This lesson covers the most frequently used passive verbs in Korean. These verbs appear constantly in daily conversation and are essential for natural Korean communication.
Most Essential Passive Verbs
보이다 (be visible, be seen)
From: 보다 (see)
Meaning: Be visible, appear, seem
Conjugation:
- Present: 보여요 (is visible)
- Past: 보였어요 (was visible)
- Future: 보일 거예요 (will be visible)
Common Usage:
- 저기 산이 보여요 (The mountain is visible over there)
- 잘 안 보여요 (It's not visible / I can't see well)
- 행복해 보여요 (You look happy)
- 여기서 바다가 보여요 (The ocean is visible from here)
- 멀리서 불빛이 보였어요 (Light was visible from far away)
Special uses:
- Looks/seems: -아/어 보이다
- 피곤해 보여요 (You look tired)
- 맛있어 보여요 (It looks delicious)
Note: Very common for describing visibility and appearance
들리다 (be heard)
From: 들다 (hear, lift)
Meaning: Be heard, be audible
Conjugation:
- Present: 들려요 (is heard)
- Past: 들렸어요 (was heard)
- Future: 들릴 거예요 (will be heard)
Common Usage:
- 소리가 들려요 (I hear a sound)
- 음악이 들려요 (I hear music)
- 잘 안 들려요 (I can't hear well)
- 이상한 소리가 들렸어요 (I heard a strange sound)
- 목소리가 들렸어요 (I heard a voice)
Other meaning: Stop by (different usage)
- 집에 들렸어요 (I stopped by home)
Note: Essential for talking about sounds and hearing
막히다 (be blocked)
From: 막다 (block, stop)
Meaning: Be blocked, be clogged, be jammed
Conjugation:
- Present: 막혀요 (is blocked)
- Past: 막혔어요 (was blocked)
- Future: 막힐 거예요 (will be blocked)
Common Usage - Traffic:
- 길이 막혔어요 (The road is blocked / There's traffic)
- 출퇴근 시간에 막혀요 (It's jammed during rush hour)
- 고속도로가 막혔어요 (The highway is jammed)
Common Usage - Body:
- 코가 막혔어요 (My nose is stuffy/blocked)
- 귀가 막혔어요 (My ears are blocked)
Common Usage - Other:
- 길이 막혔어요 (The way is blocked)
- 하수구가 막혔어요 (The drain is clogged)
Note: Very practical for daily complaints about traffic!
팔리다 (be sold)
From: 팔다 (sell)
Meaning: Be sold, sell (intransitive)
Conjugation:
- Present: 팔려요 (sells, is sold)
- Past: 팔렸어요 (was sold)
- Future: 팔릴 거예요 (will be sold)
Common Usage:
- 이 책이 잘 팔려요 (This book sells well)
- 다 팔렸어요 (It's all sold out)
- 빨리 팔렸어요 (It sold quickly)
- 인기 상품이 많이 팔려요 (Popular products sell a lot)
Sold out:
- 매진됐어요 / 다 팔렸어요 (Sold out)
Note: Essential for shopping and business
잡히다 (be caught)
From: 잡다 (catch, grab)
Meaning: Be caught, be grabbed
Conjugation:
- Present: 잡혀요 (is caught)
- Past: 잡혔어요 (was caught)
- Future: 잡힐 거예요 (will be caught)
Common Usage:
- 도둑이 잡혔어요 (The thief was caught)
- 물고기가 잡혔어요 (A fish was caught)
- 범인이 잡혔어요 (The criminal was caught)
- 경찰에게 잡혔어요 (Got caught by the police)
Figurative use:
- 눈에 잘 잡히다 (Be easy to spot/notice)
걸리다 (be hung, be caught, take time)
From: 걸다 (hang)
Meaning: Be hung, be caught, take time, catch (illness)
Conjugation:
- Present: 걸려요 (is hung, takes, catches)
- Past: 걸렸어요 (was hung, took, caught)
- Future: 걸릴 거예요 (will be hung, will take)
Common Usage - Hung:
- 그림이 벽에 걸려 있어요 (Picture is hung on wall)
- 옷이 옷걸이에 걸렸어요 (Clothes are hung on hanger)
Common Usage - Time:
- 30분 걸려요 (It takes 30 minutes)
- 얼마나 걸려요? (How long does it take?)
- 한 시간 걸렸어요 (It took one hour)
Common Usage - Illness:
- 감기에 걸렸어요 (I caught a cold)
- 독감에 걸렸어요 (I caught the flu)
Common Usage - Caught:
- 경찰에게 걸렸어요 (Got caught by police)
Note: Very versatile verb with multiple meanings
읽히다 (be read)
From: 읽다 (read)
Meaning: Be read, be readable
Conjugation:
- Present: 읽혀요 (is read)
- Past: 읽혔어요 (was read)
- Future: 읽힐 거예요 (will be read)
Common Usage:
- 이 책이 많이 읽혀요 (This book is read a lot)
- 잘 읽히지 않아요 (It doesn't read well / It's not readable)
- 쉽게 읽혀요 (It reads easily)
Note: Less common than English equivalent, but useful for books/texts
쓰이다 (be used, be written)
From: 쓰다 (use, write)
Meaning: Be used, be written, be employed
Conjugation:
- Present: 쓰여요 (is used)
- Past: 쓰였어요 (was used)
- Future: 쓰일 거예요 (will be used)
Common Usage:
- 이 단어가 자주 쓰여요 (This word is often used)
- 일상에서 많이 쓰여요 (It's used a lot in daily life)
- 이 도구가 쓰여요 (This tool is used)
- 옛날에 쓰였어요 (It was used in the old days)
Note: Useful for discussing word/tool usage
Other Common Passive Verbs
열리다 (be opened)
From: 열다 (open)
Usage:
- 문이 열렸어요 (The door opened)
- 가게가 9시에 열려요 (Store opens at 9)
- 창문이 열려 있어요 (Window is open)
닫히다 (be closed)
From: 닫다 (close)
Usage:
- 문이 닫혔어요 (The door closed)
- 가게가 닫혔어요 (Store is closed)
- 자동으로 닫혀요 (It closes automatically)
싸이다 (be wrapped)
From: 싸다 (wrap)
Usage:
- 선물이 예쁘게 싸였어요 (Gift was wrapped prettily)
- 포장지에 싸여 있어요 (It's wrapped in wrapping paper)
놓이다 (be placed)
From: 놓다 (place, put down)
Usage:
- 책이 책상 위에 놓여 있어요 (Book is placed on desk)
- 잘 놓였어요 (It's placed well)
숨기다 (be hidden)
From: 숨다 (hide)
Usage:
- 보물이 숨겨져 있어요 (Treasure is hidden)
- 잘 숨겨졌어요 (It's well hidden)
밟히다 (be stepped on)
From: 밟다 (step on)
Usage:
- 발이 밟혔어요 (My foot was stepped on)
- 잔디를 밟히지 마세요 (Don't step on the grass)
물리다 (be bitten)
From: 물다 (bite)
Usage:
- 개한테 물렸어요 (I was bitten by a dog)
- 모기한테 물렸어요 (I was bitten by a mosquito)
안기다 (be held, be hugged)
From: 안다 (hold, hug)
Usage:
- 아기가 엄마에게 안겼어요 (Baby was held by mom)
- 품에 안겼어요 (Was held in arms)
Usage Patterns
State Resulting from Action
Using -어/아 있다:
- 문이 열려 있어요 (Door is open - state)
- 그림이 걸려 있어요 (Picture is hung - state)
- 옷이 걸려 있어요 (Clothes are hung)
Shows current state resulting from past action
With Time Expressions
걸리다 for duration:
- 얼마나 걸려요? (How long does it take?)
- 30분 걸려요 (Takes 30 minutes)
- 오래 걸렸어요 (It took a long time)
Negative Forms
안 + passive verb:
- 안 보여요 (Not visible / Can't see)
- 안 들려요 (Can't hear)
- 안 팔려요 (Doesn't sell)
-지 않다:
- 보이지 않아요 (Not visible)
- 들리지 않아요 (Not audible)
Example Sentences by Context
Shopping
- 이 상품이 잘 팔려요 (This product sells well)
- 다 팔렸어요 (It's all sold out)
- 할인 제품이 빨리 팔렸어요 (Discounted items sold quickly)
Traffic
- 길이 막혔어요 (The road is jammed)
- 퇴근 시간에 막혀요 (It's jammed during rush hour)
- 사고로 고속도로가 막혔어요 (Highway is jammed due to accident)
Sickness
- 감기에 걸렸어요 (I caught a cold)
- 독감에 걸렸어요 (I caught the flu)
- 코가 막혔어요 (My nose is stuffed)
Visibility
- 멀리서 산이 보여요 (Mountain is visible from far away)
- 안개 때문에 잘 안 보여요 (Can't see well because of fog)
- 여기서 바다가 보여요 (Ocean is visible from here)
Sounds
- 음악 소리가 들려요 (I hear music)
- 잘 안 들려요 (Can't hear well)
- 이상한 소리가 들렸어요 (I heard a strange sound)
Opening/Closing
- 문이 자동으로 열려요 (Door opens automatically)
- 가게가 10시에 열려요 (Store opens at 10)
- 문이 닫혔어요 (Door closed)
Common Expressions
눈에 보이다
Be visible, be obvious:
- 눈에 보이는 차이 (Visible difference)
- 눈에 잘 안 보여요 (Not easily visible)
귀에 들리다
Be audible:
- 귀에 잘 들려요 (Clearly audible)
- 귀에 안 들려요 (Can't hear)
시간이 걸리다
Take time:
- 시간이 많이 걸려요 (Takes a lot of time)
- 시간이 얼마나 걸려요? (How long does it take?)
감기에 걸리다
Catch a cold:
- 감기에 자주 걸려요 (I catch colds often)
- 감기에 걸리지 마세요 (Don't catch a cold)
Quick Reference Table
| Passive | Active | Meaning | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보이다 | 보다 | be visible | 저기 산이 보여요 |
| 들리다 | 들다 | be heard | 소리가 들려요 |
| 막히다 | 막다 | be blocked | 길이 막혔어요 |
| 팔리다 | 팔다 | be sold | 잘 팔려요 |
| 잡히다 | 잡다 | be caught | 도둑이 잡혔어요 |
| 걸리다 | 걸다 | be hung/take | 30분 걸려요 |
| 열리다 | 열다 | be opened | 문이 열렸어요 |
| 닫히다 | 닫다 | be closed | 가게가 닫혔어요 |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Most essential: 보이다, 들리다, 막히다, 팔리다, 걸리다
- ✅ Multiple meanings: Many passive verbs have extended meanings (걸리다)
- ✅ Daily life: These verbs appear constantly in conversation
- ✅ Traffic complaints: 막히다 is essential for Korean city life
- ✅ Visibility/sounds: 보이다/들리다 used more than English "be seen/heard"
- ✅ State vs action: -어/아 있다 shows resulting state
- ✅ Learn in context: Memorize common phrases with each verb
- ✅ Not always literal: Understand figurative uses (감기에 걸리다)
These common passive verbs form the foundation of everyday Korean conversation. Focus on mastering 보이다, 들리다, 막히다, 팔리다, and 걸리다 first, as you'll use these constantly. Practice them in natural contexts to develop fluency!