Causative and Passive Verbs in Korean

Overview

At the CEFR B2 level, learners need to systematically understand how Korean derives causative and passive verbs from base forms using suffixes -이/히/리/기/우/구/추. Many of these derived forms are lexicalized and must be memorized. The same suffix can create either a causative or passive depending on the base verb.

How It Works

Causative Derivations

Base	Causative	Suffix	Meaning
먹다 (eat)	먹이다	-이	feed
읽다 (read)	읽히다	-히	make read
살다 (live)	살리다	-리	save/make live
웃다 (laugh)	웃기다	-기	make laugh
자다 (sleep)	재우다	-우	put to sleep

Passive Derivations

Base	Passive	Suffix	Meaning
보다 (see)	보이다	-이	be seen
읽다 (read)	읽히다	-히	be read
열다 (open)	열리다	-리	be opened
잠그다 (lock)	잠기다	-기	be locked

Examples in Context

Korean	Romanization	English	Note
먹이다	meo-gi-da	to feed (from 먹다)	causative
읽히다	ik-i-da	to be read (from 읽다)	passive
아이에게 밥을 먹였어요.	a-i-e-ge ba-beul meo-gyeo-sseo-yo	Fed the child.	causative use
이 책은 많이 읽힙니다.	i chae-geun ma-ni ik-im-ni-da	This book is read a lot.	passive use
문을 열었어요. → 문이 열렸어요.	mu-neul yeo-reo-sseo-yo → mu-ni yeol-lyeo-sseo-yo	Opened the door. → The door opened.	active → passive
아이를 재웠어요.	a-i-reul jae-wo-sseo-yo	Put the child to sleep.	causative

Common Mistakes

Confusing causative and passive for the same suffix

• Wrong: Thinking 읽히다 is always passive
• Right: Context determines: 읽히다 can be passive ("be read") or causative ("make read") depending on sentence structure
• Why: Some derived forms are ambiguous. The sentence structure (subject, object, particles) clarifies meaning.

Usage Notes

These derived verbs are among the trickiest aspects of Korean for learners. Native speakers acquire them as vocabulary, not through productive rules. The analytical alternatives (-게 하다 for causative, -아/어지다 for passive) are always available as fallbacks. For TOPIK and advanced proficiency, knowing the lexicalized forms is expected.

Practice Tips

• Create a table of base verb → causative → passive for common verbs.
• Practice sentences showing both active and passive versions of the same event.
• When encountering unfamiliar derived verbs, try to identify the base form and suffix.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Passive Voice — passive formation basics