TL;DR 🦄
- 🧲 Korean passive form shows that the subject receives an action or is affected by something: 문이 닫혀요 [mu-ni da-chyeo-yo] — The door is closed / gets closed.
- 🧩 Many passive verbs are made with -이-, -히-, -리-, or -기-: 보다 → 보이다, 닫다 → 닫히다, 열다 → 열리다, 끊다 → 끊기다.
- ⚠️ These forms are partly pattern-based but not perfectly predictable. Treat them like vocabulary families: learn common pairs first, then check a dictionary when unsure.
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use 
Korean Helper Widgets to hear the difference between active/passive pairs like 보다 [bo-da] and 보이다 [bo-i-da], 닫다 [dat-da] and 닫히다 [da-chi-da], 열다 [yeol-da] and 열리다 [yeol-li-da]. The sound shift is often easier to learn by ear. 🎧
🌈 The Big Picture
In an active sentence, the subject does the action:
- 사람이 문을 닫아요. [sa-ra-mi mu-neul da-da-yo] — A person closes the door. 🚪
In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action or ends up affected:
- 문이 닫혀요. [mu-ni da-chyeo-yo] — The door is closed / gets closed. 🚪
Korean passive often shifts attention away from “who did it” and toward “what happened to the thing.”
- Active: 누가 했어요? [nu-ga hae-sseo-yo] — Who did it?
- Passive: 무슨 일이 생겼어요? [mu-seun i-ri saeng-gyeo-sseo-yo] — What happened?
This is useful for doors closing, sounds being heard, things being seen, tickets being sold, lines being cut off, and problems getting solved. 🧩
🎨 The Core Passive Family
Common passive suffixes:
- -이- — 보다 → 보이다 [bo-da → bo-i-da] — to see → to be seen 👀
- -히- — 닫다 → 닫히다 [dat-da → da-chi-da] — to close → to be closed 🚪
- -리- — 열다 → 열리다 [yeol-da → yeol-li-da] — to open → to be opened / to open intransitively 🔓
- -기- — 끊다 → 끊기다 [kkeun-ta → kkeun-ki-da] — to cut off → to be cut off 📵
High-frequency pairs to memorize:
- 보다 → 보이다 [bo-da → bo-i-da] — to see → to be seen
- 쓰다 → 쓰이다 [sseu-da → sseu-i-da] — to write/use → to be written/used
- 놓다 → 놓이다 [no-ta → no-i-da] — to put/place → to be placed
- 쌓다 → 쌓이다 [ssa-ta → ssa-i-da] — to stack → to be stacked
- 닫다 → 닫히다 [dat-da → da-chi-da] — to close → to be closed
- 잡다 → 잡히다 [jap-da → ja-pi-da] — to catch → to be caught
- 읽다 → 읽히다 [ik-da → il-ki-da] — to read → to be read
- 열다 → 열리다 [yeol-da → yeol-li-da] — to open → to be opened
- 팔다 → 팔리다 [pal-da → pal-li-da] — to sell → to be sold
- 풀다 → 풀리다 [pul-da → pul-li-da] — to untie/solve → to be untied/solved
- 끊다 → 끊기다 [kkeun-ta → kkeun-ki-da] — to cut off → to be cut off
- 잠그다 → 잠기다 [jam-geu-da → jam-gi-da] — to lock → to be locked / to get locked
🛠️ How It Works in Sentences
- 문이 닫혔어요. [mu-ni da-chyeo-sseo-yo] — The door was closed / got closed. 🚪
- 문 = door, 닫히다 = to be closed.
- 멀리 산이 보여요. [meol-li sa-ni bo-yeo-yo] — A mountain is visible far away. ⛰️
- 멀리 = far away, 산 = mountain, 보이다 = to be seen/visible.
- 표가 다 팔렸어요. [pyo-ga da pal-lyeo-sseo-yo] — The tickets were all sold. 🎟️
- 표 = ticket, 다 = all, 팔리다 = to be sold.
- 전화가 끊겼어요. [jeon-hwa-ga kkeun-kyeo-sseo-yo] — The phone call got disconnected. 📵
- 전화 = phone call, 끊기다 = to be cut off/disconnected.
In passive sentences, Korean often uses 이/가 for the affected thing:
- 사람이 문을 닫았어요. [sa-ra-mi mu-neul da-da-sseo-yo] — A person closed the door.
- 문이 닫혔어요. [mu-ni da-chyeo-sseo-yo] — The door was closed.
🧩 General Formation Rule
There is no perfect “choose the suffix by sound” rule. These passive forms are partly historical and lexical, so the best beginner strategy is:
- Learn common active/passive pairs.
- Notice which suffix appears.
- Check a dictionary when creating a new passive verb.
Still, the broad shape is:
- Active verb stem + 이/히/리/기 + 다
Examples:
- 보다 → 보이다 — to see → to be seen
- 닫다 → 닫히다 — to close → to be closed
- 열다 → 열리다 — to open → to be opened
- 끊다 → 끊기다 — to cut off → to be cut off
Important: some forms can be passive or causative depending on context, and some English passive sentences sound more natural in Korean as active sentences. Do not force every English “be + past participle” into Korean passive. 🧠
📚 Cross-check note
The passive suffix family -이-, -히-, -리-, -기- and the active/passive contrast were checked against korean.go.kr and standard Korean grammar references. Korean passive is generally described as the subject being affected by another force, and many passive verbs are lexical items that should be checked in dictionaries. ✅
🪞 Synonym Alert
- -이/히/리/기- passive — built-in passive verb forms.
- 문이 닫혔어요. [mu-ni da-chyeo-sseo-yo] — The door was closed.
- -아/어지다 — can show “become/get” or passive-like change.
- 날씨가 추워졌어요. [nal-ssi-ga chu-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo] — The weather got cold.
- -아/어 있다 — shows a resulting state, often after a passive/intransitive verb.
- 문이 닫혀 있어요. [mu-ni da-chyeo i-sseo-yo] — The door is closed.
Quick feeling:
- 닫혔어요 = it got closed / was closed.
- 닫혀 있어요 = it is in the closed state.
⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge
- ❌ Assuming every English passive needs Korean passive → ✅ Korean often prefers active or intransitive wording.
- ❌ Making up passive forms freely → ✅ Check whether the passive verb exists: not every verb has a natural -이/히/리/기- passive.
- ❌ Confusing passive with causative → ✅ The same-looking suffix can sometimes make “be done” or “make someone do.” Context and dictionary entries matter.
- ❌ Forgetting the affected thing usually takes 이/가 → ✅ 문이 닫혔어요, not 문을 닫혔어요.
- ❌ Treating 보이다 only as “to be seen” → ✅ It also commonly means “to seem/look”: 맛있어 보여요 [ma-si-sseo bo-yeo-yo] — It looks delicious.
🎉 Bottom line: passive -이/히/리/기- is Korean’s “what happened to it?” tool. Learn the common pairs first, and your passive radar will get sharper over time. 📡✨
Try this exercise
Instructions: Choose the correct passive form or sentence frame. Read the Korean aloud, then open the Answer toggle. 🎧
1. 보다 → ＿＿＿＿
[bo-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to see → to be seen 👀
Answer
보이다 [bo-i-da].
2. 닫다 → ＿＿＿＿
[dat-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to close → to be closed 🚪
Answer
닫히다 [da-chi-da].
3. 열다 → ＿＿＿＿
[yeol-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to open → to be opened 🔓
Answer
열리다 [yeol-li-da].
4. 끊다 → ＿＿＿＿
[kkeun-ta → ＿＿＿＿]
to cut off → to be cut off 📵
Answer
끊기다 [kkeun-ki-da].
5. 문＿＿ 닫혔어요.
[mun-＿＿ da-chyeo-sseo-yo]
The door was closed. 🚪
Answer
이 — 문이 닫혔어요.
6. 표가 다 ＿＿＿＿.
[pyo-ga da ＿＿＿＿]
The tickets were all sold. 🎟️
Answer
팔렸어요 [pal-lyeo-sseo-yo] — 팔다 → 팔리다.
7. 전화가 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeon-hwa-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The phone call got disconnected. 📵
Answer
끊겼어요 [kkeun-kyeo-sseo-yo] — 끊기다.
8. 멀리 바다가 ＿＿＿＿.
[meol-li ba-da-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The sea is visible far away. 🌊
Answer
보여요 [bo-yeo-yo] — 보이다.
9. 문이 닫혀 ＿＿＿＿.
[mu-ni da-chyeo ＿＿＿＿]
The door is in a closed state. 🚪
Answer
있어요 — 문이 닫혀 있어요.
10. 문＿＿ 닫혔어요 or 문＿＿ 닫혔어요?
[mun-＿＿ da-chyeo-sseo-yo]
Which particle is natural for “The door was closed”? 🚪
Answer
문이 닫혔어요 — passive subject uses 이/가.
Vocabulary Box
- 보다 → to see
- 보이다 → to be seen / seem
- 닫다 → to close
- 닫히다 → to be closed
- 열다 → to open
- 열리다 → to be opened
- 끊다 → to cut off
- 끊기다 → to be cut off
- 문 → door
- 표 → ticket
- 전화 → phone call
- 멀리 → far away
- 바다 → sea
Memory tips 💡
- Active: doer + object + active verb.
- Passive: affected thing + 이/가 + passive verb.
- Memorize common passive pairs first.
Want more reps? Visit the Practice Hub when you're ready!
🎯 Practice Hub — Introduction to Passive Form: -이/히/리/기-
Welcome to the passive-form workshop. 🧲 You’ll practice common passive pairs, sentence particles, active-to-passive rewrites, and passive-state contrasts. The goal is not to invent every passive form. The goal is to recognize the common ones and know when Korean wants the “what happened to it?” perspective. 📡
📝 Instructions: Fill in each blank, read the Korean aloud, then check the Answer toggle. Memorize the pair, not just the suffix.
Exercise 1 — Match Active and Passive Pairs 🧱
A. 보다 → ＿＿＿＿
[bo-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to see → to be seen 👀
Answer
보이다 [bo-i-da].
B. 쓰다 → ＿＿＿＿
[sseu-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to write/use → to be written/used ✍️
Answer
쓰이다 [sseu-i-da].
C. 놓다 → ＿＿＿＿
[no-ta → ＿＿＿＿]
to put/place → to be placed 📍
Answer
놓이다 [no-i-da].
D. 닫다 → ＿＿＿＿
[dat-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to close → to be closed 🚪
Answer
닫히다 [da-chi-da].
E. 잡다 → ＿＿＿＿
[jap-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to catch → to be caught 🎣
Answer
잡히다 [ja-pi-da].
F. 읽다 → ＿＿＿＿
[ik-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to read → to be read 📖
Answer
읽히다 [il-ki-da].
G. 열다 → ＿＿＿＿
[yeol-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to open → to be opened 🔓
Answer
열리다 [yeol-li-da].
H. 팔다 → ＿＿＿＿
[pal-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to sell → to be sold 🎟️
Answer
팔리다 [pal-li-da].
I. 풀다 → ＿＿＿＿
[pul-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to untie/solve → to be untied/solved 🧩
Answer
풀리다 [pul-li-da].
J. 끊다 → ＿＿＿＿
[kkeun-ta → ＿＿＿＿]
to cut off → to be cut off 📵
Answer
끊기다 [kkeun-ki-da].
Vocabulary Box
- 보다 → to see
- 쓰다 → to write/use
- 놓다 → to put/place
- 닫다 → to close
- 잡다 → to catch
- 읽다 → to read
- 열다 → to open
- 팔다 → to sell
- 풀다 → to untie/solve
- 끊다 → to cut off
Tip 💡 Do not try to guess every passive. Learn common pairs as vocabulary.
Exercise 2 — Choose the Passive Verb 🧲
A. 멀리 산이 ＿＿＿＿.
[meol-li sa-ni ＿＿＿＿]
A mountain is visible far away. ⛰️
Answer
보여요 [bo-yeo-yo] — 보이다.
B. 문이 ＿＿＿＿.
[mu-ni ＿＿＿＿]
The door is closed / gets closed. 🚪
Answer
닫혀요 [da-chyeo-yo] — 닫히다.
C. 가게가 아침에 ＿＿＿＿.
[ga-ge-ga a-chi-me ＿＿＿＿]
The store opens in the morning. 🏪
Answer
열려요 [yeol-lyeo-yo] — 열리다.
D. 표가 다 ＿＿＿＿.
[pyo-ga da ＿＿＿＿]
The tickets are all sold. 🎟️
Answer
팔려요 [pal-lyeo-yo] — 팔리다.
E. 문제가 ＿＿＿＿.
[mun-je-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The problem gets solved. 🧩
Answer
풀려요 [pul-lyeo-yo] — 풀리다.
F. 전화가 자주 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeon-hwa-ga ja-ju ＿＿＿＿]
The call often gets disconnected. 📵
Answer
끊겨요 [kkeun-kyeo-yo] — 끊기다.
G. 책상 위에 책이 ＿＿＿＿.
[chaek-sang wi-e chae-gi ＿＿＿＿]
A book is placed on the desk. 📚
Answer
놓여요 [no-yeo-yo] — 놓이다.
H. 이 단어가 자주 ＿＿＿＿.
[i dan-eo-ga ja-ju ＿＿＿＿]
This word is used often. 🧾
Answer
쓰여요 [sseu-yeo-yo] — 쓰이다.
I. 도둑이 경찰에게 ＿＿＿＿.
[do-du-gi gyeong-chal-e-ge ＿＿＿＿]
The thief gets caught by the police. 🚓
Answer
잡혀요 [ja-pyeo-yo] — 잡히다.
J. 이 책은 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
[i chae-geun ma-ni ＿＿＿＿]
This book is read a lot. 📖
Answer
읽혀요 [il-kyeo-yo] — 읽히다.
Vocabulary Box
- 멀리 → far away
- 산 → mountain
- 문 → door
- 가게 → store
- 아침 → morning
- 표 → ticket
- 문제 → problem
- 전화 → phone call
- 책상 → desk
- 단어 → word
- 도둑 → thief
- 경찰 → police
- 책 → book
Tip 💡 Passive subjects often use 이/가 or 은/는.
Exercise 3 — Active to Passive 🔄
A. Active: 사람이 문을 닫았어요.
[sa-ra-mi mu-neul da-da-sseo-yo]
Passive: 문이 ＿＿＿＿.
[mu-ni ＿＿＿＿]
The door was closed. 🚪
Answer
닫혔어요 [da-chyeo-sseo-yo].
B. Active: 직원이 가게를 열었어요.
[ji-gwo-ni ga-ge-reul yeo-reo-sseo-yo]
Passive: 가게가 ＿＿＿＿.
[ga-ge-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The store was opened. 🏪
Answer
열렸어요 [yeol-lyeo-sseo-yo].
C. Active: 사람들이 표를 다 팔았어요.
[sa-ram-deu-ri pyo-reul da pa-ra-sseo-yo]
Passive: 표가 다 ＿＿＿＿.
[pyo-ga da ＿＿＿＿]
The tickets were all sold. 🎟️
Answer
팔렸어요 [pal-lyeo-sseo-yo].
D. Active: 누가 전화를 끊었어요.
[nu-ga jeon-hwa-reul kkeu-neo-sseo-yo]
Passive: 전화가 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeon-hwa-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The call got disconnected. 📵
Answer
끊겼어요 [kkeun-kyeo-sseo-yo].
E. Active: 제가 문제를 풀었어요.
[je-ga mun-je-reul pu-reo-sseo-yo]
Passive: 문제가 ＿＿＿＿.
[mun-je-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The problem was solved. 🧩
Answer
풀렸어요 [pul-lyeo-sseo-yo].
F. Active: 누가 책을 책상 위에 놓았어요.
[nu-ga chae-geul chaek-sang wi-e no-a-sseo-yo]
Passive: 책이 책상 위에 ＿＿＿＿.
[chae-gi chaek-sang wi-e ＿＿＿＿]
The book was placed on the desk. 📚
Answer
놓였어요 [no-yeo-sseo-yo].
G. Active: 작가가 이 표현을 썼어요.
[jak-ga-ga i pyo-hyeo-neul sseo-sseo-yo]
Passive: 이 표현이 ＿＿＿＿.
[i pyo-hyeo-ni ＿＿＿＿]
This expression was used/written. ✍️
Answer
쓰였어요 [sseu-yeo-sseo-yo].
H. Active: 경찰이 도둑을 잡았어요.
[gyeong-cha-ri do-du-geul ja-ba-sseo-yo]
Passive: 도둑이 경찰에게 ＿＿＿＿.
[do-du-gi gyeong-chal-e-ge ＿＿＿＿]
The thief was caught by the police. 🚓
Answer
잡혔어요 [ja-pyeo-sseo-yo].
I. Active: 사람들이 이 책을 많이 읽어요.
[sa-ram-deu-ri i chae-geul ma-ni il-geo-yo]
Passive: 이 책은 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
[i chae-geun ma-ni ＿＿＿＿]
This book is read a lot. 📖
Answer
읽혀요 [il-kyeo-yo].
J. Active: 사람들이 상자를 쌓았어요.
[sa-ram-deu-ri sang-ja-reul ssa-a-sseo-yo]
Passive: 상자가 ＿＿＿＿.
[sang-ja-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The boxes were stacked. 📦
Answer
쌓였어요 [ssa-yeo-sseo-yo].
Vocabulary Box
- 사람 → person
- 직원 → employee
- 누가 → someone / who
- 작가 → writer
- 표현 → expression
- 상자 → box
- 쌓다 → to stack
- 쌓이다 → to be stacked
- 에게 → by/to someone
Tip 💡 Active object 을/를 often becomes passive subject 이/가.
Exercise 4 — Passive Event or Resulting State? 🚪
A. 문이 닫혔어요.
[mu-ni da-chyeo-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 🚪
Answer
The door got closed / was closed. This focuses on the event.
B. 문이 닫혀 있어요.
[mu-ni da-chyeo i-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 🚪
Answer
The door is closed. This focuses on the resulting state.
C. 가게가 열렸어요.
[ga-ge-ga yeol-lyeo-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 🏪
Answer
The store opened / was opened. This focuses on the event.
D. 가게가 열려 있어요.
[ga-ge-ga yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 🏪
Answer
The store is open. This focuses on the current state.
E. 문제가 풀렸어요.
[mun-je-ga pul-lyeo-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 🧩
Answer
The problem got solved / was solved.
F. 문제가 풀려 있어요.
[mun-je-ga pul-lyeo i-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 🧩
Answer
The problem is in a solved state.
G. 전화가 끊겼어요.
[jeon-hwa-ga kkeun-kyeo-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 📵
Answer
The call got disconnected.
H. 문이 잠겼어요.
[mu-ni jam-gyeo-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 🔒
Answer
The door got locked / was locked.
I. 문이 잠겨 있어요.
[mu-ni jam-gyeo i-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 🔒
Answer
The door is locked.
J. 표가 팔려 있어요.
[pyo-ga pal-lyeo i-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 🎟️
Answer
The ticket is in a sold state / has been sold. In many everyday situations, 표가 팔렸어요 or 매진됐어요 may sound more natural.
Vocabulary Box
- 닫혔어요 → got closed
- 닫혀 있어요 → is closed
- 열렸어요 → opened / was opened
- 열려 있어요 → is open
- 풀렸어요 → got solved/untied
- 풀려 있어요 → is solved/untied
- 잠겼어요 → got locked
- 잠겨 있어요 → is locked
- 매진되다 → to be sold out
Tip 💡 -았/었어요 often highlights the event. -아/어 있어요 highlights the state after the event.
Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️
A. ❌ 문을 닫혔어요. → ✅ ＿＿＿＿ 닫혔어요.
[mu-neul da-chyeo-sseo-yo → ＿＿＿＿ da-chyeo-sseo-yo]
The door was closed. 🚪
Answer
문이 — Passive subject uses 이/가.
B. ❌ 표를 팔렸어요. → ✅ ＿＿＿＿ 팔렸어요.
[pyo-reul pal-lyeo-sseo-yo → ＿＿＿＿ pal-lyeo-sseo-yo]
The ticket was sold. 🎟️
Answer
표가 — 표가 팔렸어요.
C. 이 글은 쉽게 ＿＿＿＿.
[i geu-reun swip-ge ＿＿＿＿]
This writing reads easily / is easily read. 📝
Answer
읽혀요 — 읽히다.
D. 여기서 바다가 잘 ＿＿＿＿.
[yeo-gi-seo ba-da-ga jal ＿＿＿＿]
The sea is clearly visible from here. 🌊
Answer
보여요 — 보이다.
E. 이 단어는 자주 ＿＿＿＿.
[i dan-eo-neun ja-ju ＿＿＿＿]
This word is used often. 🧾
Answer
쓰여요 — 쓰이다.
F. 회의실 문이 ＿＿＿＿ 있어요.
[hoe-ui-shil mu-ni ＿＿＿＿ i-sseo-yo]
The meeting room door is closed. 🚪
Answer
닫혀 — 닫혀 있어요.
G. 비밀이 ＿＿＿＿.
[bi-mi-ri ＿＿＿＿]
The secret was revealed. 🤫
Answer
밝혀졌어요 [bal-kyeo-jyeo-sseo-yo] is common for “was revealed.” Some passive meanings use other patterns, not only simple -이/히/리/기-.
H. 문제가 아직 안 ＿＿＿＿.
[mun-je-ga a-jik an ＿＿＿＿]
The problem has not been solved yet. 🧩
Answer
풀렸어요 — 문제가 아직 안 풀렸어요.
I. 문이 안 ＿＿＿＿.
[mu-ni an ＿＿＿＿]
The door will not open / does not open. 🔓
Answer
열려요 — 문이 안 열려요.
J. 전화가 갑자기 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeon-hwa-ga gap-ja-gi ＿＿＿＿]
The call suddenly got disconnected. 📵
Answer
끊겼어요 — 끊기다.
Vocabulary Box
- 글 → writing/text
- 쉽게 → easily
- 여기서 → from here
- 잘 → well/clearly
- 회의실 → meeting room
- 비밀 → secret
- 밝혀지다 → to be revealed
- 아직 → yet/still
- 갑자기 → suddenly
Tip 💡 If a passive form feels uncertain, check a dictionary or use a more natural pattern like -아/어지다 when appropriate.
🎉 You finished the -이/히/리/기- passive workout. Now you can recognize Korean passive verbs, avoid particle traps, and tell the difference between “it happened” and “it is in that state.” Passive radar unlocked. 📡✨
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