들리다
deullida
to be heard / to sound like (passive)
듣다
deutda
to hear / to listen (active)
들리다 vs 듣다: To Be Heard vs To Listen — Passive and Active in Korean
듣다 (deutda) is the active verb for hearing or listening, while 들리다 (deullida) is the passive form meaning a sound is heard or something is audible.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 들리다 (deullida) | 듣다 (deutda) | |
|---|---|---|
| Voice | Passive — the sound reaches the listener without effort | Active — the listener intentionally hears or listens |
| Subject Role | The sound or voice that is being heard | The person doing the hearing or listening |
| Intentionality | Unintentional or involuntary hearing | Intentional listening or active perception |
| Example | 음악이 들려요 (music can be heard) | 음악을 들어요 (I listen to music) |
| ㄷ Irregular | Not applicable — 들리다 is regular | 듣다 follows the ㄷ irregular conjugation (듣 → 들) |
Examples in Context
Hearing music from a neighbor's apartment — using 들리다
옆집에서 음악 소리가 들려요.
I can hear music from the neighbor's apartment.
Saying a story sounds like a lie — using 들리다
그 말이 거짓말처럼 들려요.
That sounds like a lie.
Listening to a podcast — using 듣다
매일 아침 팟캐스트를 들어요.
I listen to podcasts every morning.
Asking someone to listen carefully — using 듣다
잘 들어봐. 중요한 얘기야.
Listen carefully. This is important.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Saying 음악을 들려요 — this mixes the wrong verb with a direct object. 들리다 is passive and does not take 을/를. Say 음악이 들려요 or 음악을 들어요.
- ✗Forgetting the ㄷ irregular for 듣다 — when followed by a vowel ending, ㄷ becomes ㄹ: 듣다 → 들어요, 들었어요, 들으면.
- ✗Using 들리다 when you mean to say you are actively listening to something, like a lecture or class — use 듣다 instead.
- ✗Confusing 들다 (to lift / to enter / to cost) with 듣다 (to listen) — these are two different verbs that sound similar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 들리다 and 들려오다?
들려오다 adds the nuance of a sound coming toward the listener from a distance — 멀리서 노랫소리가 들려왔다 (a singing voice came floating from afar). It emphasizes the direction of the sound.
Why does 듣다 conjugate irregularly?
듣다 is a ㄷ-irregular verb. When the stem 듣 is followed by a vowel, ㄷ changes to ㄹ: 들어요, 들었어요, 들으면. This is one of the most important irregular patterns in Korean.
Can 들리다 mean 'to sound like' as well as 'to be heard'?
Yes — 들리다 is used for both. 이상하게 들려요 means 'that sounds strange,' using 들리다 to describe how something comes across to the ear.
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