目錄
Passive sentences in formal written Korean frequently appear in news articles, reports, and official announcements. Examples include 「결과가 발표되었다」 (the results have been announced) and 「일정이 변경되었다」 (the schedule has been changed). These sentences place the event or its outcome at the forefront without necessarily identifying who performed the action. However, using the passive voice does not mean the information has been verified, nor does it make the entire sentence completely neutral.
Korean news reports also frequently use expressions such as 「확인되었다」「것으로 나타났다」「것으로 보인다」 and 「것으로 알려졌다」. These can be understood as “has been confirmed,” “the findings indicate,” “appears likely,” and “reportedly,” respectively. However, each conveys a different degree of certainty. When reading news or writing formal articles, it is important not only to recognize passive sentence structures but also to determine whether the information has been confirmed or remains a matter of speculation or secondhand reporting.
How to Form Passive Sentences in Formal Written Korean: 「-되다」, 「-아/어지다」, and Passive Verbs
Passive sentences in formal written Korean can be formed in several ways. 「발표되다」 and 「확인되다」 combine nouns with 「-되다」, while 「밝혀지다」 and 「정해지다」 attach 「-아/어지다」 to verb stems. Some verbs also form passive verbs using 「-이-」「-히-」「-리-」 or 「-기-」, as in 「쓰다 → 쓰이다」 and 「읽다 → 읽히다」. Because these forms are constructed differently, they cannot all follow the same conjugation rules.
When the preceding element is a Sino-Korean noun such as 「발표」「확인」 or 「변경」, 「-되다」 can be attached directly without a space. To use 「-아/어지다」, first remove 「다」 from the dictionary form of the verb, then adjust the ending according to the stem. As for 「-이-」「-히-」「-리-」 and 「-기-」, there is no fixed rule that applies to every verb. You need to check which passive forms exist for each verb.
| Formation type | How to form it | Example | Important note |
| Noun + 되다 | N + 「되다」 | 발표 → 발표되다 | Common with certain Sino-Korean nouns, but cannot be applied freely to all nouns |
| Verb + 아/어지다 | Verb stem + 「-아/어지다」 | 밝히다 → 밝혀지다 | Remove 「다」 before attaching the ending; the resulting form depends on the stem |
| 하다 verb + 어지다 | Verb stem 「하」 + 「여지다」 → 「해지다」 | 정하다 → 정해지다 | 「하여지다」 is often contracted to 「해지다」 |
| Passive suffix | Verb stem + 「-이-／-히-／-리-／-기-」 | 쓰다 → 쓰이다 | The suffix depends on the verb and cannot be freely substituted |
| Noun + 받다／당하다 | N + 「-받다／-당하다」 | 평가받다、공격당하다 | Usually written as one word; check whether the combination is natural and established |
「-되다」 Formation ① | Attach 「되다」 Directly to a Noun
「-되다」 can attach to certain Sino-Korean nouns to form verbs with passive meanings. Examples include 「발표＋되다 → 발표되다」「확인＋되다 → 확인되다」 and 「변경＋되다 → 변경되다」. These words usually have corresponding 「하다」 verbs, such as 「발표하다／발표되다」 and 「확인하다／확인되다」.
There is no need to insert a particle or modify the noun before attaching 「되다」. Simply add it directly to the noun. Once the verb is formed, it can be conjugated for tense, negation, or formal speech, as in 「발표되었다」 (has been announced), 「확인되지 않았다」 (has not yet been confirmed), and 「변경되었습니다」 (has been changed).
However, not every noun that combines with 「하다」 can naturally combine with 「되다」. For example, 「공부하다」 cannot simply be changed to 「공부되다」 under the same rule. Therefore, while “noun + 되다” is a common formation pattern, you still need to confirm that the resulting word is valid in actual usage.
- Example: 조사 결과가 발표되었다.
Romanization: jo-sa gyeol-gwa-ga bal-pyo-doe-eot-da
Translation: The investigation results have been announced.
「발표」 is a noun. Attaching 「되다」 directly produces 「발표되다」, which is then conjugated into the past tense 「발표되었다」. - Example: 회의 일정이 변경되었다.
Romanization: hoe-ui il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doe-eot-da
Translation: The meeting schedule has been changed.
Combining 「변경＋되다」 produces 「변경되다」. No additional particle is needed after 「변경」. - Example: 신청 내용이 확인되었다.
Romanization: sin-cheong nae-yong-i hwa-gin-doe-eot-da
Translation: The application details have been confirmed.
「확인하다」 and 「확인되다」 share the same noun, 「확인」, but use different verbs after it. Here, 「확인＋되다」 forms a passive expression.
「-아/어지다」 Formation ② | Remove 「다」 and Attach 「아/어지다」 According to the Verb Stem
「-아/어지다」 attaches to a verb stem. To form it, first remove the final 「다」 from the dictionary form of the verb, then choose 「-아지다」 or 「-어지다」 according to the stem. When the stem's final vowel is 「ㅏ」 or 「ㅗ」, 「-아지다」 is generally used. With other vowels, 「-어지다」 is generally used. For 「하다」 verbs, 「하여지다」 may be contracted to 「해지다」.
For example, removing 「다」 from 「밝히다」 leaves 「밝히」. Adding 「-어지다」 produces 「밝히어지다」, which is usually contracted to 「밝혀지다」. Similarly, 「정하다」 follows the sequence 「정하＋여지다 → 정하여지다 → 정해지다」. The same formation pattern can also be seen in 「알리다 → 알려지다」.
It is also important to distinguish verbs from adjectives. Although 「높다 → 높아지다」 and 「좋다 → 좋아지다」 also use 「-아/어지다」, they primarily express changes of state and cannot automatically be classified as passive sentences. Furthermore, attaching 「-아/어지다」 does not produce a natural expression with every verb. You still need to determine whether that particular verb permits this usage.
- Example: 사고 원인이 밝혀졌다.
Romanization: sa-go won-in-i bal-kyeo-jyeot-da
Translation: The cause of the accident has been determined.
Removing 「다」 from 「밝히다」 and attaching 「-어지다」 produces 「밝혀지다」, which becomes 「밝혀졌다」 in the past tense. You cannot simply write 「밝히지다」. - Example: 새로운 기준이 정해졌다.
Romanization: sae-ro-un gi-jun-i jeong-hae-jyeot-da
Translation: New standards have been established.
The stem of 「정하다」 is 「정하」, which becomes 「정해지다」 after the ending is attached. The 「해」 comes from a contraction of 「하여」; it is not formed by simply replacing 「다」 with 「지다」. - Example: 관련 내용이 뒤늦게 알려졌다.
Romanization: gwan-ryeon nae-yong-i dwi-neut-ge al-lyeo-jyeot-da
Translation: The relevant information did not become known until later.
「알려지다」 comes from attaching 「-어지다」 to 「알리다」. It is not formed by adding 「-어지다」 directly to 「알다」.
「-이-／-히-／-리-／-기-」 Formation ③ | Add a Passive Suffix Directly to the Verb Stem
Some Korean verbs form passive verbs using 「-이-」「-히-」「-리-」 or 「-기-」. As with the previous forms, you first remove the final 「다」 from the dictionary form, then add the appropriate passive suffix to the stem. Examples include 「쓰다 → 쓰이다」「읽다 → 읽히다」「열다 → 열리다」 and 「끊다 → 끊기다」.
These four suffixes cannot be used interchangeably. For example, the passive form of 「열다」 is 「열리다」. You cannot invent 「열히다」 simply because other verbs can take 「-히-」. Moreover, the same suffix may sometimes appear in causative verbs. For example, 「읽히다」 can mean either “to be read” or “to make someone read,” so the intended meaning must be determined from the sentence.
For this reason, it is best to learn verbs of this type together with their passive forms. When encountering an unfamiliar verb, you cannot determine which suffix to use based solely on the final consonant of its stem.
| Passive suffix | Dictionary form | Passive form | Formation |
| -이- | 쓰다 | 쓰이다 | 쓰＋이＋다 |
| -히- | 읽다 | 읽히다 | 읽＋히＋다 |
| -리- | 열다 | 열리다 | 열＋리＋다 |
| -기- | 끊다 | 끊기다 | 끊＋기＋다 |
- Example: 이 표현은 공식 문서에서 자주 쓰인다.
Romanization: i pyo-hyeon-eun gong-sik mun-seo-e-seo ja-ju sseu-in-da
Translation: This expression is frequently used in official documents.
Removing 「다」 from 「쓰다」 and attaching the passive suffix 「-이-」 produces 「쓰이다」. 「쓰인다」 is the present-tense form of 「쓰이다」. - Example: 이 소설은 여러 나라에서 읽힌다.
Romanization: i so-seol-eun yeo-reo na-ra-e-seo il-khin-da
Translation: This novel is read in several countries.
Attaching the passive suffix 「-히-」 to 「읽다」 produces 「읽히다」. You cannot apply the 「-아/어지다」 formation rule directly in this case. - Example: 행사는 예정대로 열렸다.
Romanization: haeng-sa-neun ye-jeong-dae-ro yeol-lyeot-da
Translation: The event was held as originally scheduled.
Adding 「-리-」 to 「열다」 produces 「열리다」, whose past-tense form is 「열렸다」. Here, 「열리다」 is an established verb form. - Example: 인터넷 연결이 갑자기 끊겼다.
Romanization: in-teo-net yeon-gyeol-i gap-ja-gi kkeun-gyeot-da
Translation: The internet connection was suddenly interrupted.
Attaching the passive suffix 「-기-」 to 「끊다」 produces 「끊기다」, which becomes 「끊겼다」 in the past tense. Although 「-기-」 is used in the formation, the past-tense form is not written as 「끊기었다」.
「-받다／-당하다」 Formation ④ | Attach 「받다」 or 「당하다」 Directly to a Noun
In addition to 「-되다」, certain nouns can combine with 「-받다」 or 「-당하다」 to form verbs with passive meanings. Examples include 「평가＋받다 → 평가받다」「비판＋받다 → 비판받다」 and 「공격＋당하다 → 공격당하다」.
This formation does not require converting the noun into a verb first or adding 「-아/어지다」. When 「-받다」 and 「-당하다」 function as suffixes and form a single word with the preceding noun, they are usually written together. For example, the form is 「평가받다」 rather than 「평가 받다」.
However, it is important to distinguish suffixes from ordinary verb constructions. 「평가받다」 is one word. If you write 「평가를 받다」, the object particle 「를」 appears between the noun and the verb, creating a noun-plus-verb construction. Both forms may be valid, but their formation patterns should not be confused.
- Example: 그 제안은 긍정적으로 평가받았다.
Romanization: geu je-an-eun geung-jeong-jeok-eu-ro pyeong-ga-ba-dat-da
Translation: That proposal received a positive evaluation.
「평가」 combines directly with 「-받다」 to form 「평가받다」, whose past-tense form is 「평가받았다」. - Example: 그 정책은 여러 단체로부터 비판받았다.
Romanization: geu jeong-chae-geun yeo-reo dan-che-ro-bu-teo bi-pan-ba-dat-da
Translation: That policy was criticized by several organizations.
「비판」 combines with 「-받다」 to form 「비판받다」. There is no need to insert 「을／를」 between them. - Example: 해당 서버가 외부에서 공격당했다.
Romanization: hae-dang seo-beo-ga oe-bu-e-seo gong-gyeok-dang-haet-da
Translation: The server was subjected to an external attack.
「공격」 combines with 「-당하다」 to form 「공격당하다」, whose past-tense form is 「공격당했다」. Here, 「당하다」 combines with the preceding noun, so no additional passive suffix is required.
What Role Do Passive Sentences Play in Formal Korean Writing?
Passive sentences in formal written Korean are often used to describe the outcomes of events, findings from investigations, how things are used, and matters that are currently being processed. Expressions such as 「결과가 발표되었다」 (the results have been announced) and 「사고 원인이 밝혀졌다」 (the cause of the accident has been determined) do not directly identify who performed the action, but they convey different information.
News articles, reports, and official announcements choose different passive expressions depending on the content. Some sentences only need to state that something has been completed, while others must explain the progress of an investigation, outside evaluations, or future arrangements. The following five common uses illustrate the situations in which each is appropriate.
Use ① | Announcing Completed Events or Changes
Korean news reports and official announcements frequently use passive sentences to state directly that something has happened. Examples include the publication of investigation results, changes to meeting times, and the acceptance of application forms. In these cases, readers are usually more interested in the current outcome than in which individual carried out the action.
「발표되었다」「변경되었다」 and 「접수되었다」 can all describe completed actions, but they represent different stages of an administrative process. In particular, 「접수되었다」 only means that documents have been received or accepted for processing. It does not mean that the application has been approved.
- Example: 조사 결과가 발표되었다.
Romanization: jo-sa gyeol-gwa-ga bal-pyo-doe-eot-da
Translation: The investigation results have been announced.
「발표되었다」 indicates that the announcement has been completed. The sentence does not identify the organization that made the announcement because the information being communicated is that the investigation results have been made public. - Example: 회의 일정이 변경되었다.
Romanization: hoe-ui il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doe-eot-da
Translation: The meeting schedule has been changed.
If a company announcement simply notifies employees of a change to the meeting time, 「변경되었다」 is a natural choice. If it is necessary to explain who decided on the change, the decision-maker can be identified separately. - Example: 신청서가 정상적으로 접수되었다.
Romanization: sin-cheong-seo-ga jeong-sang-jeok-eu-ro jeop-su-doe-eot-da
Translation: The application form has been successfully received.
「접수되었다」 means that the application form has entered the processing procedure, not that it has passed the review. Administrative notices often need to distinguish between “received” and “approved.”
Use ② | Describing Facts Confirmed or Discovered Through an Investigation
Accident investigations, research reports, and news articles frequently use 「확인되다」「밝혀지다」 and 「발견되다」 to describe information obtained through verification or investigation.
Although all three verbs can appear in investigation findings, their meanings differ. 「확인되다」 indicates that something has been confirmed. 「밝혀지다」 is often used when something previously unclear becomes known through an investigation. 「발견되다」 indicates that a problem or object has been discovered. Discovering a problem is not the same as identifying its cause. Therefore, these verbs should not be treated as interchangeable merely because they can all be translated into Chinese using expressions similar to “found out.”
- Example: 사고 원인이 밝혀졌다.
Romanization: sa-go won-in-i bal-kyeo-jyeot-da
Translation: The cause of the accident has been determined.
「밝혀졌다」 indicates that the previously unknown cause of the accident has been established. If the investigation is still incomplete and the cause remains uncertain, this affirmative expression would not be appropriate. - Example: 검사 과정에서 새로운 문제가 발견되었다.
Romanization: geom-sa gwa-jeong-e-seo sae-ro-un mun-je-ga bal-gyeon-doe-eot-da
Translation: A new problem was discovered during the inspection.
「발견되었다」 means that a problem was found during the inspection, but it does not mean its cause or solution has been identified. This expression commonly appears in inspection records and investigation reports. - Example: 해당 사실은 아직 확인되지 않았다.
Romanization: hae-dang sa-sil-eun a-jik hwa-gin-doe-ji a-nat-da
Translation: The information has not yet been confirmed.
「확인되지 않았다」 indicates that the relevant information cannot currently be verified. It does not mean that the claim has been proven false; rather, the available verification results do not yet support it.
Use ③ | Describing How Things Are Used and General Patterns
Korean passive sentences can also describe how something is commonly used, such as the types of documents in which an expression appears, the countries where a novel is read, or the fields in which a technology is applied.
These sentences do not necessarily report a specific completed event. Instead, they describe general situations and therefore frequently appear with adverbs such as 「자주」 (often) and 「널리」 (widely). When introducing expressions, creative works, or products, passive sentences allow the writer to begin directly with the item being discussed without identifying its users.
- Example: 이 표현은 공식 문서에서 자주 쓰인다.
Romanization: i pyo-hyeon-eun gong-sik mun-seo-e-seo ja-ju sseu-in-da
Translation: This expression is frequently used in official documents.
「쓰인다」 describes how an expression is generally used rather than referring to one specific instance. Combined with 「자주」, the sentence more clearly indicates that this is a common pattern. - Example: 이 소설은 여러 나라에서 읽힌다.
Romanization: i so-seol-eun yeo-reo na-ra-e-seo il-khin-da
Translation: This novel is read in several countries.
「읽힌다」 places the novel in the subject position, making it suitable for describing the work's readership. If the article focuses on which readers are reading the novel, an active sentence could be used instead. - Example: 이 기술은 다양한 분야에서 사용된다.
Romanization: i gi-sul-eun da-yang-han bun-ya-e-seo sa-yong-doen-da
Translation: This technology is used in various fields.
「사용된다」 describes how a technology is applied and commonly appears in research introductions and product descriptions. The sentence focuses on the range of applications, so it is unnecessary to list every person or organization using the technology.
Use ④ | Reporting Matters Under Review or Scheduled for Future Action
Official announcements often need to explain more than completed actions. They may also need to clarify what is currently being processed, which matters remain undecided, and when future steps are expected to take place. In these situations, passive sentences combine with progressive, negative, or scheduled-action expressions to show readers how far the process has progressed.
For example, 「검토되고 있다」 means that something is under review, 「확정되지 않았다」 means that it has not yet been finalized, and 「발표될 예정이다」 means that an announcement is scheduled. Although all three can appear in official notices, they cannot replace one another. In particular, a scheduled event has not yet been completed. The presence of a passive verb alone does not mean the event has already occurred.
- Example: 신청 내용은 현재 검토되고 있다.
Romanization: sin-cheong nae-yong-eun hyeon-jae geom-to-doe-go it-da
Translation: The application details are currently under review.
「검토되고 있다」 indicates that the review process is ongoing and does not state the final outcome. Using this expression in administrative documents helps prevent recipients from mistakenly assuming that their applications have already been approved. - Example: 새로운 기준은 아직 확정되지 않았다.
Romanization: sae-ro-un gi-jun-eun a-jik hwak-jeong-doe-ji a-nat-da
Translation: The new standards have not yet been finalized.
「확정되지 않았다」 means that the standards have not been formally settled. Even if the relevant proposals have already been submitted or are being discussed, it would be inappropriate to write 「확정되었다」. - Example: 조사 결과는 다음 주에 발표될 예정이다.
Romanization: jo-sa gyeol-gwa-neun da-eum ju-e bal-pyo-doel ye-jeong-i-da
Translation: The investigation results are scheduled to be announced next week.
「발표될 예정이다」 means that an announcement is planned, but the results have not yet been officially released. Compared with 「발표되었다」 (have been announced), the two sentences describe different stages.
Use ⑤ | Describing Situations Involving Evaluation, Criticism, or Attacks
Korean news and commentary articles also frequently use passive sentences to describe how a policy, proposal, person, or organization has been treated by others. Examples include proposals receiving evaluations, policies facing criticism, and servers being attacked. In these sentences, the subject is usually the entity affected by the action.
「평가받다」「비판받다」 and 「공격당하다」 can all describe such situations, but the presence of 「받다」 or 「당하다」 alone does not determine whether the sentence is positive or negative. 「평가받다」 simply means to receive an evaluation; other words must indicate whether that evaluation is favorable or unfavorable. 「공격당하다」, on the other hand, explicitly means to be subjected to an attack.
- Example: 그 제안은 긍정적으로 평가받았다.
Romanization: geu je-an-eun geung-jeong-jeok-eu-ro pyeong-ga-ba-dat-da
Translation: That proposal received a positive evaluation.
「평가받았다」 indicates that the proposal was evaluated. The word that actually specifies the nature of the evaluation is 「긍정적으로」 (positively). Therefore, 「평가받다」 alone should not be interpreted as meaning “to receive praise.” - Example: 그 정책은 여러 단체로부터 비판받았다.
Romanization: geu jeong-chae-geun yeo-reo dan-che-ro-bu-teo bi-pan-ba-dat-da
Translation: That policy was criticized by several organizations.
「비판받았다」 indicates that the policy was criticized, while 「여러 단체로부터」 identifies the organizations from which the criticism came. Passive sentences do not necessarily omit the source of an action; it can be stated explicitly when needed. - Example: 회사의 서버가 외부에서 공격당했다.
Romanization: hoe-sa-ui seo-beo-ga oe-bu-e-seo gong-gyeok-dang-haet-da
Translation: The company's server was attacked from outside.
「공격당했다」 describes the server being subjected to an attack. The sentence indicates that the attack came from an external source but does not establish the attacker's identity. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to add that a particular individual or organization was responsible.
How Do Active, Passive, and Speculative Sentences Differ in Korean?
Active sentences, passive sentences, and speculative expressions in Korean can all describe the same event, but they communicate different information. 「회사가 일정을 변경했다」 directly states that the company changed the schedule. 「일정이 변경되었다」 emphasizes the result that the schedule has been changed. Meanwhile, 「일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다」 indicates that, based on the current situation, the schedule may change. It does not present the change as something that has already occurred.
Two distinctions need to be considered separately. The difference between active and passive sentences primarily affects the perspective from which an event is described, while speculative expressions concern the speaker's assessment of the information. These are not mutually exclusive. For example, 「변경될 것으로 보인다」 contains the passive verb 「변경되다」, but the addition of 「것으로 보인다」 gives the entire sentence a speculative meaning.
| Comparison | Active sentence | Passive sentence | Speculative sentence |
| Representative expression | 회사가 일정을 변경했다 | 일정이 변경되었다 | 일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다 |
| Basic meaning | The company changed the schedule | The schedule has been changed | The schedule appears likely to change |
| Sentence focus | Who performed the action | What happened to the event or affected entity | An assessment based on currently available information |
| Subject placement | The person or organization performing the action is the subject | The entity affected by the action is the subject | The subject depends on what is being speculated about |
| Is the person responsible identified? | The example explicitly identifies the company | The person responsible can be omitted | The person responsible can be identified or omitted |
| Has the event already occurred? | The example indicates that the change is complete | The example indicates that the change is complete | The example only suggests that a change may occur |
| Does it mean the information has been verified? | Not necessarily | Not necessarily | It does not indicate that the information has been confirmed |
| Main source of the distinction | Relationship between the verb and subject | Relationship between the passive verb and subject | Speculative expressions such as 「것으로 보인다」 |
| Common contexts | Identifying decision-makers and responsibility | Announcing results, news reporting, administrative notices | Unconfirmed arrangements and assessments of events |
| Common English translations | Someone did something | Something was done / has been completed | It appears that… / may… / is believed to… |
| Example | 회사가 일정을 변경했다. | 일정이 변경되었다. | 일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다. |
| Nuance of the example | Clearly states that the company has changed the schedule | Informs readers first that the schedule has changed | Suggests that a change may occur based on the current situation, without confirming it |
▌「회사가 일정을 변경했다」 vs. 「일정이 변경되었다」 | The Actor vs. the Outcome
「회사가 일정을 변경했다」 is an active sentence that explicitly identifies the company as the entity that changed the schedule. This construction is suitable when the decision-maker or responsibility needs to be specified, such as when a company announces a policy adjustment, a government authority introduces new regulations, or a news report describes an action taken by an organization.
「일정이 변경되었다」, by contrast, places “schedule” in the subject position and informs readers that the schedule has been changed without specifying who decided on the modification. Both sentences may describe exactly the same event. The difference lies in which information readers receive first. If the focus is on communicating the outcome of the change, the passive sentence is natural. If it is necessary to establish who made the decision, the active sentence is generally more direct.
- Example: 회사가 회의 일정을 변경했다.
Romanization: hoe-sa-ga hoe-ui il-jeong-eul byeon-gyeong-haet-da
Translation: The company changed the meeting schedule.
「회사가」 explicitly identifies the entity responsible for the change. In addition to stating that the meeting schedule has been altered, the sentence tells readers that the company carried out the change. - Example: 회의 일정이 변경되었다.
Romanization: hoe-ui il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doe-eot-da
Translation: The meeting schedule has been changed.
This sentence does not mention the company. It directly communicates the result of the schedule change. If the purpose is simply to announce the new meeting time, there is usually no need to identify which department made the modification.
▌「일정이 변경되었다」 vs. 「일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다」 | A Completed Change vs. an Unconfirmed Possibility
「일정이 변경되었다」 means that the schedule has already been changed. The speaker presents the change directly as something that has occurred. 「일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다」, however, means that the schedule may change according to currently available information. It does not confirm that the change has already happened.
This distinction cannot be understood simply as the difference between passive and speculative sentences, because both use the passive verb 「변경되다」. What actually changes the degree of certainty is the combination of 「변경되었다」 versus 「변경될 것으로 보인다」. The former describes an event that has occurred, while the latter expresses a qualified judgment about a possible future change.
- Example: 행사 일정이 변경되었다.
Romanization: haeng-sa il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doe-eot-da
Translation: The event schedule has been changed.
「변경되었다」 uses the past tense to state directly that the schedule has been altered. If this sentence appears in an official announcement, readers will generally understand that the event arrangements have already been adjusted. - Example: 행사 일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다.
Romanization: haeng-sa il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doel geo-seu-ro bo-in-da
Translation: The event schedule appears likely to change.
「변경될 것으로 보인다」 indicates that a possible change is being inferred from the current situation. Even if there are already signs of a postponement, the sentence does not present the change as an accomplished fact.
▌「회사가 일정을 변경했다」 vs. 「일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다」 | Confirmed Action vs. Qualified Judgment
「회사가 일정을 변경했다」 directly indicates that the company has already made the change. Both the actor and the outcome are clear. 「일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다」 does not directly state that the change has occurred. Instead, it uses certain circumstances to infer a possible future outcome.
The difference is not simply whether the company is mentioned. Even if an organization is identified in a speculative sentence, the information does not automatically become confirmed. For example, 「회사가 일정을 변경할 것으로 보인다」 remains speculative; it merely identifies the company that may take action. To determine how certain the statement is, it is still necessary to examine the expression following the verb.
- Example: 회사가 새로운 정책을 발표했다.
Romanization: hoe-sa-ga sae-ro-un jeong-chaek-eul bal-pyo-haet-da
Translation: The company announced a new policy.
This active sentence directly identifies the company as having already announced the policy. When reporting an official company decision, this construction clearly identifies both the actor and the completed action. - Example: 회사가 새로운 정책을 발표할 것으로 보인다.
Romanization: hoe-sa-ga sae-ro-un jeong-chaek-eul bal-pyo-hal geo-seu-ro bo-in-da
Translation: The company appears likely to announce a new policy.
This sentence also uses the company as its subject, but 「발표할 것으로 보인다」 indicates that the policy announcement remains speculative. Even if the company expected to make the announcement is known, that does not mean the policy has already been officially released.
▌「확인되었다」 vs. 「추정된다」 | Confirmed Information vs. an Inference Based on Evidence
「확인되었다」 and 「추정된다」 frequently appear in accident investigations, research reports, and news articles, but they convey different degrees of certainty. 「확인되었다」 indicates that something has been confirmed, while 「추정된다」 expresses an inference about a possible outcome based on existing data or clues.
For example, if investigators have established the cause of an accident, 「확인되었다」 can be used. If they have only found evidence of an equipment malfunction and do not yet have sufficient evidence to identify the accident's cause, 「추정된다」 is more appropriate. Both can appear in passive forms in formal writing, so the presence of 「-되다」 alone cannot establish whether a report has been verified.
- Example: 사고 원인은 기계 결함으로 확인되었다.
Romanization: sa-go won-in-eun gi-gye gyeol-ham-eu-ro hwa-gin-doe-eot-da
Translation: The cause of the accident has been confirmed as a mechanical failure.
「확인되었다」 indicates that the accident's cause has been established and confirmed. If a news report uses this expression, it should be supported by corresponding investigation or verification results. - Example: 사고 원인은 기계 결함으로 추정된다.
Romanization: sa-go won-in-eun gi-gye gyeol-ham-eu-ro chu-jeong-doen-da
Translation: The cause of the accident is believed to be a mechanical failure.
「추정된다」 indicates that a mechanical failure is currently considered a possible cause, but it is not yet a confirmed conclusion. If later investigations reveal another cause, the original assessment may need to be revised.
▌How Different Sentence Patterns Change the Nuance of the Same Situation
Suppose a company originally planned to hold a meeting next week but may now change the date. Different sentence patterns can be used depending on whether the company has already made a decision, whether the information has been officially announced, and what information is currently available.
Even when all the sentences concern a “change to the meeting schedule,” active sentences, passive sentences, speculative expressions, and confirmation statements convey different information.
- Example: 회사가 회의 일정을 변경했다.
Romanization: hoe-sa-ga hoe-ui il-jeong-eul byeon-gyeong-haet-da
Translation: The company changed the meeting schedule.
This explicitly states that the company has already made the change. It is appropriate when the person or organization responsible for the decision or action needs to be identified. - Example: 회의 일정이 변경되었다.
Romanization: hoe-ui il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doe-eot-da
Translation: The meeting schedule has been changed.
This directly communicates the outcome without emphasizing who made the change. It is suitable for internal company notices and general administrative announcements. - Example: 회의 일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다.
Romanization: hoe-ui il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doel geo-seu-ro bo-in-da
Translation: The meeting schedule appears likely to change.
This suggests that the schedule may be adjusted based on the current circumstances but does not state that a change has already occurred. It is appropriate when the change has not yet been officially announced. - Example: 회의 일정이 변경된 것으로 확인되었다.
Romanization: hoe-ui il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doen geo-seu-ro hwa-gin-doe-eot-da
Translation: It has been confirmed that the meeting schedule was changed.
The emphasis is on verification that the schedule has indeed changed. Unlike a simple announcement that the schedule has changed, this sentence also communicates the result of the verification process, making it suitable when the status of the information needs to be explained.
All four sentences concern the same schedule change, but they cannot be used interchangeably simply because their Chinese translations are similar. If the company has officially announced a revised date, 「변경되었다」 can directly communicate the outcome. If there are only reports that the meeting may be postponed, an expression that preserves uncertainty should still be used. Whether the sentence needs to identify the decision-maker or establish that the information has been verified determines whether an active sentence or confirmation expression is more appropriate.
How Are Passive Sentences Used in Formal Korean? Two Dialogues About Announcements and Investigations
Passive sentences in formal written Korean frequently appear in company announcements, administrative notices, and news reports, but they are also common in actual conversations. Expressions such as 「확정되다」「확인되다」「밝혀지다」 and 「발표되다」 can be used when asking whether a meeting date has been finalized, whether the cause of an accident has been determined, or when information will be released.
Formal conversations generally use sentence endings such as 「-습니다／-습니까」, while news articles and reports more commonly use the 「-다」 style. Both can be used with passive sentences; the main differences lie in the speaking context and sentence endings. It is also important to distinguish between completed actions and scheduled events. For example, 「발표되었습니다」 (has been announced) and 「발표될 예정입니다」 (is scheduled to be announced) both contain passive verbs, but they describe different stages of progress.
▌Situation ① | Confirming a Revised Meeting Schedule and Announcement Date
A：새 회의 일정이 확정됐습니까?
sae hoe-ui il-jeong-i hwak-jeong-dwaet-seum-ni-kka?
Has the new meeting schedule been finalized?
B：네, 오늘 오전에 확정됐습니다. 공지문은 내일 게시될 예정입니다.
ne, o-neul o-jeon-e hwak-jeong-dwaet-seum-ni-da. gong-ji-mun-eun nae-il ge-si-doel ye-jeong-im-ni-da.
Yes, it was finalized this morning. The announcement is scheduled to be posted tomorrow.
📌 Grammar Point: 「확정됐습니다」 is a contraction of 「확정되었습니다」 and indicates that something has been formally finalized. 「게시될 예정입니다」, on the other hand, means that the announcement is scheduled to be posted in the future; it does not mean that it has already been published. In this dialogue, the meeting date has been finalized, but the announcement has not yet been posted. If a formal notice treats 「확정되다」 and 「게시되다」 as the same stage, recipients may mistakenly believe that the relevant information has already been made public. Although 「확정됐습니다」 is a contracted form, it retains the formal polite ending 「-습니다」, making it suitable for workplace inquiries and administrative communication.
▌Situation ② | Asking About an Accident Investigation and the Release of Its Findings
A：사고 원인이 밝혀졌습니까?
sa-go won-in-i bal-kyeo-jyeot-seum-ni-kka?
Has the cause of the accident been determined?
B：아직 확인되지 않았습니다. 조사 결과는 다음 주에 발표될 예정입니다.
a-jik hwa-gin-doe-ji a-nat-seum-ni-da. jo-sa gyeol-gwa-neun da-eum ju-e bal-pyo-doel ye-jeong-im-ni-da.
It has not yet been confirmed. The investigation results are scheduled to be announced next week.
📌 Grammar Point: 「밝혀졌습니까」 asks whether the previously unknown cause of the accident has been established. 「확인되지 않았습니다」 explicitly states that it has not yet been confirmed. The following expression, 「발표될 예정입니다」, only provides the expected timing of the announcement. It does not mean that the accident's cause has been confirmed. Dialogues like this are common when explaining investigation progress. Particularly when an incident remains unresolved, 「확인되었습니다」 (has been confirmed) should not be used simply to make the language sound formal. Passive sentences describe events or outcomes, but whether the information has actually been verified still depends on the investigation's progress.
Additional Usage Notes:
- Passive sentences in formal Korean conversations generally use sentence endings appropriate to the person being addressed. For example, 「일정이 변경되었습니다」 (the schedule has been changed) is suitable for workplace or administrative settings, while a news article would often use 「일정이 변경되었다」. Both indicate that the schedule has changed, but the former uses a formal polite ending, whereas the latter is a common written narrative form. The frequent use of 「-다」 in news writing does not mean formal conversations must use the same ending.
- 「확정되다」「확인되다」 and 「발표되다」 cannot be freely substituted in formal contexts. 「확정되다」 means that something, such as a meeting time or policy content, has been finalized. 「확인되다」 means that information has been confirmed, while 「발표되다」 indicates that information has been announced. A meeting date may have been finalized without being publicly announced. Investigation results may also have been obtained while their official release is still pending. These three verbs describe different stages and should not be treated as synonymous simply because they all use 「-되다」.
- A passive sentence does not necessarily mean that the speaker possesses complete information. For example, 「사고 원인이 밝혀졌습니다」 (the cause of the accident has been determined) indicates that the cause is now known, while 「사고 원인이 밝혀질 것으로 보입니다」 (the cause of the accident appears likely to be determined) remains speculative. If the information has only been heard from another source, 「것으로 알려졌습니다」 (reportedly) may also be used. In formal conversations involving unresolved matters, expressions such as 「아직 확인되지 않았습니다」 (has not yet been confirmed), or other qualified statements, should be chosen according to the actual circumstances to avoid confusing predictions, secondhand reports, and confirmed findings.
How Does Korean 「-되다」 Compare with Japanese 「〜される」?
Korean 「-되다」 and Japanese 「〜される」 often convey similar meanings in news articles, reports, and official announcements. For example, 「결과가 발표되었다」 and 「結果が発表された」 both mean that the results have been announced, without specifying who made the announcement. This construction is suitable for placing the event or outcome first so readers can immediately understand what happened.
However, passive sentences are formed differently in the two languages. Korean 「-되다」 frequently attaches to Sino-Korean nouns such as 「발표」「확인」 and 「변경」 to produce 「발표되다」「확인되다」 and 「변경되다」. In Japanese, the 「する」 in 「発表する」「確認する」 and 「変更する」 changes to the passive form 「される」. Although the two languages can often be translated into one another using these forms, not every Korean noun can directly take 「-되다」, and not every Japanese passive sentence uses 「〜される」.
◆ Similar Grammar: 「〜される」
The Japanese form 「〜される」 is the passive form of 「する」 and frequently appears in expressions such as 「発表される」「確認される」 and 「変更される」. News reports and official documents often use this construction to describe investigation results being announced, information being confirmed, or previously scheduled arrangements being changed.
Like Korean 「-되다」, Japanese 「〜される」 allows the entity affected by an action to become the grammatical subject. For example, changing 「会社が結果を発表した」 (the company announced the results) to 「結果が発表された」 (the results were announced) shifts the reader's attention from “what the company did” to “what happened to the results.”
- Example: 調査結果が発表された。
Kana: ちょうさけっかがはっぴょうされた。
Translation: The investigation results have been announced.
Korean equivalent: 조사 결과가 발표되었다.
Romanization: jo-sa gyeol-gwa-ga bal-pyo-doe-eot-da
Both Japanese 「発表された」 and Korean 「발표되었다」 indicate that the announcement has been completed. Both sentences place “investigation results” in the subject position, so there is no need to identify the announcing organization separately. If the article simply needs to inform readers that the results have been released, this construction better matches the narrative focus than individually identifying the actors involved. - Example: 会議の日程が変更された。
Kana: かいぎのにっていがへんこうされた。
Translation: The meeting schedule has been changed.
Korean equivalent: 회의 일정이 변경되었다.
Romanization: hoe-ui il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doe-eot-da
「変更された」 and 「변경되었다」 both directly communicate the outcome of a schedule change. These sentences are suitable for company announcements and administrative notices. If it is necessary to explain which department decided on the change, both Japanese and Korean can use active sentences that explicitly identify the responsible department. - Example: 新たな問題が確認された。
Kana: あらたなもんだいがかくにんされた。
Translation: A new problem has been confirmed.
Korean equivalent: 새로운 문제가 확인되었다.
Romanization: sae-ro-un mun-je-ga hwa-gin-doe-eot-da
Japanese 「確認された」 and Korean 「확인되었다」 both indicate that a problem has been confirmed. However, these sentences only report the confirmation. They do not specify whether the cause has been identified, nor do they mean the problem has been resolved. In formal reports, “confirming a problem” should not automatically be interpreted as “completing the investigation.”
◆ Key Differences from 「-되다」:
The closest similarity between Korean 「-되다」 and Japanese 「〜される」 is that both can describe the outcome of an action affecting an event or entity. Examples include 「발표되다／発表される」「확인되다／確認される」 and 「변경되다／変更される」. These pairs often correspond naturally in formal writing.
However, Japanese 「〜される」 is the passive form of the verb 「する」, while Korean 「-되다」 attaches to an appropriate noun to form a verb. Therefore, the two forms cannot be replaced word for word. For example, Korean 「정해지다」 indicates that something has been decided, but Japanese may use 「決まる」 or 「決定される」 depending on the context. There is no need to find a passive construction with exactly the same form.
Furthermore, Japanese 「される」 can also express respect. For example, 「先生が説明されました」 may respectfully describe a teacher's action rather than mean that the teacher was the person being explained. In such a case, Korean would generally require an honorific expression rather than a direct substitution with 「-되다」. To choose the appropriate form, first determine whether the sentence's subject performs the action or is affected by it. Then select the construction that fits each language.
How Does Korean 「것으로 보인다」 Compare with Japanese 「〜とみられる」?
Korean 「것으로 보인다」 and Japanese 「〜とみられる」 frequently appear in news reports, investigation findings, and formal commentary to express inferences based on currently available information. For example, 「일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다」 and 「日程が変更されるとみられる」 both suggest that a schedule may change, but neither confirms that the change has already occurred.
Both constructions allow writers to express qualified judgments without presenting speculation as verified fact. However, Korean 「것으로 보인다」 generally requires the preceding verb, adjective, or noun to take an appropriate form. Japanese 「〜とみられる」 places the content being inferred before 「と」. When translating, it is important first to determine whether the event has already occurred and whether the sentence expresses speculation or reports a verified finding.
◆ Similar Grammar: 「〜とみられる」
The Japanese expression 「〜とみられる」 is frequently used in news reporting to communicate speculation or assessments. Examples include the possibility that an accident was caused by equipment failure, that an event schedule may change, or that the number of users may increase in the future. Unlike 「確認された」, which indicates confirmation, 「〜とみられる」 presents a qualified judgment based on existing circumstances.
This nuance is very similar to Korean 「것으로 보인다」. Neither expression necessarily indicates a baseless guess; the assessment may be based on investigative clues, data, or known information. However, having grounds for an assessment does not mean the outcome has been proven. Therefore, formal reporting still needs to identify information sources or relevant evidence.
- Example: 事故の原因は機械の故障とみられる。
Kana: じこのげんいんはきかいのこしょうとみられる。
Translation: The cause of the accident is believed to be a mechanical failure.
Korean equivalent: 사고 원인은 기계 결함인 것으로 보인다.
Romanization: sa-go won-in-eun gi-gye gyeol-ham-in geo-seu-ro bo-in-da
Both Japanese 「故障とみられる」 and Korean 「결함인 것으로 보인다」 suggest, based on the current circumstances, that mechanical failure may have caused the accident. Neither states that the cause has been formally established. Therefore, they cannot simply be replaced with 「故障が確認された」 or 「결함으로 확인되었다」. - Example: イベントの日程は変更されるとみられる。
Kana: イベントのにっていはへんこうされるとみられる。
Translation: The event schedule appears likely to change.
Korean equivalent: 행사 일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다.
Romanization: haeng-sa il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doel geo-seu-ro bo-in-da
Japanese 「変更されるとみられる」 and Korean 「변경될 것으로 보인다」 both express the possibility of a future change. Although both sentences contain passive forms, the sentences as a whole remain speculative and cannot be translated as “The event schedule has been changed.” - Example: 今後、利用者が増えるとみられる。
Kana: こんご、りようしゃがふえるとみられる。
Translation: The number of users is expected to increase in the future.
Korean equivalent: 앞으로 이용자가 늘어날 것으로 보인다.
Romanization: a-peu-ro i-yong-ja-ga neu-reo-nal geo-seu-ro bo-in-da
These examples show that 「〜とみられる」 and 「것으로 보인다」 do not necessarily have to appear with passive verbs. Japanese uses 「増える」, while Korean uses 「늘어나다」, both describing an increase in the number of people. The speculative meaning comes from the following expressions, 「とみられる／것으로 보인다」, rather than from any passive form of the preceding verb.
◆ Key Differences from 「것으로 보인다」:
Japanese 「〜とみられる」 and Korean 「것으로 보인다」 have similar nuances in news and formal writing. Both express inferences based on currently available information without directly presenting the judgment as an established fact. However, Korean requires the preceding content to take an appropriate form. For example, 「변경될 것으로 보인다」 indicates a possible change, 「늘어날 것으로 보인다」 indicates an expected increase, and 「기계 결함인 것으로 보인다」 indicates an inference that a particular cause or condition applies.
The surface form of Japanese 「〜とみられる」 is relatively consistent, as seen in 「変更されるとみられる」「増えるとみられる」 and 「機械の故障とみられる」. However, the tense of the preceding verb and the content of the sentence still affect the overall meaning.
In addition, Japanese 「みられる」 does not always express speculation. For example, 「この地域では珍しい鳥が見られる」 (rare birds can be seen in this area) means that something can be observed. Depending on the context, Korean should use expressions such as 「볼 수 있다」 rather than translating it directly as 「것으로 보인다」.
Similarly, Korean 「것으로 보인다」 should not always be translated into Japanese as 「〜とみられる」. In everyday conversations involving personal judgments, Japanese 「〜と思う」 or 「〜ようだ」 may sometimes sound more natural. However, 「〜とみられる」 is generally appropriate in news reports or formal documents presenting assessments based on available information. Translation therefore requires attention not only to the meaning conveyed in Chinese but also to the formality of the writing and how much information the speaker actually possesses.
Passive sentences in formal written Korean are frequently used to communicate the outcomes of events, but whether the actor needs to be identified depends on what the article aims to explain. 「일정이 변경되었다」 is suitable for announcing that a schedule has changed. If the person who made the decision needs to be identified, an active sentence is more direct. Formal writing does not require the passive voice, and omitting the actor does not automatically make the content objective.
When reading Korean news, it is also useful to pay attention to the differences between 「확인되었다」「것으로 보인다」 and 「것으로 알려졌다」. The first indicates confirmation, while the other two concern speculation and secondhand reporting, respectively. Particularly in accident coverage, investigation findings, and policy announcements, treating “may happen” as “has been confirmed” can lead to misunderstandings. Recognizing the narrative focus of passive sentences, then checking the source and certainty of the information, makes it possible to understand what these formal expressions actually communicate.
FAQs
They are sentences that describe an event from the perspective of the entity affected by an action or the outcome of the event. For example, 「결과가 발표되었다」 means that the results have been announced without specifically identifying the organization that made the announcement.
News articles and reports often need to communicate events, investigation findings, or the progress of administrative procedures first. Passive sentences allow this information to appear in the subject position, but they do not necessarily require the actor to be omitted.
Common patterns include “noun + 되다” (발표되다), “verb stem + 아/어지다” (밝혀지다), passive suffixes 「-이-／-히-／-리-／-기-」 (쓰이다、읽히다), and 「-받다／-당하다」 (평가받다、공격당하다).
「-되다」 commonly attaches to certain Sino-Korean nouns, as in 「확인되다」. 「-아/어지다」 attaches to verb or adjective stems, as in 「밝혀지다」. The latter can also express changes of state and does not necessarily form a passive sentence.
No. Passive sentences primarily concern the relationship between the action and its grammatical subject, while objective language concerns how information is presented and the grounds for a judgment. 「일정이 변경되었다」 is a passive sentence, but its passive form alone does not establish whether the information is reliable.
「회사가 일정을 변경했다」 identifies the company as the entity that changed the schedule. 「일정이 변경되었다」 emphasizes that the schedule has been changed. 「일정이 변경될 것으로 보인다」 suggests that the schedule may change without presenting the change as something that has already occurred.
「확인되었다」 means that something has been confirmed. 「추정된다」 indicates an inference based on existing information or evidence. The latter does not mean that an investigation has verified the conclusion, so it should not automatically be translated as “has been confirmed.”
「것으로 나타났다」 is often used to present findings revealed by research, investigations, or analyses. 「것으로 보인다」 expresses a qualified judgment based on the current situation. The former emphasizes what the data show, while the latter emphasizes an inference.
「것으로 알려졌다」 is commonly used to relay information that has circulated or become known through outside sources, similar to “reportedly” in English. 「확인되었다」 indicates that something has been confirmed. Information being reported or widely known does not mean it has been verified.
Not necessarily. 「-게 되다」 often describes an outcome that arises through certain developments. For example, 「한국에서 일하게 되었다」 means that someone ended up working in Korea; it does not necessarily imply being forced to do so. Not every instance of 「-게 되다」 can be classified as passive.
When expressing that something has been decided, 「결정되었다」 is generally sufficient. 「결정되어졌다」 adds an unnecessary passive element and is best avoided in formal writing. However, other constructions that appear similarly redundant still need to be evaluated according to the particular words involved.
They often correspond when describing passive events, as in 「발표되었다／発表された」. However, Korean 「-되다」 commonly attaches to nouns, whereas Japanese 「〜される」 is the passive form of 「する」. The two cannot be substituted word for word in every sentence.
Both can express speculation in news reports or formal documents, as in 「변경될 것으로 보인다／変更されるとみられる」. However, Japanese 「みられる」 can also mean “can be seen,” in which case Korean would not necessarily use 「것으로 보인다」.
Yes. 「일정이 변경됐어요」 (the schedule has changed) and 「결과가 발표됐어요」 (the results have been announced) are natural in ordinary conversation. Formal situations often use 「-습니다」, while news articles more commonly use the 「-다」 style.
No. Passive sentences can omit the actor, but they can also identify the source of an action when necessary. For example, 「그 정책은 여러 단체로부터 비판받았다」 explicitly identifies the organizations that criticized the policy. An active sentence can also be used when responsibility needs to be established.