Korean has a passive voice system that uses special suffixes -이, -히, -리, -기 to transform active verbs into passive forms. These are attached directly to verb stems to create passive verbs.
What is Passive Voice?
Active vs. Passive
Active voice: Subject performs the action
- 도둑이 문을 열었어요 (Thief opened the door)
- Subject (thief) actively does the action
Passive voice: Subject receives the action
- 문이 열렸어요 (The door was opened)
- Subject (door) receives the action
Korean Passive Voice
Different from English:
- Not formed with helping verbs
- Uses special passive verb forms
- Limited to certain verbs
- Less common than English passive
The Four Passive Suffixes
Korean passive verbs are formed by adding one of four suffixes:
-이- (most common)
Attached to certain verb stems:
- 보다 (see) → 보이다 (be seen, be visible)
- 먹다 (eat) → 먹이다 (be fed, feed someone)
- 쓰다 (write/use) → 쓰이다 (be written, be used)
- 잡다 (catch) → 잡히다* (be caught)
*Note: 잡다 uses -히- (see below)
-히-
Attached to certain verb stems:
- 잡다 (catch) → 잡히다 (be caught)
- 읽다 (read) → 읽히다 (be read)
- 밟다 (step on) → 밟히다 (be stepped on)
- 막다 (block) → 막히다 (be blocked)
-리-
Attached to certain verb stems:
- 걸다 (hang) → 걸리다 (be hung, be caught)
- 팔다 (sell) → 팔리다 (be sold)
- 들다 (lift) → 들리다 (be heard, be lifted)
- 물다 (bite) → 물리다 (be bitten)
-기-
Least common:
- 안다 (hold/hug) → 안기다 (be held/hugged)
- 쉬다 (rest - special case) → 쉬기다 (give rest - rare)
Which Suffix to Use?
No Clear Rule
Unfortunately:
- No systematic rule for which suffix
- Must be memorized per verb
- Some verbs can't be made passive this way
- Dictionary is your friend
Common Patterns (But Not Rules)
Tendency (not absolute):
- Verbs with ㅂ final often use -히-
- But many exceptions exist
- Best to learn each verb individually
Common Passive Verbs
-이- Passive Verbs
| Active | Passive | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 보다 | 보이다 | be seen, be visible |
| 쓰다 | 쓰이다 | be used, be written |
| 먹다 | 먹이다 | be fed (feed someone) |
| 놓다 | 놓이다 | be placed |
| 싸다 | 싸이다 | be wrapped |
Examples:
- 저기 산이 보여요 (The mountain is visible over there)
- 이 단어가 자주 쓰여요 (This word is often used)
-히- Passive Verbs
| Active | Passive | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 잡다 | 잡히다 | be caught |
| 읽다 | 읽히다 | be read |
| 밟다 | 밟히다 | be stepped on |
| 막다 | 막히다 | be blocked |
| 쫓다 | 쫓기다 | be chased |
Examples:
- 도둑이 잡혔어요 (The thief was caught)
- 이 책이 많이 읽혀요 (This book is read a lot)
- 길이 막혔어요 (The road is blocked)
-리- Passive Verbs
| Active | Passive | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 걸다 | 걸리다 | be hung, be caught |
| 팔다 | 팔리다 | be sold |
| 들다 | 들리다 | be heard |
| 물다 | 물리다 | be bitten |
| 늘다 | 늘리다 | be stretched |
Examples:
- 그림이 벽에 걸렸어요 (The picture is hung on the wall)
- 이 책이 잘 팔려요 (This book sells well)
- 소리가 들려요 (Sound is heard / I hear a sound)
-기- Passive Verbs
| Active | Passive | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 안다 | 안기다 | be held, be hugged |
| 감다 | 감기다 | be wound |
| 끊다 | 끊기다 | be cut off |
Examples:
- 아기가 엄마에게 안겼어요 (Baby was held by mother)
- 전화가 끊겼어요 (The phone was hung up)
Conjugation of Passive Verbs
Same as Regular Verbs
Passive verbs conjugate normally:
Present:
- 보이다 → 보여요 (is visible)
- 잡히다 → 잡혀요 (is caught)
- 팔리다 → 팔려요 (is sold)
Past:
- 보이다 → 보였어요 (was visible)
- 잡히다 → 잡혔어요 (was caught)
- 팔리다 → 팔렸어요 (was sold)
Future:
- 보이다 → 보일 거예요 (will be visible)
- 잡히다 → 잡힐 거예요 (will be caught)
- 팔리다 → 팔릴 거예요 (will be sold)
Meanings and Usage
Not Always Literal Passive
Some passive verbs have evolved meanings:
들리다 (from 들다 - hear):
- Literal passive: be lifted
- Common meaning: be heard
- 소리가 들려요 (Sound is heard / I hear)
보이다 (from 보다 - see):
- Literal passive: be seen
- Common meaning: be visible, appear
- 멀리서 산이 보여요 (Mountain is visible from far away)
걸리다 (from 걸다 - hang):
- Literal passive: be hung
- Extended meanings: be caught, take time, get sick
- 감기에 걸렸어요 (I caught a cold)
- 한 시간 걸려요 (It takes one hour)
Intransitive-Like Usage
Many passive verbs function like intransitives:
- Don't need agent (person doing action)
- Focus on state or result
Example:
- 문이 열렸어요 (The door opened - no agent mentioned)
Common Expressions
보이다 (be visible)
Visibility and appearance:
- 저기 산이 보여요 (The mountain is visible)
- 잘 안 보여요 (It's not visible well / I can't see well)
- 행복해 보여요 (You look happy)
들리다 (be heard)
Sounds and hearing:
- 소리가 들려요 (I hear a sound)
- 잘 안 들려요 (I can't hear well)
- 이상한 소리가 들렸어요 (I heard a strange sound)
막히다 (be blocked)
Traffic and obstruction:
- 길이 막혔어요 (The road is blocked / There's traffic)
- 코가 막혔어요 (My nose is blocked / stuffy)
팔리다 (be sold)
Sales:
- 잘 팔려요 (It sells well)
- 다 팔렸어요 (It's all sold out)
걸리다 (multiple meanings)
Various uses:
- 그림이 벽에 걸려 있어요 (Picture is hung on wall)
- 감기에 걸렸어요 (I caught a cold)
- 30분 걸려요 (It takes 30 minutes)
- 경찰에게 걸렸어요 (Got caught by police)
Example Sentences
With -이-
- 멀리서 불빛이 보였어요 (Light was visible from far away)
- 이 도구가 자주 쓰여요 (This tool is often used)
- 아이에게 밥을 먹였어요 (I fed the child)
With -히-
- 도둑이 잡혔어요 (The thief was caught)
- 이 소설이 많이 읽혀요 (This novel is read a lot)
- 출퇴근 시간에 길이 막혀요 (Roads are blocked during rush hour)
With -리-
- 이 상품이 잘 팔려요 (This product sells well)
- 음악 소리가 들려요 (I hear music)
- 개한테 손이 물렸어요 (My hand was bitten by a dog)
With -기-
- 아기가 엄마에게 안겼어요 (Baby was held by mom)
- 밧줄이 감겼어요 (Rope was wound)
Particle Usage
Subject Particle -이/가
The receiver of action is subject:
- 문이 열렸어요 (Door was opened)
- 책이 팔렸어요 (Book was sold)
Agent Particle -에게/한테
When mentioning who did the action:
- 도둑이 경찰에게 잡혔어요 (Thief was caught by police)
- 개한테 물렸어요 (Was bitten by dog)
Less common in Korean than English passive
Other Particles
Same as active verbs:
- Location: -에
- Direction: -으로
- etc.
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 보이게 되다
Redundant passive construction
✅ Correct: 보이다
Use simple passive verb
❌ Incorrect: 문을 열리다
Wrong particle for passive
✅ Correct: 문이 열리다
Subject gets -이/가 in passive
❌ Incorrect: Using wrong suffix
막이다 (doesn't exist)
✅ Correct: 막히다
Learn which suffix each verb takes
Verbs Without Passive Forms
Not All Verbs Have Passive
Many verbs cannot use -이/히/리/기:
- 가다 (go) - no passive form
- 오다 (come) - no passive form
- 달리다 (run) - no passive form
Use other passive constructions (covered in other lessons):
- -아/어지다
- 당하다/받다
Special Cases
먹이다 (feed)
Can be passive or causative:
- Passive: 아기가 밥을 먹였어요 (Baby was fed - less common)
- Causative: 아기에게 밥을 먹였어요 (I fed the baby - more common)
Context determines meaning
들리다 (multiple meanings)
Different meanings:
- Be heard: 소리가 들려요
- Stop by: 집에 들렸어요 (Stopped by home)
- Be lifted: 짐이 들렸어요 (Luggage was lifted)
Context makes it clear
Summary Table: Common Passives
| Suffix | Active | Passive | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| -이- | 보다 | 보이다 | be visible |
| -이- | 쓰다 | 쓰이다 | be used |
| -히- | 잡다 | 잡히다 | be caught |
| -히- | 읽다 | 읽히다 | be read |
| -히- | 막다 | 막히다 | be blocked |
| -리- | 팔다 | 팔리다 | be sold |
| -리- | 들다 | 들리다 | be heard |
| -리- | 걸다 | 걸리다 | be hung/caught |
| -기- | 안다 | 안기다 | be held |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Four suffixes: -이, -히, -리, -기 create passive verbs
- ✅ No clear rule: Which suffix to use must be memorized
- ✅ Common verbs: Learn the most frequent passive forms first
- ✅ Conjugate normally: Passive verbs follow regular conjugation
- ✅ Extended meanings: Many have meanings beyond literal passive
- ✅ Less than English: Korean uses passive less frequently
- ✅ Subject changes: Receiver of action becomes subject (with -이/가)
- ✅ Agent optional: Don't always need to mention who did it
- ✅ Not all verbs: Many verbs can't form passive this way
The -이/히/리/기 passive is the most basic passive formation in Korean. Start by learning common passive verbs like 보이다, 들리다, 막히다, and 팔리다, as these appear frequently in daily Korean. With practice, you'll develop an intuition for which verbs can take which suffix!