걱정되다 vs. 걱정하다 vs. 걱정이다: Which One Should You Use When You're Worried in Korean?

안녕하세요 여러분! I'm Vaibhavi from India. Are you worried about using the right Korean word for "worry"? If so, you’re not alone! Korean learners often find themselves scratching their heads over the differences between 걱정되다, 걱정하다, and 걱정이다. But don't worry—I've got you covered! By the end of this, you’ll not only understand the difference but also master using them in your daily conversations. Let's dive into it!!

걱정되다:

걱정되다 is a passive verb that literally means "to become worried" or "to feel worried." It’s like saying, “I’m worried” or “It worries me” in English. It implies that the worry comes upon you, often because of an external situation or something beyond your control. This form is used when you’re describing a state of being worried.

Examples:

1. 내일 날씨가 걱정돼요.

   • I'm worried about tomorrow's weather.

   • (It's not something I can control; the weather just makes me feel worried.)

2. 시험 결과가 걱정돼서 잠을 못 잤어요.

   • I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about the exam results.

   • (The exam results are out of my hands, but they still worry me.)

3. 그의 건강이 걱정돼요.

   • I’m worried about his health.

   • (His health condition is causing me concern.)

4. 요즘 경제 상황이 많이 걱정돼요.

   • I'm really worried about the current economic situation these days.

   • (The economic situation is troubling me.)

5. 새로운 직장에 잘 적응할 수 있을지 걱정돼요.

   • I’m worried about whether I’ll adapt well to the new job.

   • (Adapting to a new job is making me anxious.)

걱정하다:

걱정하다 is an active verb meaning "to worry" or "to be concerned." It’s like saying, “I worry about...” in English. This form is used when you or someone are actively engaging in the act (process) of worrying. It's about the action or process of worrying over something.

Examples:

1. 엄마가 저를 많이 걱정하세요.

   • My mom worries about me a lot.

   • (Mom is actively concerned about me.)

2. 나는 내일의 발표를 걱정하고 있어요.

   • I am worrying about tomorrow's presentation.

   • (I’m actively engaging in the process of worrying.)

3. 그들은 항상 작은 일도 걱정해요.

   • They always worry about even the smallest things.

   • (They are constantly in the state of worrying about things.)

4. 저는 친구가 너무 걱정돼서 전화했어요.

   • I was so worried about my friend that I called them.

   • (I was actively worrying, leading to an action.)

5. 걱정하지 마세요, 모든 게 잘 될 거예요.

   • Don’t worry, everything will be fine.

   • (Stop the action of worrying.)

걱정이다:

걱정이다 functions as a descriptive form, meaning "is a worry" or "is worrisome." 걱정이다 is used to describe a situation or matter that is "worrisome or a cause of worry". It’s like saying “It’s a worry” or “It’s concerning” in English. This form highlights that the situation itself is a cause for concern. Use this when talking about something that inherently causes concern.

Examples:

1. 시험 공부를 안 해서 걱정이에요.

   • It's a worry that I haven't studied for the exam.

   • (The situation of not studying is worrisome.)

2. 그의 늦은 귀가가 걱정이에요.

   • His coming home late is a worry.

   • (The lateness itself is concerning.)

3. 이번 달의 매출이 걱정입니다.

   • This month’s sales are a worry.

   • (The sales situation is inherently problematic.)

4. 아이의 식습관이 걱정이에요.

   • The child’s eating habits are a worry.

   • (The eating habits themselves are concerning.)

5. 미래가 걱정이에요.

   • The future is a worry.

   • (The concept of the future itself is worrisome.)

How to Choose the Right "Worry"

So, next time you're worried about which "worry" to use, just remember:

• Use 걱정되다 when you feel worried about something happening to you or someone else.

• Use 걱정하다 when you are actively worrying about something.

• Use 걱정이다 when describing a situation or thing that is a worry.

After all, the only thing you should be worried about is not worrying enough! That's it for post. See you in the next post... Visit koreanstudyjunkie.com for more such free lessons. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!!

Happy learning, and 걱정하지 마세요! (Don’t worry!)