Example Sentences#

1. 오른쪽과 왼쪽 멀리서 벽이 보이기 시작했을 때 기뻤어.¹
   I was glad when I saw walls far away to the right and left.

   • 보이다 means ‘to be seen’ or ‘to appear’ and is formed by adding the passive suffix -이- to the verb 보다 (to see).
   • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

2. 걷고 나면 보이는 길은 왜일까²
   Why do the roads only reveal themselves after I walk?

   • 보이다 means ‘to be seen’ or ‘to appear’ and is formed by adding the passive suffix -이- to the verb 보다 (to see).
   • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

3. 지수: 그치, 그 두 사람 다 상처가 많았는데, 그냥 옆에 있어 주는 것만으로도 힘이 되는 게 보여서 좋았어.³
   Jisoo: Right, both of those people had many wounds, but it was good to see that just being by their side was enough to give them strength.

   • 보이다 means ‘to be seen’ or ‘to appear’ and is formed by adding the passive suffix -이- to the verb 보다 (to see).
   • -어서 is a connective ending that indicates a sequence of related events, cause and effect, or ways or means.

4. 눈 감으면 들려오는 멜로디⁴
   A melody that plays when I close my eyes

   • 들려오다 is a compound verb formed from 들리다 (to be heard), the passive form of 듣다 (to hear), and 오다 (to come). Together, it means ‘to be heard coming’, with the nuance that the sound originates from a distance and is perceived as moving toward the listener.
   • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

5. 소음 속에서 잊혀진 날 찾아⁵
   Searching for myself, forgotten in the noise

   • 잊혀지다 is a verb formed by attaching the passive suffix -히- to the root verb 잊다 (to forget), creating the passive form 잊히다 (to be forgotten), and then adding the suffix -어지다, which indicates a gradual change or transformation and converts transitive verbs into intransitive passive forms, creating a double passive form, 잊혀지다, which is grammatically redundant but more commonly used than 잊히다.
   • ㄴ is a past tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

6. 그러나 언젠가 이 떨어져 있는 지식들이 모이면, 현실의 무서운 모습을 드러내고, 그 속에서 우리의 무서운 위치를 알게 되어 우리는 그 사실로 인해 미쳐버리거나 그 빛을 피해 새로운 어두운 시대의 평화와 안전 속으로 도망칠 것입니다.⁶
   However, someday, if these separate pieces of knowledge come together, they will reveal the fearful reality, and in that, we will come to know our terrifying position and either go mad or flee into the peace and safety of a new dark age, avoiding the light.

   • 모이다 is the passive form of 모으다 (to gather or collect), created by adding the passive suffix -이-, meaning ‘to be gathered’ or ‘to be collected’.
   • 면 is a conditional ending meaning ‘if’.

7. 닫힌 문 앞에서 화가 났어⁷
   Standing before closed doors, I felt anger.

   • 닫히다 means ‘to be closed’. It is the passive form of 닫다 (to close), formed by adding the passive suffix -히-.
   • ㄴ is a past tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

8. 타로는 그 제안을 받아들였습니다.⁸
   Taro accepted the proposal.

   • 받아들이다 is a compound verb combining 받다 (to receive) and 들이다 (to let in). 들이다 is formed from 들다 (to enter) and the causative suffix -이-.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.

9. 남겨진 마음은 어디로 가는 걸까?²
   Where does a heart left behind go?

   • 남기다 means ‘to leave behind’ or ‘to leave remaining’. It is the causative form of 남다 (to remain), formed by adding the causative suffix -기-.
   • -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement. When attached to transitive verbs, it converts them into intransitive passive forms.
   • ㄴ is a past tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

10. 바람에 날리는 종이배처럼⁴
    Like a paper boat blown by the wind

    • 날리다 means ‘to fly’ or ‘to be blown away.’ It is the causative form of 날다 (to fly), formed by adding the causative suffix -리-.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

11. 길 남기지 않는 발자국 되고파⁵
    I want to be footprints that leave no trail

    • 남기다 means ‘to leave behind’ or ‘to leave remaining’. It is the causative form of 남다 (to remain), formed by adding the causative suffix -기-.
    • -지 않다 is a negation pattern, with 지 attached to the verb stem and 않다 as an auxiliary verb for negation.

12. 미래의 기억에 난 묶여버렸어⁷
    I became bound by memories of the future.

    • 묶이다 means ‘to be tied’ or ‘to be bound’. It is the passive form of 묶다 (to tie), formed by adding the passive suffix -이-.
    • -어 버리다 is a grammar pattern used to show that an action has been completed, often carrying an emotional nuance like regret, relief, or finality.
    • 었 is a past tense marker.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

13. 하지만 곧, 만족하지 못하는 마음이 그를 괴롭히기 시작했습니다.⁸
    But soon, dissatisfaction began to torment him.

    • 괴롭히다 means ‘to torment’. It is derived from the adjective 괴롭다 (to be painful or distressing) with the causative suffix -히- added.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

14. 아름다움 보여 줘, 사라지기 전에²
    Show me beauty before it fades away

    • 보이다 means ‘to show’ or ‘to reveal’ and is formed by adding the causative suffix -이- to the verb 보다 (to see).
    • 어 is part of the pattern -어 주다, where 주다 (to give) adds the nuance of doing the action for someone else.

15. 알 수 없는 길이지만 재밌어 보여⁴
    It’s an unknown path, yet it looks fun

    • 보이다 means ‘to be seen’ or ‘to appear’ and is formed by adding the passive suffix -이- to the verb 보다 (to see).
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

16. 가벼운 바람에도 흔들리는 맘⁵
    A heart swayed by even the lightest breeze

    • 흔들리다 means ‘to sway’ or ‘to be shaken’. It is the passive/intransitive form of 흔들다 (to shake), formed by adding the passive suffix -리-.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

17. 적의 눈 속에 내가 보였어⁷
    I saw myself in my enemy’s eyes.

    • 보이다 means ‘to be seen’ or ‘to appear’ and is formed by adding the passive suffix -이- to the verb 보다 (to see).
    • 었 is a past tense marker.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

18. 바람이 불어와 그를 하늘로 날려버렸습니다.⁸
    The wind blew and carried him away to the sky.

    • 날리다 means ‘to blow’ or ‘to fly.’ It is the causative form of 날다 (to fly), formed by adding the causative suffix -리-.
    • -어 버리다 is a grammar pattern used to show that an action has been completed, often carrying an emotional nuance like regret, relief, or finality.
    • 었 is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.

19. 진실을 보여 줘, 길을 잃기 전에²
    Show me truth before I lose my way

    • 보이다 means ‘to show’ or ‘to reveal’ and is formed by adding the causative suffix -이- to the verb 보다 (to see).
    • 어 is part of the pattern -어 주다, where 주다 (to give) adds the nuance of doing the action for someone else.