-아/어지다
Become, Turn into
-아/어지다 is a versatile ending that shows a change over time. When added to an adjective, it means 'to become' or 'to get' that quality. For example, 'warm' (따뜻하다) becomes 'to get warm' (따뜻해지다). It can also be used with some verbs to create the passive voice, meaning something 'is done' to the subject.
How It Works
This pattern has two main functions: indicating a change of state with adjectives, and forming the passive voice with verbs.
1. Change of State (with Adjectives)
This is the most common use. It attaches to an adjective stem to create a verb meaning 'to become [adjective]' or 'to get [adjective]'. It shows a gradual or completed change in quality or state.
Conjugation Rules:
- If the last vowel of the stem is ㅏ or ㅗ, add -아지다.
- 좋다 (good) → 좋아지다 (to become good)
- 밝다 (bright) → 밝아지다 (to become bright) - If the last vowel is anything else, add -어지다.
- 춥다 (cold) → 추워지다 (to become cold) (ㅂ irregular)
- 예쁘다 (pretty) → 예뻐지다 (to become pretty) (ㅡ irregular) - For adjectives ending in 하다, it becomes -해지다.
- 깨끗하다 (clean) → 깨끗해지다 (to become clean)
- 복잡하다 (complicated) → 복잡해지다 (to become complicated)
This form is often used with the past tense to show a completed change (e.g., 날씨가 따뜻해졌어요 - The weather has become warm).
2. Passive Voice (with Verbs)
This pattern can also be attached to some action verb stems to create a passive verb. The passive voice means the subject of the sentence is receiving the action, rather than doing it.
Examples:
- 쓰다 (to write) → 써지다 (to be written)
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들어지다 (to be made)
- 믿다 (to believe) → 믿어지다 (to be believed)
For example:
Active: 제가 이 책을 썼어요. (I wrote this book.)
Passive: 이 책은 잘 써졌어요. (This book was written well.)
While many verbs have their own unique passive forms (often using -이/히/리/기-), -아/어지다 is a common way to make verbs passive, especially those that don't have another passive form.
Examples (5)
- 날씨가 점점 추워져요.
The weather is gradually getting colder.
Word by Word: Weather gradually becomes cold.
춥다 (cold) + -어지다 → 추워지다 (to become cold). This shows a change in state happening over time.
- 방이 깨끗해졌어요.
The room has become clean.
Word by Word: Room became clean.
깨끗하다 (clean) + -아/어지다 → 깨끗해지다. The past tense -졌어요 indicates the change is complete.
- 열심히 공부하면 한국어 실력이 좋아질 거예요.
If you study hard, your Korean skills will improve.
Word by Word: Diligently if study, Korean skill will become good.
좋다 (good) + -아지다 → 좋아지다. Here it's used with the future tense to predict a future change.
- 이 건물은 10년 전에 만들어졌어요.
This building was built 10 years ago.
Word by Word: This building 10 years before was made.
만들다 (to make) + -어지다 → 만들어지다 (to be made). This is the passive form, indicating the building received the action of being made.
- 그 이야기는 믿어지지 않아요.
That story is unbelievable.
Word by Word: That story is not believed.
믿다 (to believe) + -어지다 → 믿어지다 (to be believed). This passive form expresses that the story cannot be believed by the speaker.
Common Mistakes
Using -아/어지다 with nouns instead of 되다.
Not Quite저는 의사졌어요.Better저는 의사가 되었어요.-아/어지다 attaches to adjectives to describe a change in quality (e.g., becoming pretty). To describe becoming a noun (like a doctor), you must use the pattern 'Noun + 이/가 되다'.
Confusing the change of state (-아/어지다) with a change in situation (-게 되다).
Not Quite내년에 한국에 예뻐질 거예요.Better내년에 한국에 가게 되었어요.-아/어지다 is used with adjectives for a change of state (e.g., 예뻐지다 - to become pretty). -게 되다 is used with verbs to indicate a change in situation or circumstances, often one that is outside the speaker's direct control. It means 'to get to do' or 'to end up doing'.
Learn This First
To express 'become/turn into', you need verb conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -게 되다Become, End Up
Both express a change. -아/어지다 is for a change in an adjective's state (e.g., 날씨가 추워지다 - the weather becomes cold), while -게 되다 is for a change in a situation or action (e.g., 한국에 가게 되다 - to end up going to Korea).
- 되다Become, Be Allowed
While -아/어지다 means 'become' for adjectives, 되다 is used with nouns to mean 'become'. For example, 예뻐지다 (to become pretty) vs. 의사가 되다 (to become a doctor).
- Adjective conjugation
-아/어지다 attaches to the stem of adjectives. Understanding how to find the stem and apply the -아/어 conjugation rule is essential for using this pattern correctly.
- -았/었/였-Past Tense
This past tense marker is frequently used with -아/어지다 to describe a change that has already completed. For example, 깨끗해졌어요 (it has become clean).