🌱

State of Being: -아/어지다

Keywords
상태 변화
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Grammar
🎯
TL;DR 🦄
  • -아/어지다 [-a/eo-ji-da] means “to become…” or “to get…” when a state changes.
  • Use it mostly with adjectives/descriptive verbs: 크다 → 커지다 [keu-da → keo-ji-da] — to be big → to become bigger.
  • It focuses on the change into a new state, not just the state itself: 날씨가 추워졌어요. [nal-ssi-ga chu-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo] — The weather got cold.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear pairs like 좋아요 [jo-a-yo] vs 좋아졌어요 [jo-a-jyeo-sseo-yo], 추워요 [chu-wo-yo] vs 추워졌어요 [chu-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo], and 조용해요 [jo-yong-hae-yo] vs 조용해졌어요 [jo-yong-hae-jyeo-sseo-yo]. The “change” feeling becomes clearer when you hear the full sentence. 🎧
 

🌈 The Big Picture

Korean uses -아/어지다 when something becomes a certain way.
Plain state:
  • 방이 깨끗해요. [bang-i kkae-kkeu-tae-yo] — The room is clean. 🧼
Changed state:
  • 방이 깨끗해졌어요. [bang-i kkae-kkeu-tae-jyeo-sseo-yo] — The room became clean / got clean. 🧼
Plain state:
  • 날씨가 추워요. [nal-ssi-ga chu-wo-yo] — The weather is cold. ❄️
Changed state:
  • 날씨가 추워졌어요. [nal-ssi-ga chu-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo] — The weather got cold. ❄️
The core question is:
  • 지금 어떤 상태예요? [ji-geum eo-tteon sang-tae-ye-yo] — What state is it in now?
versus
  • 어떻게 변했어요? [eo-tteo-ke byeon-hae-sseo-yo] — How did it change?
 

🎨 Core Pattern

Basic shape

  • 형용사/상태 동사 어간 + 아/어지다
  • adjective/descriptive verb stem + 아/어지다
Choose 아지다, 어지다, or 해지다 using the normal 아/어 rule:
  • 좋다 → 좋아지다 [jo-ta → jo-a-ji-da] — to be good → to get better / become good
  • 작다 → 작아지다 [jak-tta → ja-ga-ji-da] — to be small → to get smaller
  • 크다 → 커지다 [keu-da → keo-ji-da] — to be big → to get bigger
  • 춥다 → 추워지다 [chup-tta → chu-wo-ji-da] — to be cold → to get cold
  • 쉽다 → 쉬워지다 [swip-tta → swi-wo-ji-da] — to be easy → to get easier
  • 조용하다 → 조용해지다 [jo-yong-ha-da → jo-yong-hae-ji-da] — to be quiet → to become quiet
Conjugate 지다 at the end:
  • 좋아져요 [jo-a-jyeo-yo] — it gets better
  • 좋아졌어요 [jo-a-jyeo-sseo-yo] — it got better
  • 좋아질 거예요 [jo-a-jil geo-ye-yo] — it will get better
 

🛠️ How It Works in Sentences

  1. 한국어가 쉬워졌어요. [han-gu-geo-ga swi-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo] — Korean got easier. 🇰🇷
      • 쉽다 = to be easy, 쉬워지다 = to get easier.
  1. 날씨가 따뜻해졌어요. [nal-ssi-ga tta-tteu-tae-jyeo-sseo-yo] — The weather got warm. ☀️
      • 따뜻하다 = to be warm, 따뜻해지다 = to get warm.
  1. 길이 넓어졌어요. [gi-ri neol-beo-jyeo-sseo-yo] — The road became wider. 🛣️
      • 넓다 = to be wide, 넓어지다 = to become wider.
  1. 방이 조용해졌어요. [bang-i jo-yong-hae-jyeo-sseo-yo] — The room became quiet. 🤫
      • 조용하다 = to be quiet, 조용해지다 = to become quiet.
  1. 기분이 좋아졌어요. [gi-bu-ni jo-a-jyeo-sseo-yo] — My mood got better. 😊
      • 좋다 = to be good, 좋아지다 = to get better.
 

🧩 General Formation Rule

1. If the final vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ, use 아지다

  • 작다 → 작아지다 [jak-tta → ja-ga-ji-da] — to become smaller
  • 좋다 → 좋아지다 [jo-ta → jo-a-ji-da] — to get better

2. Most other vowels use 어지다

  • 크다 → 커지다 [keu-da → keo-ji-da] — to get bigger
  • 넓다 → 넓어지다 [neol-tta → neol-beo-ji-da] — to become wider

3. 하다 adjectives become 해지다

  • 조용하다 → 조용해지다 [jo-yong-ha-da → jo-yong-hae-ji-da] — to become quiet
  • 깨끗하다 → 깨끗해지다 [kkae-kkeu-ta-da → kkae-kkeu-tae-ji-da] — to become clean

4. Some irregulars change naturally

  • 춥다 → 추워지다 [chup-tta → chu-wo-ji-da] — to get cold
  • 덥다 → 더워지다 [deop-tta → deo-wo-ji-da] — to get hot
  • 쉽다 → 쉬워지다 [swip-tta → swi-wo-ji-da] — to get easier
  • 어렵다 → 어려워지다 [eo-ryeop-tta → eo-ryeo-wo-ji-da] — to get harder
 

🔄 State vs Change

Use the plain adjective for the state now:
  • 방이 깨끗해요. [bang-i kkae-kkeu-tae-yo] — The room is clean.
Use -아/어지다 for the process or result of becoming:
  • 방이 깨끗해졌어요. [bang-i kkae-kkeu-tae-jyeo-sseo-yo] — The room got clean.
Use time words to make the change clear:
  • 요즘 날씨가 추워졌어요. [yo-jeum nal-ssi-ga chu-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo] — These days, the weather has gotten cold.
  • 전보다 한국어가 쉬워졌어요. [jeon-bo-da han-gu-geo-ga swi-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo] — Korean has gotten easier than before.
  • 갑자기 방이 조용해졌어요. [gap-ja-gi bang-i jo-yong-hae-jyeo-sseo-yo] — Suddenly, the room became quiet.
 

🪞 Related Grammar: -아/어 있다

Do not confuse -아/어지다 with -아/어 있다.
  • -아/어지다 = change into a state.
  • -아/어 있다 = remain in a resulting state after an action.
Compare:
  • 문이 닫혔어요. [mu-ni da-chyeo-sseo-yo] — The door got closed.
  • 문이 닫혀 있어요. [mu-ni da-chyeo i-sseo-yo] — The door is closed / is in a closed state.
For this lesson, focus on adjective changes like:
  • 추워졌어요 [chu-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo] — got cold.
  • 좋아졌어요 [jo-a-jyeo-sseo-yo] — got better.
  • 조용해졌어요 [jo-yong-hae-jyeo-sseo-yo] — became quiet.
 

📚 Cross-check note

The change-of-state use of -아/어지다 was checked against korean.go.kr and standard Korean grammar references. Korean commonly uses this pattern to show that an adjective/state has changed, as in 깨끗해졌어요 [kkae-kkeu-tae-jyeo-sseo-yo] — became clean, and 적어졌어요 [jeo-geo-jyeo-sseo-yo] — became fewer. ✅
 

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ Using only the plain adjective when you mean change → ✅ 추워졌어요 = got cold, not just 추워요 = is cold.
  • ❌ Forgetting irregulars → ✅ 춥다 → 추워지다, not 춥어지다.
  • ❌ Treating every -아/어지다 as passive → ✅ with adjectives, it usually means “become/get.”
  • ❌ Confusing 좋아졌어요 and 좋아했어요 → ✅ 좋아졌어요 = got better; 좋아했어요 = liked.
  • ❌ Forgetting to conjugate the ending → ✅ 커져요, 커졌어요, 커질 거예요.
 
🎉 Bottom line: -아/어지다 is your “state changed” grammar. If something became warmer, easier, cleaner, quieter, bigger, smaller, better, or worse, this is the pattern you want. 🌱✨
 
Try this exercise
Instructions: Fill in each blank with the correct -아/어지다 form. Read the Korean aloud, then open the Answer toggle. 🎧
1. 좋다 → ＿＿＿＿
[jo-ta → ＿＿＿＿]
to be good → to get better 😊
Answer
좋아지다 [jo-a-ji-da].
2. 크다 → ＿＿＿＿
[keu-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to be big → to get bigger 📈
Answer
커지다 [keo-ji-da].
3. 춥다 → ＿＿＿＿
[chup-tta → ＿＿＿＿]
to be cold → to get cold ❄️
Answer
추워지다 [chu-wo-ji-da].
4. 조용하다 → ＿＿＿＿
[jo-yong-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to be quiet → to become quiet 🤫
Answer
조용해지다 [jo-yong-hae-ji-da].
5. 날씨가 ＿＿＿＿.
[nal-ssi-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The weather got cold. ❄️
Answer
추워졌어요 — 날씨가 추워졌어요.
6. 방이 ＿＿＿＿.
[bang-i ＿＿＿＿]
The room became clean. 🧼
Answer
깨끗해졌어요 — 방이 깨끗해졌어요.
7. 한국어가 ＿＿＿＿.
[han-gu-geo-ga ＿＿＿＿]
Korean got easier. 🇰🇷
Answer
쉬워졌어요 — 한국어가 쉬워졌어요.
8. 기분이 ＿＿＿＿.
[gi-bu-ni ＿＿＿＿]
My mood got better. 😊
Answer
좋아졌어요 — 기분이 좋아졌어요.
9. 요즘 길이 ＿＿＿＿.
[yo-jeum gi-ri ＿＿＿＿]
These days, the road became wider. 🛣️
Answer
넓어졌어요 — 요즘 길이 넓어졌어요.
10. 방이 갑자기 ＿＿＿＿.
[bang-i gap-ja-gi ＿＿＿＿]
The room suddenly became quiet. 🤫
Answer
조용해졌어요 — 방이 갑자기 조용해졌어요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 좋다 → to be good
  • 크다 → to be big
  • 춥다 → to be cold
  • 조용하다 → to be quiet
  • 날씨 → weather
  • 방 → room
  • 깨끗하다 → to be clean
  • 쉽다 → to be easy
  • 기분 → mood
  • 갑자기 → suddenly
Memory tip 💡 If English says “got/became + adjective,” Korean often wants -아/어졌어요.
🚀
Want more reps? The Practice Hub below gives you a full state-change workout.
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — State of Being: -아/어지다
 
Welcome to the -아/어지다 workout. 🌱 You’ll practice forming state-change verbs, choosing the right irregular forms, and reading the difference between “is” and “became/got.”
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear 좋아졌어요, 커졌어요, 추워졌어요, 쉬워졌어요, and 조용해졌어요.
 
📝 Instructions: Fill in each blank, read the Korean aloud, then check the Answer toggle. Focus on the change into a new state.
 

Exercise 1 — Build the Form 🧱

A. 좋다 → ＿＿＿＿
[jo-ta → ＿＿＿＿]
to be good → to get better 😊
Answer
좋아지다 [jo-a-ji-da].
B. 작다 → ＿＿＿＿
[jak-tta → ＿＿＿＿]
to be small → to get smaller 📉
Answer
작아지다 [ja-ga-ji-da].
C. 크다 → ＿＿＿＿
[keu-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to be big → to get bigger 📈
Answer
커지다 [keo-ji-da].
D. 넓다 → ＿＿＿＿
[neol-tta → ＿＿＿＿]
to be wide → to get wider 🛣️
Answer
넓어지다 [neol-beo-ji-da].
E. 춥다 → ＿＿＿＿
[chup-tta → ＿＿＿＿]
to be cold → to get cold ❄️
Answer
추워지다 [chu-wo-ji-da].
F. 덥다 → ＿＿＿＿
[deop-tta → ＿＿＿＿]
to be hot → to get hot 🔥
Answer
더워지다 [deo-wo-ji-da].
G. 쉽다 → ＿＿＿＿
[swip-tta → ＿＿＿＿]
to be easy → to get easier ✅
Answer
쉬워지다 [swi-wo-ji-da].
H. 어렵다 → ＿＿＿＿
[eo-ryeop-tta → ＿＿＿＿]
to be difficult → to get harder 🧩
Answer
어려워지다 [eo-ryeo-wo-ji-da].
I. 조용하다 → ＿＿＿＿
[jo-yong-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to be quiet → to become quiet 🤫
Answer
조용해지다 [jo-yong-hae-ji-da].
J. 깨끗하다 → ＿＿＿＿
[kkae-kkeu-ta-da → ＿＿＿＿]
to be clean → to become clean 🧼
Answer
깨끗해지다 [kkae-kkeu-tae-ji-da].
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 좋다 → to be good
  • 작다 → to be small
  • 크다 → to be big
  • 넓다 → to be wide
  • 춥다 → to be cold
  • 덥다 → to be hot
  • 쉽다 → to be easy
  • 어렵다 → to be difficult
  • 조용하다 → to be quiet
  • 깨끗하다 → to be clean
Tip 💡 ㅂ irregulars often become 워지다: 춥다 → 추워지다.
 

Exercise 2 — Choose the Changed State 🧲

A. 날씨가 ＿＿＿＿.
[nal-ssi-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The weather got warm. ☀️
Answer
따뜻해졌어요 [tta-tteu-tae-jyeo-sseo-yo].
B. 한국어가 ＿＿＿＿.
[han-gu-geo-ga ＿＿＿＿]
Korean got easier. 🇰🇷
Answer
쉬워졌어요 [swi-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo].
C. 문제가 ＿＿＿＿.
[mun-je-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The problem got harder. 🧩
Answer
어려워졌어요 [eo-ryeo-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo].
D. 방이 ＿＿＿＿.
[bang-i ＿＿＿＿]
The room became quiet. 🤫
Answer
조용해졌어요 [jo-yong-hae-jyeo-sseo-yo].
E. 공기가 ＿＿＿＿.
[gong-gi-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The air became clean. 🌿
Answer
깨끗해졌어요 [kkae-kkeu-tae-jyeo-sseo-yo].
F. 가방이 ＿＿＿＿.
[ga-bang-i ＿＿＿＿]
The bag got heavier. 🎒
Answer
무거워졌어요 [mu-geo-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo].
G. 머리가 ＿＿＿＿.
[meo-ri-ga ＿＿＿＿]
My hair got longer. 💇
Answer
길어졌어요 [gi-reo-jyeo-sseo-yo].
H. 가격이 ＿＿＿＿.
[ga-gyeo-gi ＿＿＿＿]
The price got cheaper. 💸
Answer
싸졌어요 [ssa-jyeo-sseo-yo].
I. 소리가 ＿＿＿＿.
[so-ri-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The sound got louder. 🔊
Answer
커졌어요 [keo-jyeo-sseo-yo].
J. 기분이 ＿＿＿＿.
[gi-bu-ni ＿＿＿＿]
My mood got better. 😊
Answer
좋아졌어요 [jo-a-jyeo-sseo-yo].
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 따뜻하다 → to be warm
  • 문제 → problem
  • 공기 → air
  • 가방 → bag
  • 무겁다 → to be heavy
  • 머리 → hair/head
  • 길다 → to be long
  • 가격 → price
  • 싸다 → to be cheap
  • 소리 → sound
Tip 💡 Past change usually ends in -아/어졌어요.
 

Exercise 3 — State or Change? 🔄

A. 날씨가 추워요.
[nal-ssi-ga chu-wo-yo]
State or change? ❄️
Answer
State: The weather is cold.
B. 날씨가 추워졌어요.
[nal-ssi-ga chu-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo]
State or change? ❄️
Answer
Change: The weather got cold.
C. 방이 깨끗해요.
[bang-i kkae-kkeu-tae-yo]
State or change? 🧼
Answer
State: The room is clean.
D. 방이 깨끗해졌어요.
[bang-i kkae-kkeu-tae-jyeo-sseo-yo]
State or change? 🧼
Answer
Change: The room became clean.
E. 한국어가 쉬워요.
[han-gu-geo-ga swi-wo-yo]
State or change? 🇰🇷
Answer
State: Korean is easy.
F. 한국어가 쉬워졌어요.
[han-gu-geo-ga swi-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo]
State or change? 🇰🇷
Answer
Change: Korean got easier.
G. 길이 넓어요.
[gi-ri neol-beo-yo]
State or change? 🛣️
Answer
State: The road is wide.
H. 길이 넓어졌어요.
[gi-ri neol-beo-jyeo-sseo-yo]
State or change? 🛣️
Answer
Change: The road became wider.
I. 소리가 작아요.
[so-ri-ga ja-ga-yo]
State or change? 🔉
Answer
State: The sound is quiet/small.
J. 소리가 작아졌어요.
[so-ri-ga ja-ga-jyeo-sseo-yo]
State or change? 🔉
Answer
Change: The sound got quieter/smaller.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 상태 → state
  • 변화 → change
  • 추워요 → is cold
  • 추워졌어요 → got cold
  • 깨끗해요 → is clean
  • 깨끗해졌어요 → became clean
  • 작아요 → is small/quiet
  • 작아졌어요 → got smaller/quieter
Tip 💡 Look for 졌어요. It often signals “became/got.”
 

Exercise 4 — Add Time Clues ⏰

A. 요즘 날씨가 ＿＿＿＿.
[yo-jeum nal-ssi-ga ＿＿＿＿]
These days, the weather has gotten cold. ❄️
Answer
추워졌어요.
B. 전보다 한국어가 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeon-bo-da han-gu-geo-ga ＿＿＿＿]
Korean has gotten easier than before. 🇰🇷
Answer
쉬워졌어요.
C. 갑자기 방이 ＿＿＿＿.
[gap-ja-gi bang-i ＿＿＿＿]
Suddenly, the room became quiet. 🤫
Answer
조용해졌어요.
D. 겨울이 되어서 날씨가 ＿＿＿＿.
[gyeo-u-ri doe-eo-seo nal-ssi-ga ＿＿＿＿]
Because it became winter, the weather got cold. ☃️
Answer
추워졌어요.
E. 청소해서 집이 ＿＿＿＿.
[cheong-so-hae-seo ji-bi ＿＿＿＿]
Because I cleaned, the house became clean. 🧼
Answer
깨끗해졌어요.
F. 운동해서 몸이 ＿＿＿＿.
[un-dong-hae-seo mo-mi ＿＿＿＿]
Because I exercised, my body got lighter. 🏃
Answer
가벼워졌어요.
G. 연습해서 발음이 ＿＿＿＿.
[yeon-seu-pae-seo ba-reu-mi ＿＿＿＿]
Because I practiced, my pronunciation got better. 🗣️
Answer
좋아졌어요.
H. 비가 와서 길이 ＿＿＿＿.
[bi-ga wa-seo gi-ri ＿＿＿＿]
Because it rained, the road became slippery. 🌧️
Answer
미끄러워졌어요.
I. 시간이 지나서 마음이 ＿＿＿＿.
[shi-ga-ni ji-na-seo ma-eu-mi ＿＿＿＿]
As time passed, my heart/mind became comfortable. 😌
Answer
편해졌어요.
J. 불을 꺼서 방이 ＿＿＿＿.
[bu-reul kkeo-seo bang-i ＿＿＿＿]
Because I turned off the light, the room became dark. 🌙
Answer
어두워졌어요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 요즘 → these days
  • 전보다 → compared to before
  • 갑자기 → suddenly
  • 겨울 → winter
  • 청소하다 → to clean
  • 운동하다 → to exercise
  • 발음 → pronunciation
  • 미끄럽다 → to be slippery
  • 편하다 → to be comfortable
  • 어둡다 → to be dark
Tip 💡 Time and reason words make the change feel natural.
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 춥어졌어요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
[chu-beo-jyeo-sseo-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
It got cold. ❄️
Answer
추워졌어요 — 춥다 → 추워지다.
B. ❌ 쉽어졌어요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
[swi-beo-jyeo-sseo-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
It got easier. ✅
Answer
쉬워졌어요 — 쉽다 → 쉬워지다.
C. 이제 문제가 ＿＿＿＿.
[i-je mun-je-ga ＿＿＿＿]
Now the problem got easier. 🧩
Answer
쉬워졌어요.
D. 카페가 너무 ＿＿＿＿.
[ka-pe-ga neo-mu ＿＿＿＿]
The cafe became too noisy. ☕
Answer
시끄러워졌어요.
E. 요즘 잠이 ＿＿＿＿.
[yo-jeum ja-mi ＿＿＿＿]
These days, my sleep became deeper / I sleep more deeply. 😴
Answer
깊어졌어요.
F. 친구와 이야기해서 마음이 ＿＿＿＿.
[chin-gu-wa i-ya-gi-hae-seo ma-eu-mi ＿＿＿＿]
After talking with a friend, my heart/mind felt better. 💬
Answer
편해졌어요 or 좋아졌어요. Both can work depending on the feeling.
G. 머리카락이 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
[meo-ri-ka-ra-gi ma-ni ＿＿＿＿]
My hair got a lot shorter. 💇
Answer
짧아졌어요.
H. 수업이 점점 ＿＿＿＿.
[su-eo-bi jeom-jeom ＿＿＿＿]
The class is gradually getting more fun. 🏫
Answer
재미있어지고 있어요 or 재미있어졌어요. Use -고 있어요 for “is getting.”
I. 소리가 작아졌어요.
[so-ri-ga ja-ga-jyeo-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 🔉
Answer
The sound got quieter/smaller.
J. 기분이 좋아졌어요.
[gi-bu-ni jo-a-jyeo-sseo-yo]
Meaning? 😊
Answer
My mood got better.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 이제 → now
  • 카페 → cafe
  • 시끄럽다 → to be noisy
  • 잠 → sleep
  • 깊다 → to be deep
  • 이야기하다 → to talk
  • 머리카락 → hair
  • 짧다 → to be short
  • 점점 → gradually
  • 재미있다 → to be fun/interesting
Tip 💡 -아/어졌어요 = “got/became.” -아/어지고 있어요 = “is getting/becoming.”
 
🎉 You finished the -아/어지다 state-change workout. You can now say that things got colder, easier, cleaner, quieter, bigger, smaller, better, worse, and everything in between. State-change radar unlocked. 🌱✨