태어나다 (tae-eo-na-da, taeeonada) · 돌아가시다 (dol-a-ga-si-da, dolagasida)
태어나다 (taeeonada) means to be born, while 돌아가시다 (doragashida) is an honorific term for dying; they express opposite life events.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
Refers to a person or animal being born into the world for the first time.
When to use
Announcing birth, Talking about a baby, Animal birth
The nuance
Used when a living being comes into the world for the first time; a basic verb regardless of honorifics.
An honorific expression used to respectfully refer to a person’s death.
When to use
Death of respected person, Funeral speech, Official announcement
The nuance
A polite expression for death, used mainly for elders or respected persons.
아기가 오늘 태어났어요.
a-gi-ga o-neul tae-eo-nass-eo-yo., a gi ga o neul tae eo nass eo yo.
태어나다 is appropriate for announcing birth.
할아버지께서 어제 돌아가셨어요.
hal-a-beo-ji-kke-seo eo-je dol-a-ga-syeoss-eo-yo., hal a beo ji kke seo eo je dol a ga syeoss eo yo.
돌아가시다 is the correct honorific for an elder’s death.
저는 1990년에 돌아났어요.
jeo-neun 1990nyeon-e dol-a-nass-eo-yo., jeo neun 1990nyeon e dol a nass eo yo.
돌아나다 is not a word; use 태어나다 instead.
할머니가 태어나셨어요.
hal-meo-ni-ga tae-eo-na-syeoss-eo-yo., hal meo ni ga tae eo na syeoss eo yo.
태어나다 does not have an honorific form; use 태어났어요.
아버지께서 태어나셨어요.
a-beo-ji-kke-seo tae-eo-na-syeoss-eo-yo., a beo ji kke seo tae eo na syeoss eo yo.
태어나다 is for birth, not death; use 돌아가시다 for death.
우리 강아지가 어제 태어났어요.
u-ri gang-a-ji-ga eo-je tae-eo-nass-eo-yo., u ri gang a ji ga eo je tae eo nass eo yo.
태어나다 is used for animal births.
그분이 어제 태어나셨어요.
geu-bun-i eo-je tae-eo-na-syeoss-eo-yo., geu bun i eo je tae eo na syeoss eo yo.
태어나다 has no honorific form; this sentence is incorrect.
선생님께서 돌아가셨어요.
seon-saeng-nim-kke-seo dol-a-ga-syeoss-eo-yo., seon saeng nim kke seo dol a ga syeoss eo yo.
돌아가시다 is appropriate for death of respected persons.
Which word to use when announcing a baby's birth?
What expression is appropriate when a respected elder dies?
What is the correct honorific form of '태어나다'?
