TOPIK I: Passive Verbs - Making Sense of '이, 히, 리, 기'

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Keywords
피동사 / 바뀌다 / 들리다 / 보이다
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Section
TOPIK I Prep
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TL;DR
  • Passive verbs describe that something is seen, heard, opened, changed, sold, written, or closed without focusing on who did it.
  • In TOPIK I, your main job is to recognize common passive verbs, not invent every form from scratch.
  • Learn high-frequency pairs: 보다 → 보이다, 듣다 → 들리다, 바꾸다 → 바뀌다, 열다 → 열리다, 닫다 → 닫히다.
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🎧 Helper Note
Read every Korean example aloud twice: first slowly, then naturally. Pay special attention to the passive verb ending sound: -이-, -히-, -리-, -기-.

🔑 The Big Picture

Korean passive verbs, called 피동사, help you understand sentences where the subject receives an action or where something happens naturally from the speaker’s point of view.
In English, passive often uses “be + past participle”:
  • The door is opened.
  • The sound is heard.
  • The picture is seen.
In Korean, many common passive meanings are built into the verb itself:
  • 문이 열려요. = The door opens / is opened.
  • 음악이 들려요. = Music can be heard.
  • 사진이 보여요. = The picture can be seen.
  • 계획이 바뀌었어요. = The plan changed / was changed.
For TOPIK I, passive verbs often appear in short dialogues, notices, and reading passages. You usually need to choose the sentence that matches the situation, identify what happened, or understand whether the subject is doing something or receiving an action.

🧩 Core Concepts / Patterns

1. Active vs. passive: who is the sentence about?

Active sentences focus on the person or thing doing the action.
  • 제가 문을 열었어요. = I opened the door.
  • 선생님이 글을 썼어요. = The teacher wrote the text.
Passive sentences focus on the thing affected by the action.
  • 문이 열렸어요. = The door opened / was opened.
  • 글이 쓰였어요. = The text was written.
A quick TOPIK clue: passive sentences often use the subject marker 이/가 with the thing affected.
  • 문이 닫혔어요.
  • 이름이 쓰였어요.
  • 소리가 들렸어요.

2. The four common passive markers

Many Korean passive verbs are made with one of these markers:
  • -이-: 보다 → 보이다, 놓다 → 놓이다, 쌓다 → 쌓이다
  • -히-: 닫다 → 닫히다, 읽다 → 읽히다, 잡다 → 잡히다
  • -리-: 열다 → 열리다, 팔다 → 팔리다, 들다 → 들리다
  • -기-: 안다 → 안기다, 끊다 → 끊기다, 쫓다 → 쫓기다
There is no simple rule that always predicts which marker is used. For TOPIK I, memorize common verbs as whole vocabulary items.

3. Must-know passive verbs for TOPIK I

  • 보이다 = to be seen / to be visible
    • 저기 산이 보여요. = I can see a mountain over there. / A mountain is visible.
  • 들리다 = to be heard
    • 밖에서 소리가 들려요. = A sound is heard from outside.
  • 열리다 = to open / be opened
    • 가게가 아침 9시에 열려요. = The store opens at 9 a.m.
  • 닫히다 = to close / be closed
    • 문이 갑자기 닫혔어요. = The door suddenly closed.
  • 바뀌다 = to change / be changed
    • 시간이 3시로 바뀌었어요. = The time changed to 3 o’clock.
  • 팔리다 = to be sold
    • 이 책은 잘 팔려요. = This book sells well.
  • 쓰이다 = to be written / be used
    • 여기에 이름이 쓰여 있어요. = A name is written here.
  • 놓이다 = to be placed
    • 책상 위에 꽃이 놓여 있어요. = Flowers are placed on the desk.

4. Passive often describes state, not only action

In TOPIK I, passive verbs often appear with -아/어 있다 to describe a current state after something happened.
  • 문이 열려 있어요. = The door is open.
  • 창문이 닫혀 있어요. = The window is closed.
  • 이름이 쓰여 있어요. = The name is written.
  • 책이 책상 위에 놓여 있어요. = The book is placed on the desk.
This is different from a person actively doing something now.
  • 민수가 문을 열고 있어요. = Minsu is opening the door.
  • 문이 열려 있어요. = The door is open.

✅ Exam Strategy

Step 1. Find the subject

Ask: “Who or what is the sentence mainly about?”
  • 사람이 the subject → active is often likely.
  • Thing/place/sound/name/door/time the subject → passive may be likely.
Example:
  • 아이가 문을 닫았어요. = The child closed the door.
  • 문이 닫혔어요. = The door closed / was closed.

Step 2. Notice object marker 을/를 vs. subject marker 이/가

Active:
  • 사람이 + 물건을 + active verb
  • 제가 창문을 열었어요.
Passive:
  • 물건이/가 + passive verb
  • 창문이 열렸어요.

Step 3. Memorize common passive verbs with situations

Do not study passive endings as only grammar. Connect each verb to a scene:
  • 보이다 → something is visible
  • 들리다 → a sound reaches your ears
  • 열리다/닫히다 → doors, windows, stores, meetings
  • 바뀌다 → time, plan, schedule, seat, name
  • 팔리다 → products, tickets, books
  • 쓰이다 → names, words, sentences, letters

Step 4. For multiple choice, translate the event, not every word

If the question says:
  • 약속 시간이 바뀌었습니다.
The key event is:
  • The appointment time changed.
Do not choose an answer that says the person actively changed something unless the sentence clearly includes the actor and object.

⚠️ Pitfalls

Pitfall 1. Thinking 보이다 always means “show”

보다 = to see.
보이다 can mean “to be seen / to be visible.”
  • 바다가 보여요. = The sea is visible. / I can see the sea.
  • 사진을 보여 주세요. = Please show me the picture.
In TOPIK I, context decides whether 보이다 means “be visible” or “show.”

Pitfall 2. Confusing 듣다 and 들리다

  • 음악을 들어요. = I listen to music.
  • 음악이 들려요. = Music is heard. / I can hear music.
If there is 을/를, active 듣다 is likely.
If there is 이/가 with a sound, passive 들리다 is likely.

Pitfall 3. Translating every passive sentence with “by”

Korean passive sentences often omit the actor. Do not force “by someone” into every translation.
  • 문이 열렸어요. = The door opened / was opened.
  • 회의 시간이 바뀌었어요. = The meeting time changed / was changed.
The sentence may not care who caused it.

Pitfall 4. Choosing passive only because English uses passive

Korean and English do not always match. For TOPIK I, choose the most natural Korean sentence for the situation.
Natural:
  • 버스가 곧 도착해요. = The bus will arrive soon.
Awkward for TOPIK I context:
  • 버스가 도착돼요.

Pitfall 5. Treating 바뀌다 as a simple 이/히/리/기 pattern

바뀌다 is a very important passive/intransitive-style verb, but it does not look exactly like the four simple markers. Learn it as its own common verb.
  • 이름이 바뀌었어요.
  • 계획이 바뀌었어요.
  • 자리가 바뀌었어요.

🧠 Key Verb Pairs to Memorize

See / hear

  • 보다 → 보이다
    • 산을 봐요. = I see the mountain.
    • 산이 보여요. = The mountain is visible.
  • 듣다 → 들리다
    • 소리를 들어요. = I listen to the sound.
    • 소리가 들려요. = The sound is heard.

Open / close

  • 열다 → 열리다
    • 문을 열어요. = I open the door.
    • 문이 열려요. = The door opens / is opened.
  • 닫다 → 닫히다
    • 창문을 닫아요. = I close the window.
    • 창문이 닫혀요. = The window closes / is closed.

Change / sell / write

  • 바꾸다 → 바뀌다
    • 시간을 바꿨어요. = I changed the time.
    • 시간이 바뀌었어요. = The time changed.
  • 팔다 → 팔리다
    • 가게에서 책을 팔아요. = The store sells books.
    • 책이 많이 팔려요. = Many books are sold.
  • 쓰다 → 쓰이다
    • 이름을 써요. = I write the name.
    • 이름이 쓰여 있어요. = The name is written.
📝
Practice Hub: 50 TOPIK I Passive Verb Questions
Use this as a recognition drill. For each question, first identify the subject, then decide whether the sentence needs an active verb or a passive verb.

Set 1 — Choose the correct passive verb

  1. 저기 산이 잘 _____.
      2. ① 봐요 ② 보여요 ③ 보세요 ④ 봤어요
  1. 밖에서 아이들 소리가 _____.
      2. ① 들어요 ② 들려요 ③ 듣어요 ④ 들었어요
  1. 아침 9시에 은행 문이 _____.
      2. ① 열어요 ② 열려요 ③ 열었어요 ④ 열고 있어요
  1. 밤 10시에 가게가 _____.
      2. ① 닫아요 ② 닫혀요 ③ 닫으세요 ④ 닫고 있어요
  1. 약속 시간이 2시에서 3시로 _____.
      2. ① 바꿨어요 ② 바뀌었어요 ③ 바꿔요 ④ 바꿀 거예요
  1. 이 책은 학생들에게 많이 _____.
      2. ① 팔아요 ② 팔려요 ③ 팝니다 ④ 팔고 있어요
  1. 칠판에 오늘 날짜가 _____.
      2. ① 써요 ② 쓰여 있어요 ③ 쓰세요 ④ 썼어요
  1. 책상 위에 지갑이 _____.
      2. ① 놓아요 ② 놓여 있어요 ③ 놓으세요 ④ 놓았어요
  1. 바람 때문에 문이 갑자기 _____.
      2. ① 닫혔어요 ② 닫았어요 ③ 닫아요 ④ 닫으세요
  1. 회의실 문이 아직 _____.
      2. ① 열려 있어요 ② 열고 있어요 ③ 열어요 ④ 열었어요
Set 1 answers
  1. ② 보여요 — 산이 is the visible thing.
  1. ② 들려요 — 소리가 is the sound being heard.
  1. ② 열려요 — 은행 문이 opens / is opened.
  1. ② 닫혀요 — 가게가 closes.
  1. ② 바뀌었어요 — 시간이 changed.
  1. ② 팔려요 — 책이 is sold.
  1. ② 쓰여 있어요 — 날짜가 is written on the board.
  1. ② 놓여 있어요 — 지갑이 is placed on the desk.
  1. ① 닫혔어요 — 문이 closed because of wind.
  1. ① 열려 있어요 — the door is in an open state.

Set 2 — Active or passive?

Choose the more natural sentence.
  1. A person closes the window.
      2. ① 창문이 닫혔어요. ② 민수가 창문을 닫았어요.
  1. The window is closed now.
      2. ① 창문이 닫혀 있어요. ② 민수가 창문을 닫고 있어요.
  1. I can hear music from the next room.
      2. ① 옆방에서 음악이 들려요. ② 옆방에서 음악을 들어요.
  1. I listen to music every day.
      2. ① 매일 음악이 들려요. ② 매일 음악을 들어요.
  1. The store sells fruit.
      2. ① 가게에서 과일을 팔아요. ② 과일이 가게에서 팔려요.
  1. The tickets are all sold.
      2. ① 표가 다 팔렸어요. ② 표를 다 팔았어요.
  1. I changed my phone number.
      2. ① 전화번호를 바꿨어요. ② 전화번호가 바뀌었어요.
  1. My phone number changed.
      2. ① 전화번호를 바꿨어요. ② 전화번호가 바뀌었어요.
  1. The name is written here.
      2. ① 여기에 이름이 쓰여 있어요. ② 여기에 이름을 써요.
  1. Please write your name here.
      2. ① 여기에 이름이 쓰여 있어요. ② 여기에 이름을 써 주세요.
Set 2 answers
  1. ② — the person is doing the action.
  1. ① — the window is in a closed state.
  1. ① — music is heard.
  1. ② — the person actively listens.
  1. ① — the store actively sells fruit; this is the most natural TOPIK I sentence.
  1. ① — the tickets are sold out.
  1. ① — “I” actively changed the number.
  1. ② — the number changed.
  1. ① — the name is written here.
  1. ② — this is an instruction to write.

Set 3 — Match the situation

  1. You are looking out the window and can see the sea.
      2. ① 바다가 보여요. ② 바다를 보여요. ③ 바다가 봐요. ④ 바다를 들려요.
  1. A schedule notice says the class time changed.
      2. ① 수업 시간이 바뀌었습니다. ② 수업 시간을 봤습니다. ③ 수업 시간이 들렸습니다. ④ 수업 시간을 닫았습니다.
  1. You arrive at a restaurant, but the door is closed.
      2. ① 문이 닫혀 있어요. ② 문을 닫고 있어요. ③ 문이 보여요. ④ 문을 열어요.
  1. A name is on the list.
      2. ① 명단에 이름이 쓰여 있어요. ② 명단에 이름을 들어요. ③ 명단에 이름이 팔려요. ④ 명단에 이름을 닫아요.
  1. A concert ticket is no longer available because people bought all of them.
      2. ① 표가 다 팔렸어요. ② 표가 다 보였어요. ③ 표를 다 들었어요. ④ 표를 다 열었어요.
  1. Someone hears a phone ringing.
      2. ① 전화 소리가 들려요. ② 전화 소리를 보여요. ③ 전화 소리가 닫혀요. ④ 전화 소리를 바뀌어요.
  1. The library opens at ten.
      2. ① 도서관은 10시에 열려요. ② 도서관은 10시에 닫혀요. ③ 도서관은 10시에 보여요. ④ 도서관은 10시에 들려요.
  1. A bag is on the chair.
      2. ① 의자 위에 가방이 놓여 있어요. ② 의자 위에 가방을 들어요. ③ 의자 위에 가방이 팔려요. ④ 의자 위에 가방을 보여요.
  1. A meeting room is visible from here.
      2. ① 여기에서 회의실이 보여요. ② 여기에서 회의실을 들려요. ③ 여기에서 회의실이 팔려요. ④ 여기에서 회의실을 닫혀요.
  1. The door opened suddenly.
      2. ① 문이 갑자기 열렸어요. ② 문을 갑자기 열렸어요. ③ 문이 갑자기 들렸어요. ④ 문을 갑자기 보였어요.
Set 3 answers
  1. ① — 바다가 보여요 means the sea is visible.
  1. ① — 시간이 바뀌다 is the correct change expression.
  1. ① — 닫혀 있어요 describes the closed state.
  1. ① — 이름이 쓰여 있어요 means the name is written.
  1. ① — 표가 팔렸어요 means tickets were sold.
  1. ① — 소리가 들려요 means a sound is heard.
  1. ① — a library opens with 열리다.
  1. ① — 놓여 있어요 describes where something is placed.
  1. ① — 회의실이 보여요 means the meeting room is visible.
  1. ① — 문이 열렸어요 uses a passive/intransitive verb with the door as subject.

Set 4 — Fill in the blank from the verb pair

  1. 보다 / 보이다: 날씨가 좋아서 남산이 잘 _____.
      2. ① 봐요 ② 보여요
  1. 듣다 / 들리다: 저는 아침마다 라디오를 _____.
      2. ① 들어요 ② 들려요
  1. 열다 / 열리다: 직원이 교실 문을 _____.
      2. ① 열었어요 ② 열렸어요
  1. 열다 / 열리다: 박물관은 월요일에 _____ 않습니다.
      2. ① 열지 ② 열리지
  1. 닫다 / 닫히다: 비가 와서 창문이 _____.
      2. ① 닫았어요 ② 닫혔어요
  1. 바꾸다 / 바뀌다: 저는 자리를 친구와 _____.
      2. ① 바꿨어요 ② 바뀌었어요
  1. 바꾸다 / 바뀌다: 시험 날짜가 다음 주로 _____.
      2. ① 바꿨어요 ② 바뀌었어요
  1. 팔다 / 팔리다: 시장에서 과일을 많이 _____.
      2. ① 팔아요 ② 팔려요
  1. 팔다 / 팔리다: 이 가방은 아주 잘 _____.
      2. ① 팔아요 ② 팔려요
  1. 쓰다 / 쓰이다: 카드에 제 이름이 _____.
      2. ① 써 있어요 ② 쓰여 있어요
Set 4 answers
  1. ② 보여요 — 남산이 is visible.
  1. ① 들어요 — the person listens to the radio.
  1. ① 열었어요 — 직원이 opens the door.
  1. ② 열리지 — 박물관은 does not open.
  1. ② 닫혔어요 — 창문이 closed.
  1. ① 바꿨어요 — “I” changed seats with a friend.
  1. ② 바뀌었어요 — the exam date changed.
  1. ① 팔아요 — the market sells fruit.
  1. ② 팔려요 — the bag sells well.
  1. ② 쓰여 있어요 — the name is written on the card.

Set 5 — TOPIK-style sentence meaning

Choose the best meaning.
  1. 교실 뒤에 시계가 보여요.
      2. ① I can see a clock at the back of the classroom. ② I listen to a clock. ③ I sold a clock. ④ I changed the clock.
  1. 밖에서 이상한 소리가 들렸어요.
      2. ① I heard a strange sound outside. ② I saw a strange sound outside. ③ I opened the outside. ④ I wrote a strange sound.
  1. 오늘 회의 시간이 바뀌었습니다.
      2. ① Today’s meeting time changed. ② Today’s meeting room opened. ③ Today’s meeting sound was heard. ④ Today’s meeting name was written.
  1. 문이 열려 있어서 안으로 들어갔어요.
      2. ① The door was open, so I went inside. ② I opened the door and sold it. ③ The door was heard, so I entered. ④ The door changed its name.
  1. 이 식당은 일요일에 닫혀 있어요.
      2. ① This restaurant is closed on Sundays. ② This restaurant sells Sundays. ③ This restaurant listens on Sundays. ④ This restaurant is visible on Sundays.
  1. 제 이름이 종이에 쓰여 있어요.
      2. ① My name is written on the paper. ② I write paper every day. ③ My name is heard from the paper. ④ The paper sold my name.
  1. 책상 위에 열쇠가 놓여 있었어요.
      2. ① A key was placed on the desk. ② A key listened on the desk. ③ I sold a desk key. ④ I opened the key.
  1. 그 영화 표는 빨리 팔렸어요.
      2. ① The movie tickets sold quickly. ② The movie tickets were heard quickly. ③ The movie tickets opened quickly. ④ The movie tickets wrote quickly.
  1. 창문이 닫혀서 방이 더워요.
      2. ① The window is closed, so the room is hot. ② I closed the room, so the window is hot. ③ The window is visible, so the room is hot. ④ The room sold the window.
  1. 안내문에 새 주소가 쓰여 있습니다.
      2. ① The new address is written on the notice. ② The new address is heard in the notice. ③ The notice sells a new address. ④ The notice opens the address.
Set 5 answers
  1. ① — 시계가 보여요 means the clock is visible.
  1. ① — 소리가 들렸어요 means a sound was heard.
  1. ① — 시간이 바뀌었습니다 means the time changed.
  1. ① — 문이 열려 있다 means the door is open.
  1. ① — 닫혀 있어요 means is closed.
  1. ① — 이름이 쓰여 있어요 means the name is written.
  1. ① — 열쇠가 놓여 있었어요 means a key was placed.
  1. ① — 표가 팔렸어요 means tickets sold / were sold.
  1. ① — 창문이 닫혀서 means because the window is closed.
  1. ① — 주소가 쓰여 있습니다 means the address is written.

✅ Final Review Checklist

Before moving on, make sure you can do these four things:
  • Explain the difference between 음악을 들어요 and 음악이 들려요.
  • Recognize that 문이 열려 있어요 describes a state: “the door is open.”
  • Match common pairs: 보다 → 보이다, 듣다 → 들리다, 열다 → 열리다, 닫다 → 닫히다, 바꾸다 → 바뀌다.
  • Use context and particles to decide whether the sentence is active or passive.