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 is the passive form of 보다 (to see), where the suffix -이- is added to create a passive or causative verb, meaning ‘to be seen’ or ‘to appear’.
   • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

2. 지수: 그치, 그 두 사람 다 상처가 많았는데, 그냥 옆에 있어 주는 것만으로도 힘이 되는 게 보여서 좋았어.²
   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 is the passive form of 보다 (to see), where the suffix -이- is added to create a passive or causative verb, meaning ‘to be seen’.
   • -어서 is a connective ending that indicates a sequence of related events or cause and effect.

3. 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.³
   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’.

4. 타로는 그 제안을 받아들였습니다.⁴
   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.

5. 하지만 곧, 만족하지 못하는 마음이 그를 괴롭히기 시작했습니다.⁴
   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.

6. 바람이 불어와 그를 하늘로 날려버렸습니다.⁴
   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.

7. 바람이 된 타로는 땅을 강하게 지나가며 나무를 뽑고 구름을 날려버렸습니다.⁴
   As the wind, Taro swept across the land, pulling out trees and blowing away clouds.

   • 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.

8. 그러나 그의 힘은 큰, 움직이지 않는 산에 부딪히면서 약해졌습니다.⁴
   However, his power weakened as he hit a big, immovable mountain.

   • 부딪히다 means ‘to be collided with’. It is derived from the verb 부딪다 (to bump or hit) with the passive suffix -히- added. However, in this context, it conveys an active sense of ‘hitting’.
   • 면서 is a connective ending indicating simultaneous actions.