)
- 차를 세워요 (I stop the car)
- 자다 → 재우다 (put to sleep)
- 아기를 재워요 (I put the baby to sleep)
- 깨다 → 깨우다 (wake someone up)
- 친구를 깨워요 (I wake up my friend)
Communication & Knowledge
- 알다 → 알리다 (inform / notify)
- 소식을 알려요 (I inform the news)
- 읽다 → 읽히다 (make read)
- 책을 읽혀요 (Make someone read the book)
- 보다 → 보이다 (show)
- 사진을 보여요 (I show the photo)
Emotions
- 웃다 → 웃이다 (make laugh)
- 친구를 웃여요 (I make my friend laugh)
- 울다 → 울리다 (make cry)
- 아기를 울려요 (Make the baby cry)
- 놀다 → 놀리다 (tease)
- 동생을 놀려요 (I tease my younger sibling)
Death & Life
- 죽다 → 죽이다 (kill)
- 벌레를 죽여요 (I kill the bug)
- 살다 → 살리다 (save / bring to life)
- 생명을 살려요 (I save a life)
Adjustment
- 높다 → 높이다 (raise / elevate)
- 가격을 높여요 (I raise the price)
- 낮다 → 낮추다 (lower)
- 목소리를 낮춰요 (I lower my voice)
- 맞다 → 맞추다 (match / adjust)
- 시간을 맞춰요 (I adjust the time)
- 채우다 (fill)
- 물을 채워요 (I fill with water)
Conjugation Patterns
Present Tense
Polite: Causative stem + -어요/-아요
- 먹이다 → 먹여요 (feed)
- 입히다 → 입혀요 (dress)
- 보이다 → 보여요 (show)
- 앉히다 → 앉혀요 (seat)
Past Tense
Polite: Causative stem + -었어요/-았어요
- 먹이다 → 먹였어요 (fed)
- 입히다 → 입혔어요 (dressed)
- 보이다 → 보였어요 (showed)
- 앉히다 → 앉혔어요 (seated)
Future Tense
Polite: Causative stem + -(으)ㄹ 거예요
- 먹이다 → 먹일 거예요 (will feed)
- 입히다 → 입힐 거예요 (will dress)
- 보이다 → 보일 거예요 (will show)
- 앉히다 → 앉힐 거예요 (will seat)
Sentence Patterns
[Subject] + [Object]을/를 + [Person]에게 + Causative Verb
Making someone do something:
- 엄마가 아기에게 밥을 먹여요 (Mom feeds the baby)
- 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혀요 (The teacher makes students read the book)
[Subject] + [Person]을/를 + Causative Verb
When object is the person:
- 아이를 재워요 (I put the child to sleep)
- 손님을 앉혀요 (I seat the guest)
- 친구를 깨워요 (I wake up my friend)
Passive vs Causative
Same Suffix, Different Meaning
Some verbs can be both passive and causative:
-
보이다
- Passive: 별이 보여요 (Stars are visible)
- Causative: 사진을 보여요 (I show the photo)
-
들리다
- Passive: 소리가 들려요 (Sound is heard)
- Causative: 음악을 들려요 (I play music for someone)
Context determines meaning
Irregular Patterns
ㅂ Irregular
- 돕다 → 도우다 → 돕히다 (make help)
ㄷ Irregular
- 듣다 → 들리다 (make hear / be heard)
ㅅ Irregular
- 낫다 → 나으다 → 낫추다 (lower - less common)
Common Expressions
Daily Life
- 아기에게 우유를 먹여요 (I feed milk to the baby)
- 아이에게 옷을 입혀요 (I dress the child)
- 손님을 앉혀요 (I seat the guest)
- 친구에게 사진을 보여요 (I show the photo to my friend)
Sleep & Wake
- 아기를 재워요 (I put the baby to sleep)
- 동생을 깨워요 (I wake up my younger sibling)
- 일찍 재워요 (I put [them] to bed early)
Information
- 소식을 알려요 (I inform the news)
- 진실을 알려요 (I reveal the truth)
- 이름을 알려 주세요 (Please let me know your name)
Adjustment
- 볼륨을 높여요 (I raise the volume)
- 가격을 낮춰요 (I lower the price)
- 시계를 맞춰요 (I set the clock)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Childcare
A: 아기가 배고파해요. (The baby seems hungry.)
B: 그럼 밥을 먹여야겠어요. (Then I should feed [them].)
Dialogue 2: Showing
A: 사진 좀 보여 줄 수 있어요? (Can you show me the photo?)
B: 네, 보여 드릴게요. (Yes, I'll show you.)
Dialogue 3: Waking Up
A: 동생을 깨웠어요? (Did you wake up your younger sibling?)
B: 아니요, 아직 안 깨웠어요. (No, I haven't woken them up yet.)
Dialogue 4: Information
A: 언제 알려 줄 거예요? (When will you let me know?)
B: 내일 알려 드릴게요. (I'll inform you tomorrow.)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 먹다 + -게 하다
Using -게 하다 instead of causative form
✅ Correct: 먹이다
Use proper causative suffix
❌ Incorrect: 보다 → 보히다
Wrong suffix choice
✅ Correct: 보이다
Use -이- for 보다
Learning Tips
Memorization Strategy
No fixed rule for which suffix:
- Learn causatives as separate vocabulary
- Common pairs should be memorized
- Practice with frequently used verbs first
High-Frequency Causatives
Focus on these first:
- 먹이다 (feed)
- 입히다 (dress)
- 보이다 (show)
- 앉히다 (seat)
- 재우다 (put to sleep)
- 깨우다 (wake up)
- 알리다 (inform)
Summary Table
| Base Verb | Causative | Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 먹다 | 먹이다 | -이- | feed |
| 입다 | 입히다 | -히- | dress |
| 앉다 | 앉히다 | -히- | seat |
| 알다 | 알리다 | -리- | inform |
| 보다 | 보이다 | -이- | show |
| 자다 | 재우다 | -우- | put to sleep |
| 낮다 | 낮추다 | -추- | lower |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Six main suffixes: -이/-히/-리/-기/-우/-추
- ✅ No fixed rules: Must memorize which verb takes which suffix
- ✅ Common in daily life: Essential for talking about childcare, teaching
- ✅ Meaning: Making or causing someone to do action
- ✅ Learn as vocabulary: Treat causatives as separate verbs
- ✅ Context matters: Some forms can be passive or causative
Causative formation is fundamental for expressing actions done to or for others. While there's no simple rule for which suffix to use, focusing on the most common causative verbs will give you a strong foundation for natural Korean expression.