보이다
boida
to be visible / to be seen (passive)
보다
boda
to see / to look (active)
보이다 vs 보다: To Be Seen vs To See — Passive and Active in Korean
보다 (boda) is the active verb meaning 'to see or look,' while 보이다 (boida) is its passive form meaning 'to be visible' or 'to be seen' — the subject is seen, not the one doing the seeing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 보이다 (boida) | 보다 (boda) | |
|---|---|---|
| Voice | Passive — the subject is perceived by someone else | Active — the subject is doing the perceiving |
| Subject Role | The thing that is seen | The person who is doing the looking |
| Construction | 보이다 — built-in passive (no need to add 되다) | 보다 — active transitive verb, takes a direct object |
| Example Subject | 산이 보여요 (the mountain is visible) | 산을 봐요 (I look at/see the mountain) |
| Nuance | Indicates the thing can be seen, often without effort | Indicates the act of looking or watching intentionally |
Examples in Context
Describing what is visible from a window — using 보이다
창문에서 바다가 보여요.
The sea is visible from the window.
Saying someone looks tired — using 보이다
오늘 많이 피곤해 보여요.
You look very tired today.
Saying you watched a movie — using 보다
어제 영화 봤어요.
I watched a movie yesterday.
Looking at the menu at a restaurant — using 보다
메뉴 좀 봐도 될까요?
May I have a look at the menu?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Saying 나는 산을 보여요 — this mixes active subject with passive verb. It should be 나는 산을 봐요 (I see the mountain) OR 산이 보여요 (the mountain is visible).
- ✗Using 보다 when describing how someone appears — 피곤해 봐요 is wrong; it should be 피곤해 보여요 (you look tired).
- ✗Confusing 보이다 with 보여주다 (to show) — 보여주다 means to actively show something to someone, while 보이다 is naturally visible.
- ✗Forgetting that 보이다 can describe appearance or impression: 그 사람 좋아 보여 means 'that person seems nice' — a very common usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 보이다 and 보여주다?
보이다 means something is naturally visible or appears a certain way. 보여주다 means to show something deliberately to someone — it adds an intentional, directed action.
Can 보이다 describe emotions or personality?
Yes — 행복해 보여요 (you look happy), 착해 보여요 (you seem kind), 바빠 보여요 (you look busy). This is one of the most useful everyday patterns with 보이다.
Is there a passive form of 보다 other than 보이다?
보이다 is the standard passive. You can also say 보여지다, but many Korean grammar guides consider this redundant and overly formal.
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