Word & grammar comparisons

읽다 (ik-da, ikda) · 읽히다 (ik-hi-da, ikhida)

읽다 means the subject actively reads a book or text, while 읽히다 expresses a passive or causative situation where someone or something is read by others.

가지다 (ga-ji-da, gajida) · 갖다 (gaj-da, gajda)

Both 가지다 and 갖다 mean 'to have,' but 가지다 is more formal and literary, while 갖다 is more natural in spoken Korean.

놓다 (noh-da, nohda) · 두다 (du-da, duda)

Both 놓다 and 두다 mean 'to put an object somewhere,' but 놓다 focuses on the action of placing, while 두다 emphasizes the state of leaving something or habitual placement.

찾다 (chaj-da, chajda) · 찾아내다 (chaj-a-nae-da, chajanaeda)

‘찾다’ means simply searching or locating something, while ‘찾아내다’ emphasizes successfully discovering or solving something despite difficulties.

고치다 (go-chi-da, gochida) · 수리하다 (su-ri-ha-da, surihada)

고치다 is used for everyday, often informal repairs or fixes, while 수리하다 is more formal and typically refers to professional or technical repairs.

만들다 (man-deul-da, mandeulda) · 짓다 (jis-da, jisda)

만들다 refers to general making or creating, while 짓다 specifically means building or constructing, especially houses.

있다 (iss-da, issda) · 없다 (eop-da, eopda)

The core difference between 있다 and 없다 is whether something exists or not.

느끼다 (neu-kki-da, neukkida) · 느껴지다 (neu-kkyeo-ji-da, neukkyeojida)

느끼다 expresses an active, personal experience of sensation or emotion, while 느껴지다 describes a passive or natural perception of sensations or feelings as they are received.

기억하다 (gi-eok-ha-da, gieokhada) · 잊다 (ij-da, ijda)

기억하다 means to retain information in your mind, while 잊다 means to no longer recall information you once knew.

생각하다 (saeng-gak-ha-da, saenggakhada) · 생각나다 (saeng-gak-na-da, saenggaknada)

생각하다 is used when the subject intentionally thinks about something, while 생각나다 is used when a memory or idea suddenly comes to mind.

알다 (al-da, alda) · 모르다 (mo-reu-da, moreuda)

'알다' refers to the state of knowing or understanding something, while '모르다' means not having the information or not understanding it.

가다 (ga-da, gada) · 오다 (o-da, oda)

가다 and 오다 are verbs that differ based on movement direction, distinguishing whether the action moves away from or towards the speaker.

올라가다 (ol-ra-ga-da, olragada) · 올라오다 (ol-ra-o-da, olraoda)

올라가다 and 올라오다 differ based on movement direction relative to the speaker's position.

나가다 (na-ga-da, nagada) · 나오다 (na-o-da, naoda)

나가다 means to move out from a place, while 나오다 means to come out or appear from inside a space.

줄 (jul) · 수 (su)

'줄' mainly expresses intention or promise, while '수' indicates possibility or means.

주다 (ju-da, juda) · 드리다 (deu-ri-da, deurida)

Both ‘주다’ and ‘드리다’ mean ‘to give,’ but they differ in expressing respect toward the recipient.

말하다 (mal-ha-da, malhada) · 이야기하다 (i-ya-gi-ha-da, iyagihada)

‘말하다’ refers to general speaking, while ‘이야기하다’ emphasizes conversational exchange or storytelling.

듣다 (deut-da, deutda) · 들리다 (deul-ri-da, deulrida)

'듣다' refers to actively perceiving sound, while '들리다' describes sound being passively perceived or naturally heard.

보다 (bo-da, boda) · 보이다 (bo-i-da, boida)

'보다' refers to the act of directly looking at something, while '보이다' describes the state of something being visible or appearing to the eyes.

되다 (doe-da, doeda) · 하다 (ha-da, hada)

되다 and 하다 are both verbs, but 되다 expresses change of state or possibility, while 하다 denotes actions or activities.

싶다 (sip-da, sipda) · 원하다 (won-ha-da, wonhada)

싶다 mainly expresses subjective, emotional desire, while 원하다 indicates objective, concrete wishes.

축하해 (chuk-ha-hae, chukhahae) · 잘했어 (jal-haess-eo, jalhaesseo)

'축하해' is used to celebrate special achievements or occasions, while '잘했어' praises specific actions or efforts.

수고 (su-go, sugo) · 고생 (go-saeng, gosaeng)

수고 mainly expresses appreciation for someone's effort, while 고생 refers to the experience of hardship or difficulty itself.

안녕 (an-nyeong, annyeong) · 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, annyeonghaseyo)

안녕 is used among close friends casually, while 안녕하세요 is a polite greeting showing respect.