-이- · -히- · -리- · -기- · -우- – Korean causative verbs
- Meaning
- verbs that mean “make someone do”
- Level
- Intermediate
- Topic
- Causative & passive
Many verbs have a causative form built with a suffix: 먹다 → 먹이다 (to feed), 입다 → 입히다 (to dress someone), 울다 → 울리다 (to make cry). Which suffix a verb takes has to be learned word by word.
Key rules
- 리 suffix = 울리다
- ㄹ stems + 리
- Emotion causative
- 우 suffix = 재우다
- Stem change occurs
- Parenting essential
- 히 suffix = 입히다
- Dress someone
Examples with -이- · -히- · -리- · -기- · -우-
The highlighted part is the grammar form.
- 사람들을 웃겼어요 Saramdeul-eul utgyeosseoyo I made people laugh 웃다 → 웃기다 (built-in causative with 기).
- 아이를 울렸어요 Ai-reul ullyeosseoyo I made the child cry 울다 → 울리다 (built-in causative with 리).
- 아기를 재웠어요 Agi-reul jaewosseoyo I put the baby to sleep 자다 → 재우다 (built-in causative with 우).
- 아이에게 옷을 입혔어요 Ai-ege os-eul iphyeosseoyo I dressed the child 입다 → 입히다 (built-in causative with 히).
- 아이에게 밥을 먹였어요 Ai-ege bap-eul meogyeosseoyo I fed the child 먹다 → 먹이다 (built-in causative with 이).
- 손님을 앉혔어요 Sonnim-eul anjhyeosseoyo I seated the guest 앉다 → 앉히다 (built-in causative with 히).
- 아침에 깨웠어요 Achim-e kkaewosseoyo I woke (them) up in the morning 깨다 → 깨우다 (built-in causative with 우).
- 물을 끓였어요 Mul-eul kkeulhyeosseoyo I boiled the water 끓다 → 끓이다 (built-in causative with 이).
- 오래 기다리게 안 했어요 Orae gidarige an haesseoyo I didn't make (them) wait long 게 안 하다 = not make do.
- 밖에 나가게 안 해요 Bakke nagge an haeyo I don't let (them) go outside Not permitting exit.
- 울리지 않았어요 Ulliji anasseoyo I didn't make (them) cry 지 않다 with causative verb.
- 일하게 하지 않아요 Ilhage haji anayo I don't make (them) work 게 하지 않다.
Vocabulary in these examples
지 않다formal neg.
지 마세요please don't
해서because
깜짝suddenly
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