수동 (su-dong, sudong) · 사동 (sa-dong, sadong)
수동 (sudong) expresses being acted upon, while 사동 (sadong) means causing someone to act; they differ by the subject's role and are not interchangeable.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
Expresses the subject being acted upon, not the doer of the action
When to use
being acted upon, describing harm or damage, objective situation description
The nuance
Use 수동 when the subject receives the action; form passive verbs with endings like '-아/어지다', '-이/히/리/기'.
Expresses the subject causing or making someone else do an action
When to use
ordering action, encouraging action, expressing indirect agent
The nuance
Use 사동 when the subject causes someone else to act; form causative verbs with endings like '-이/히/리/기/우/구/추'.
문이 열렸다.
mun-i yeol-ryeoss-da., mun i yeol ryeoss da.
Passive form showing the door is the object acted upon.
문을 열렸다.
mun-eul yeol-ryeoss-da., mun eul yeol ryeoss da.
Cannot use object marker '을' with passive subject '문'.
선생님이 학생을 공부시키셨다.
seon-saeng-nim-i hak-saeng-eul gong-bu-si-ki-syeoss-da., seon saeng nim i hak saeng eul gong bu si ki syeoss da.
Causative form where the subject causes someone to act.
학생이 공부되었다.
hak-saeng-i gong-bu-doe-eoss-da., hak saeng i gong bu doe eoss da.
'공부되다' is unnatural passive; causes confusion with causative.
아이가 울렸다.
a-i-ga ul-ryeoss-da., a i ga ul ryeoss da.
Causative indicating subject made someone cry.
아이가 울렸다.
a-i-ga ul-ryeoss-da., a i ga ul ryeoss da.
If subject cried directly, use active '울었다' not causative.
창문이 깨졌다.
chang-mun-i kkae-jyeoss-da., chang mun i kkae jyeoss da.
Passive showing the window is affected by breaking.
아버지가 문을 닫게 하셨다.
a-beo-ji-ga mun-eul dat-ge ha-syeoss-da., a beo ji ga mun eul dat ge ha syeoss da.
Causative using '-게 하다' to emphasize causing action.
Which is a causative expression?
Which sentence correctly uses passive?
Which is NOT passive?
