고소하다(go-so-ha-da, gosohada)
To legally file a complaint or accuse someone
When to use
complainant, legal accusation, active subject
The nuance
고소하다 means the subject actively files a legal complaint against someone else. The subject is the accuser.
고소하다 vs 고소되다: Who Files the Complaint?
고소하다 (go-so-ha-da, gosohada) · 고소되다 (go-so-doe-da, gosodoeda)
고소하다 (gosohada) means to file a complaint, while 고소되다 (gosodoeda) means to be accused or have a complaint filed against you.
Word-by-word breakdown
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
고소되다(go-so-doe-da, gosodoeda)
To be legally accused or have a complaint filed against oneself
When to use
accused person, passive state, being sued
The nuance
고소되다 expresses the passive state of being accused. The subject is the accused person.
Real-world examples
나는 그를 고소했다.
na-neun geu-reul go-so-haess-da., na neun geu reul go so haess da.
The subject is the one filing the complaint, so this sentence is correct.
나는 그에게 고소되었다.
na-neun geu-e-ge go-so-doe-eoss-da., na neun geu e ge go so doe eoss da.
Correct because the subject is the one being accused.
그가 나를 고소되었다.
geu-ga na-reul go-so-doe-eoss-da., geu ga na reul go so doe eoss da.
Incorrect because 고소되다 requires the subject to be the accused, not the accuser.
그녀가 나를 고소했다.
geu-nyeo-ga na-reul go-so-haess-da., geu nyeo ga na reul go so haess da.
Correct because the subject is the accuser.
나는 그에게 고소했다.
na-neun geu-e-ge go-so-haess-da., na neun geu e ge go so haess da.
Incorrect because 고소하다 is active and the subject must be the accuser.
그는 고소되었다.
geu-neun go-so-doe-eoss-da., geu neun go so doe eoss da.
Correct because the subject is the accused person.
나는 고소되었다.
na-neun go-so-doe-eoss-da., na neun go so doe eoss da.
Correct because the subject is the accused person.
그녀가 고소했다.
geu-nyeo-ga go-so-haess-da., geu nyeo ga go so haess da.
Correct because the subject is the accuser.
Quick quiz
Which word is used when someone files a complaint?
누가 고소하는 행위를 할 때 쓰는 단어는?(nu-gago-so-ha-neunhaeng-wi-reulhalttaesseu-neundan-eo-neun?, nugagosohaneunhaengwireulhalttaesseuneundaneoneun?)Which expression is correct when the accused is the subject?
피고소인이 주어일 때 맞는 표현은?(pi-go-so-in-iju-eo-ilttaemaj-neunpyo-hyeon-eun?, pigosoinijueoilttaemajneunpyohyeoneun?)In '나는 그를 고소했다', who is the subject?
"나는 그를 고소했다" 문장에서 주어는?("na-neungeu-reulgo-so-haess-da"mun-jang-e-seoju-eo-neun?, "naneungeureulgosohaessda"munjangeseojueoneun?)
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