되다 is a highly versatile verb with multiple meanings: "to become," "to be done/made," "to be okay/allowed," and forms the passive voice. Understanding its various uses is essential for natural Korean.
Core Meanings
1. Become (Identity/Role Change)
Change into something else:
- 의사가 되다 (become a doctor)
- 선생님이 되다 (become a teacher)
- 어른이 되다 (become an adult)
- 친구가 되다 (become friends)
2. Be Done/Made (Passive)
Something is completed or made:
- 숙제가 되다 (homework is done)
- 밥이 되다 (rice is cooked)
- 준비가 되다 (preparation is done)
3. Be Okay/Allowed (Permission)
Something is acceptable or permitted:
- 돼요 (It's okay/allowed)
- 안 돼요 (It's not okay/not allowed)
- 괜찮아요, 돼요 (It's fine, it's okay)
4. Work Out/Succeed
Things turn out well:
- 잘 됐어요 (It worked out well)
- 안 됐어요 (It didn't work out / That's too bad)
Conjugation
Present Tense
Formal: 됩니다
Polite: 돼요 / 되어요
Casual: 돼 / 되어
Past Tense
Formal: 됐습니다 / 되었습니다
Polite: 됐어요 / 되었어요
Casual: 됐어 / 되었어
Future Tense
Formal: 될 것입니다
Polite: 될 거예요
Casual: 될 거야
Usage Pattern 1: Becoming (Identity)
Noun + (이/가) 되다
Becoming something new:
- 의사가 되다 (become a doctor)
- 유명해지다 (become famous)
- 부자가 되다 (become rich)
- 어른이 되다 (become an adult)
- 친구가 되다 (become friends)
Examples:
-
저는 선생님이 되고 싶어요
(I want to become a teacher) -
그는 유명한 배우가 됐어요
(He became a famous actor) -
우리 친구가 될까요?
(Shall we become friends?)
Time Expressions
Becoming a certain time:
- 몇 시가 됐어요? (What time is it? / What time did it become?)
- 12시가 됐어요 (It became 12 o'clock)
- 봄이 됐어요 (It became spring)
Age Expressions
Reaching an age:
- 스무 살이 됐어요 (turned twenty)
- 몇 살이 됐어요? (How old did you turn?)
Usage Pattern 2: Passive Voice
Noun + (이/가) 되다
Something is done/completed:
- 준비가 됐어요 (preparation is done / I'm ready)
- 밥이 됐어요 (rice is cooked / meal is ready)
- 숙제가 됐어요 (homework is done)
- 예약이 됐어요 (reservation is made)
Examples:
-
준비가 다 됐어요?
(Is everything ready? / Are you all prepared?) -
네, 다 됐어요
(Yes, everything's ready) -
저녁 준비가 됐어요
(Dinner is ready)
Usage Pattern 3: Permission/Possibility
되다 for "It's okay/allowed"
Affirmative:
- 돼요 (It's okay / It's allowed / That works)
- 괜찮아요, 돼요 (It's fine, it's okay)
- 그렇게 해도 돼요 (You can do it that way / It's okay to do that)
Negative:
- 안 돼요 (It's not okay / It's not allowed)
- 그렇게 하면 안 돼요 (You can't do it that way)
Examples:
-
A: 사진 찍어도 돼요?
(May I take a photo? / Is it okay to take a photo?) -
B: 네, 돼요
(Yes, it's okay)
-
A: 여기 앉아도 돼요?
(May I sit here?) -
B: 미안해요, 안 돼요
(Sorry, you can't)
-(으)면 되다: Just need to
All you need to do is...:
- 여기 쓰면 돼요 (Just write here)
- 전화하면 돼요 (Just call)
- 기다리면 돼요 (Just wait)
Usage Pattern 4: Working Out
Things Turning Out
Success:
- 잘 됐어요 (It worked out well / That's good)
- 일이 잘 됐어요 (Work went well)
Failure/Sympathy:
- 안 됐어요 (It didn't work out / That's too bad / I'm sorry to hear that)
- 정말 안 됐어요 (That's really too bad)
Examples:
-
A: 시험 합격했어요!
(I passed the exam!) -
B: 잘 됐네요!
(That's great! / How wonderful!)
-
A: 할머니가 아프세요
(My grandmother is sick) -
B: 정말 안 됐네요
(I'm so sorry to hear that)
Common Expressions
Daily Permission
- 해도 돼요? (May I do it? / Is it okay?)
- 먹어도 돼요? (May I eat it?)
- 가도 돼요? (May I go?)
- 써도 돼요? (May I use it?)
- 봐도 돼요? (May I see it?)
Readiness
- 준비 됐어요? (Are you ready?)
- 다 됐어요 (All done / All ready)
- 아직 안 됐어요 (Not yet / Not ready yet)
Time Expressions
- 몇 시 됐어요? (What time is it?)
- 늦었어요, 빨리 가요! (It's late, let's hurry!)
- 시간이 됐어요 (Time's up / It's time)
Outcomes
- 잘 됐어요 (That's good / It worked out)
- 안 됐어요 (That's too bad)
- 어떻게 됐어요? (How did it go? / What happened?)
Negative Forms
Not Become
안 되다:
- 안 돼요 (doesn't become / isn't okay / can't)
- 안 됐어요 (didn't become / didn't work out)
Can't Become
못 되다 (rare):
- 못 돼요 (can't become)
Must Not
-(으)면 안 되다:
- 가면 안 돼요 (must not go)
- 먹으면 안 돼요 (must not eat)
Question Forms
Asking Permission
-아/어도 되다?:
- 해도 돼요? (May I do it?)
- 먹어도 돼요? (May I eat it?)
- 가 봐도 돼요? (May I go and see?)
Asking About Outcomes
어떻게 됐어요?:
- 일이 어떻게 됐어요? (How did it go?)
- 시험이 어떻게 됐어요? (How was the exam?)
Checking Readiness
됐어요?:
- 준비 됐어요? (Ready?)
- 다 됐어요? (All done?)
Comparison with Similar Patterns
되다 vs -아/어지다
되다: Identity/role change
- 의사가 되다 (become a doctor)
-아/어지다: State change
- 좋아지다 (become good/better)
되다 vs -게 되다
되다: Simple becoming
- 친구가 되다 (become friends)
-게 되다: Come to do something
- 친구를 만나게 되다 (come to meet friends)
돼요 vs 괜찮아요
Both mean "it's okay":
- 돼요 (it's okay - permission focused)
- 괜찮아요 (it's okay - condition focused)
Often used together:
- 괜찮아요, 돼요 (It's fine, it's okay)
Common Contractions
Casual Speech
되어 → 돼:
- 되어요 → 돼요
- 되었어요 → 됐어요
- 되어 → 돼
This contraction is standard in all speech levels.
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Permission
A: 여기서 담배 피워도 돼요?
(May I smoke here?)
B: 아니요, 안 돼요. 밖에서 피우세요.
(No, you can't. Please smoke outside.)
Dialogue 2: Becoming
A: 장래 희망이 뭐예요?
(What's your dream for the future?)
B: 저는 의사가 되고 싶어요.
(I want to become a doctor.)
Dialogue 3: Readiness
A: 준비 다 됐어요?
(Are you all ready?)
B: 네, 다 됐어요. 출발할까요?
(Yes, all ready. Shall we leave?)
Dialogue 4: Sympathy
A: 시험에 떨어졌어요.
(I failed the exam.)
B: 정말 안 됐네요. 다음에는 잘 될 거예요.
(That's too bad. You'll do well next time.)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 좋게 되다
Using 되다 for state changes
✅ Correct: 좋아지다
Use -아/어지다 for adjective state changes
❌ Incorrect: 선생님을 되다
Using wrong particle
✅ Correct: 선생님이 되다
Use 이/가 particle with 되다
❌ Incorrect: 해도 되어요?
Not using contraction
✅ Correct: 해도 돼요?
Always use 돼요, not 되어요
Usage Notes
When to Use 되다
Use for:
- Identity/role transformations
- Passive constructions (being done)
- Permission and possibility
- Expressing outcomes
Don't confuse with:
- -아/어지다 (state changes with adjectives)
- -게 되다 (coming to do something)
Summary Table
| Usage | Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Becoming | Noun + 이/가 되다 | 의사가 되다 | Become a doctor |
| Passive | Noun + 이/가 되다 | 준비가 되다 | Be prepared/ready |
| Permission | -아/어도 되다 | 해도 돼요 | May I do it? |
| Prohibition | -(으)면 안 되다 | 하면 안 돼요 | Must not do |
| Just need to | -(으)면 되다 | 기다리면 돼요 | Just wait |
| Worked out | 잘 되다 | 잘 됐어요 | It worked out |
| Too bad | 안 되다 | 안 됐어요 | That's too bad |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Multiple meanings: Become, be done, be okay, work out
- ✅ Essential verb: Used constantly in daily Korean
- ✅ Permission: -아/어도 돼요 (may I...?)
- ✅ Prohibition: -(으)면 안 돼요 (must not...)
- ✅ Always contracts: 되어 → 돼
- ✅ Different from -아/어지다: 되다 is for identity, not state changes
되다 is one of the most important and versatile verbs in Korean. Master its various meanings and patterns to speak naturally and express permission, transformation, and outcomes effectively.