In Korean, causative forms allow you to express actions or states that are caused by someone else. These forms are not limited to verbs but also include adjectives to indicate causation. Whether you’re talking about making someone do something or letting them be in a certain state, understanding causative forms is essential. In this first part of our series, we’ll introduce the basics of causative forms in Korean, so you can use them confidently in your conversations. Keep reading to get a better grasp of how to express causation in Korean!
Contents
Korean Grammar Series:
Mastering 사동사 (Causative Verb Forms)
🔹 Part 1: Introduction to Causative Forms in Korean – What They Are and Why They Matter
🔹 Part 2: Causative Form Endings in Korean – How to Use 이, 히, 리, 기, 우, 구, 추
🔹 Part 3: Using ‘시키다’ in Korean – How to Make Someone Do Something
🔹 Part 4: Using -게 하다 in Korean – Letting or Making Someone Do Something
🔹 Part 5: Korean Causative Forms Compared -시키다 vs -게 하다 vs -도록 하다
What Are Causative Verbs?
Causative forms in Korean are used to indicate that one person is causing or allowing another person to do something. These forms help express actions or states where an individual is responsible for making or letting something happen. In English, this is akin to using phrases like:
- “make someone do”
- “let someone do”
- “have someone do”
In Korean, these expressions are captured through causative forms. The term “사동사” (sadongsa) refers to causative verbs, which are a key part of mastering Korean grammar.
Why Are Causative Verbs Important?
Causative forms are essential in everyday Korean communication. You’ll use them in various contexts such as:
- Giving instructions or making requests
- Discussing rules or permissions
- Describing how something is caused or what results from an action
Without causative forms, it’s challenging to express these common ideas naturally in Korean. Understanding causative forms will enable you to sound more fluent and natural when interacting with others.
Form (Structure)
Causative forms in Korean are created mainly in two ways:
- Adding special suffixes to verb stems (e.g., -이, -히, -리, -기, -우, -구, -추)
- Using causative expressions like ‘-게 하다’ or the verb ‘시키다’
In this post, we’ll introduce these structures broadly. Later parts of the series will dive deeper into each method and provide specific examples.
The detailed explanation of these suffixes and expressions will come in the next parts.
Basic Examples
Here are some simple examples to show how causative verbs work in Korean:
1. Using causative suffixes: 이, 히, 리, 기, 우, 구, 추
- 문을 닫다 → 문을 닫히다
- 문이 바람에 닫혔어요.
(The door was closed by the wind.)
- 문이 바람에 닫혔어요.
- 옷을 벗다 → 벗기다
- 엄마가 아이 옷을 벗겼어요.
The mom took off the child’s clothes.)
- 엄마가 아이 옷을 벗겼어요.
- 신을 타다 → 신기다
- 아버지가 아이에게 신발을 신겼어요.
The father put shoes on the child.)
- 아버지가 아이에게 신발을 신겼어요.
2. Using ‘시키다’
- 선생님이 학생에게 청소를 시키셨어요.
(The teacher made the student clean.) - 회사가 직원에게 야근을 시켰어요.
(The company made the employee work late.) - 엄마가 동생에게 장을 보라고 시켰어요.
(Mom made my younger sibling go grocery shopping.)
3. Using ‘-게 하다’
- 엄마가 저를 일찍 자게 했어요.
(Mom made me go to bed early.) - 그 뉴스가 저를 슬프게 했어요.
(The news made me sad.) - 저는 강아지를 밖에 나가게 했어요.
(I made the dog go outside.)
Key Points to Remember
- Causative forms express “making” or “letting” someone do something or causing a result.
- Korean uses special endings and expressions to form causative verbs.
- We’ll cover the details of these endings and their usage in later posts.
Causative forms are fundamental to expressing causation in Korean. By mastering them, you’ll be able to create more natural and complex sentences in everyday conversation.