보다 vs 보이다: Seeing Directly vs Being Seen

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  나는 산을 봤다.

  na-neun san-eul bwass-da., na neun san eul bwass da.

  The subject actively looked at the mountain, so '보다' is correct.

• ⭕

  산이 잘 보여요.

  san-i jal bo-yeo-yo., san i jal bo yeo yo.

  The mountain naturally appears to the eyes, so '보이다' is correct.

• ❌

  나는 산이 보았다.

  na-neun san-i bo-ass-da., na neun san i bo ass da.

  '보이다' cannot have the subject as the object; it is not an active verb, so this is incorrect. Use '보였다' instead.

• ❌

  그림을 보인다.

  geu-rim-eul bo-in-da., geu rim eul bo in da.

  '보이다' expresses a state, not an active action; use '보다' for active looking.

• ⭕

  그는 책을 봤다.

  geu-neun chaek-eul bwass-da., geu neun chaek eul bwass da.

  Expresses active looking or reading of a book, so '보다' is appropriate.

• ⭕

  책이 잘 보인다.

  chaek-i jal bo-in-da., chaek i jal bo in da.

  Describes the book being clearly visible, so '보이다' is correct.

• ❌

  나는 그 사람이 보인다.

  na-neun geu sa-ram-i bo-in-da., na neun geu sa ram i bo in da.

  The subject cannot be the object of '보이다'; use '보여요' instead.

• ⭕

  그 사람이 나를 봤다.

  geu sa-ram-i na-reul bwass-da., geu sa ram i na reul bwass da.

  The subject actively looked at me, so '보다' is correct.

1. Which sentence should use '보다'?

   다음 중 '보다'를 써야 하는 문장은?(da-eumjung'bo-da'reulsseo-yaha-neunmun-jang-eun?, daeumjung'boda'reulsseoyahaneunmunjangeun?)
   • 산이 잘 보인다.(san-ijalbo-in-da., sanijalboinda.)
   • 나는 영화를 봤다.(na-neunyeong-hwa-reulbwass-da., naneunyeonghwareulbwassda.)
   • 그림이 보인다.(geu-rim-ibo-in-da., geurimiboinda.)
   • 책이 잘 보여요.(chaek-ijalbo-yeo-yo., chaekijalboyeoyo.)

2. Which sentence correctly uses '보이다'?

   '보이다'가 적절한 문장은?('bo-i-da'gajeok-jeol-hanmun-jang-eun?, 'boida'gajeokjeolhanmunjangeun?)
   • 나는 꽃을 보았다.(na-neunkkoch-eulbo-ass-da., naneunkkocheulboassda.)
   • 꽃이 잘 보여요.(kkoch-ijalbo-yeo-yo., kkochijalboyeoyo.)
   • 나는 그 사람을 보았다.(na-neungeusa-ram-eulbo-ass-da., naneungeusarameulboassda.)
   • 그가 나를 봤다.(geu-gana-reulbwass-da., geuganareulbwassda.)

3. Which sentence incorrectly uses '보이다' actively?

   '보이다'를 능동적으로 쓰려는 문장은?('bo-i-da'reulneung-dong-jeok-eu-rosseu-ryeo-neunmun-jang-eun?, 'boida'reulneungdongjeokeurosseuryeoneunmunjangeun?)
   • 나는 산이 보인다.(na-neunsan-ibo-in-da., naneunsaniboinda.)
   • 그림을 보인다.(geu-rim-eulbo-in-da., geurimeulboinda.)
   • 책이 잘 보여요.(chaek-ijalbo-yeo-yo., chaekijalboyeoyo.)
   • 산이 잘 보여요.(san-ijalbo-yeo-yo., sanijalboyeoyo.)