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초대하다 vs 초대되다: Who is the Subject?

초대하다 (cho-dae-ha-da, chodaehada) · 초대되다 (cho-dae-doe-da, chodaedoeda)

초대하다 (chodaehada) means to invite someone as the subject doing the inviting, while 초대되다 (chodaedoeda) means to be invited, focusing on the receiver of the invitation.

Comparison of Korean verbs 초대하다 and 초대되다 showing active vs passive invitation roles

Word-by-word breakdown

One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.

초대하다(cho-dae-ha-da, chodaehada)

To invite someone to an event or place; to extend an invitation.

When to use

Host inviting to event, Inviting friend to party, Calling guests to business meeting

The nuance

초대하다 is an active verb where the subject is the one inviting others directly.

초대되다(cho-dae-doe-da, chodaedoeda)

To be invited by someone to an event or place; to receive an invitation.

When to use

Speaking as invitee, Announcing official invitation, Emphasizing being invited

The nuance

초대되다 is passive; the subject is the one being invited, and the inviter may be omitted.

Real-world examples

  • 저는 친구들을 파티에 초대했어요.

    jeo-neun chin-gu-deul-eul pa-ti-e cho-dae-haess-eo-yo., jeo neun chin gu deul eul pa ti e cho dae haess eo yo.

    Subject is the inviter, so 초대하다 is correct.

  • 저는 친구들에게 초대되었어요.

    jeo-neun chin-gu-deul-e-ge cho-dae-doe-eoss-eo-yo., jeo neun chin gu deul e ge cho dae doe eoss eo yo.

    Subject is the invitee, so 초대되다 is correct.

  • 친구들이 저를 초대되었어요.

    chin-gu-deul-i jeo-reul cho-dae-doe-eoss-eo-yo., chin gu deul i jeo reul cho dae doe eoss eo yo.

    초대되다 requires subject to be invitee; here friends are inviter, so use 초대하다.

  • 저는 회의에 초대했어요.

    jeo-neun hoe-ui-e cho-dae-haess-eo-yo., jeo neun hoe ui e cho dae haess eo yo.

    Subject is invitee but 초대하다 is active; should use 초대되다.

  • 그는 결혼식에 초대되었어요.

    geu-neun gyeol-hon-sik-e cho-dae-doe-eoss-eo-yo., geu neun gyeol hon sik e cho dae doe eoss eo yo.

    Subject is invitee, so 초대되다 is correct.

  • 그는 결혼식에 초대했어요.

    geu-neun gyeol-hon-sik-e cho-dae-haess-eo-yo., geu neun gyeol hon sik e cho dae haess eo yo.

    Subject is invitee, so 초대되다 must be used instead.

  • 우리는 VIP 손님을 초대했어요.

    u-ri-neun vip son-nim-eul cho-dae-haess-eo-yo., u ri neun vip son nim eul cho dae haess eo yo.

    Subject is inviter; use 초대하다.

  • 우리는 VIP 손님에게 초대되었어요.

    u-ri-neun vip son-nim-e-ge cho-dae-doe-eoss-eo-yo., u ri neun vip son nim e ge cho dae doe eoss eo yo.

    Subject is inviter, so 초대하다 must be used, not 초대되다.

Quick quiz

  1. Which word to use when speaking as the inviter?

    누구를 부르는 사람 입장에서 말할 때 어떤 단어를 써야 할까요?(nu-gu-reulbu-reu-neunsa-ramip-jang-e-seomal-halttaeeo-tteondan-eo-reulsseo-yahal-kka-yo?, nugureulbureuneunsaramipjangeseomalhalttaeeotteondaneoreulsseoyahalkkayo?)

  2. Which word fits when the invitee talks about being invited?

    초대를 받은 사람이 자신의 상황을 말할 때 적절한 단어는?(cho-dae-reulbat-eunsa-ram-ija-sin-uisang-hwang-eulmal-halttaejeok-jeol-handan-eo-neun?, chodaereulbateunsaramijasinuisanghwangeulmalhalttaejeokjeolhandaneoneun?)

  3. Which is correct in ‘친구들이 저를 ____’?

    ‘친구들이 저를 ____’ 문장에 들어갈 올바른 단어는?(‘chin-gu-deul-ijeo-reul____’mun-jang-edeul-eo-galol-ba-reundan-eo-neun?, ‘chingudeulijeoreul____’munjangedeuleogalolbareundaneoneun?)

  4. Which fits in ‘저는 결혼식에 ____’?

    ‘저는 결혼식에 ____’ 문장에서 맞는 표현은?(‘jeo-neungyeol-hon-sik-e____’mun-jang-e-seomaj-neunpyo-hyeon-eun?, ‘jeoneungyeolhonsike____’munjangeseomajneunpyohyeoneun?)

More comparisons to explore

View all word comparisons →