How to Use Passive Forms in Korean

Understanding Passive Forms in Korean

In Korean, passive forms are used to indicate that the subject of a sentence is the recipient of an action. Unlike English, Korean has specific ways of forming passive verbs, mainly through conjugation and using specific passive verbs.

Conjugating Regular Verbs to Passive

Regular verbs can be transformed into passive forms by adding suffixes like -이/-히/-리/-기 to their stems. For example, the active verb 열다 (to open) becomes 열리다 (to be opened).

Using Passive Verbs

Some verbs inherently carry a passive meaning without needing additional suffixes. These verbs are learned as part of their vocabulary and often include words like 놓이다 (to be placed), 쌓이다 (to be piled), and 잡히다 (to be caught).

Difference Between Passive and Causative Forms

It's important not to confuse passive forms with causative ones, which indicate that someone causes another to do or experience something. For instance, 맞히다 (to make someone answer correctly) and 맞다 (to be correct) look similar but have different meanings.

When to Use Passive Forms

Passive forms are often used when the action's performer is unknown or irrelevant. For instance, when saying that a window was opened, where the focus is on the action, not who performed it. Example: 창문이 열렸다 (The window was opened).

• Expressing actions without focusing on the doer
• Describing involuntary states or natural occurrences
• Reporting on events or news