피동 (pi-dong, pidong) · 사동 (sa-dong, sadong)
피동 (passive) expresses being acted upon by someone, while 사동 (causative) expresses making someone do an action.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
Expression where the subject is acted upon by someone else
When to use
Victim expression, Passive situation, Emphasizing receiving action
The nuance
Use passive form when the subject is the receiver of an action performed by someone else, not the doer.
Expression where the subject causes or allows someone else to do an action
When to use
Causing action, Active situation, Changing agent of action
The nuance
Use causative form when the subject causes or permits someone else to perform an action.
문이 열렸다.
mun-i yeol-ryeoss-da., mun i yeol ryeoss da.
Passive form showing the door was acted upon (opened) by someone else.
문이 열렸다.
mun-i yeol-ryeoss-da., mun i yeol ryeoss da.
Correct for passive situation.
나는 동생을 울렸다.
na-neun dong-saeng-eul ul-ryeoss-da., na neun dong saeng eul ul ryeoss da.
Causative form showing I caused the younger sibling to cry.
나는 동생이 울렸다.
na-neun dong-saeng-i ul-ryeoss-da., na neun dong saeng i ul ryeoss da.
Incorrect causative usage; subject and object roles are confused.
나는 편지를 쓰였다.
na-neun pyeon-ji-reul sseu-yeoss-da., na neun pyeon ji reul sseu yeoss da.
Incorrect passive usage; subject-object mismatch.
편지가 쓰였다.
pyeon-ji-ga sseu-yeoss-da., pyeon ji ga sseu yeoss da.
Passive form showing the letter was written by someone.
나는 친구를 공부하게 했다.
na-neun chin-gu-reul gong-bu-ha-ge haess-da., na neun chin gu reul gong bu ha ge haess da.
Causative form showing I made my friend study.
나는 친구가 공부하게 했다.
na-neun chin-gu-ga gong-bu-ha-ge haess-da., na neun chin gu ga gong bu ha ge haess da.
Incorrect causative usage due to wrong subject-object order.
Which sentence correctly uses the passive form?
Which sentence correctly uses the causative form?
What type of expression is ‘편지가 쓰였다’?
What does ‘나는 친구를 공부하게 했다’ mean?
