“되다” means "to become." However, most of the time you won't translate it as it is. This is because this verb is often used in various grammatical expressions. Those expressions are like an idiom. Just like idioms, you can't guess the meaning of it based on the original meaning of 되다(to become).
Since 되다 is commonly used and even many Koreans find its conjugation confusing, I've made a post specifically about its conjugation! I will explain its various usage forms according to the level of speech politeness. Are you ready? Let's start!
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0. Key Information
되다 is a regular verb. It has many meanings and is often used in grammatical expressions (like idioms). As you study Korean or read a passage in Korean, you will come across different conjugations of 되다. You may also often encounter incorrect versions. 되다 is a verb that even confuses Koreans, leading to mistakes. For example, the informal polite version should be "돼요" but you may see "되요". To confirm, you should say "되지요?" but you may see the passage says "돼지요?"
The key point of this is which rule you have to use. When the grammar is related to a vowel, like 아/어/여요, you will use the "돼" version. It is because the vowel of "되" is "ㅚ." It is not ㅏ or ㅗ. It is not 하. So, we need to use the rule number 3, "attach 어요." So, the conjugated form is 되어요. However, 되어 will be shortened because there is no final consonant to prevent their sticking! So, at the end, you need to say "돼요."
If the final consonant is integral to conjugation, you can directly add the grammatical ending. Because the rule doesn't begin with "아/어/여," the form "되" won't transform into "돼." It's that simple! In this post, I provide the details. So, continue reading to master the 되다 conjugation!
1. Informal Polite Ending
If you are a beginner, I recommend focusing on this "informal polite" version. I will show you the details after the chart.
Present Tense
Informal polite present | Conjugation form |
돼요. | |
question | 돼요? |
되세요. | |
될래요. | |
되고 싶어요. | |
되지요. / 되지요? |
Conjugation Tip!
Statement: The stem of 되다 is 되. The vowel of this syllable is ㅚ. It is not ㅏ or ㅗ. This is obviously not 하. So, we will need to add the regular rule number three, "어요" to this stem. 되어요. This 되어요 will be shortened to 돼요.
되다: 되 + 어요 → 되어요 → 돼요.
Examples
1
Q: 이거 먹어도 돼요? May I eat this?
A: 네, 먹어도 돼요. Yes, you may.
아/어/여도 되다 is a grammatical expression that shows "to allow." You can use this expression to ask for permission.
2
저는 가수가 되고 싶어요.
I want to become a singer.
되다 with "고 싶어요 (I want to)" become 되고 싶어요.
3
저는 훌륭한 사람이 될래요.
I decided to become a great person.
Since 되 doesn't have the final consonant, with the intention expression (으)ㄹ래요 will become 될래요.
4
유나 씨는 내년에 대학생이 되지요?
Yuna, you will be a university student next year, right?
The expression "N이/가 되다" shows someone or something becomes N. "지요?" is a confirmation ending that adds like "right?" in English.
Past Tense
Informal polite past | Conjugation form |
됐어요. | |
question | 됐어요? |
Conjugation Tip!
Statement: We have to check the vowel to conjugate 되다 into the informal polite past tense. The vowel of 되 is ㅚ. It is not ㅏ or ㅗ. So, we need to add 었어요. 되었어요 will be shortened to 됐어요.
Examples
1
Q: 로이 씨는 언제 대학생이 됐어요?
Roy, when did you become a university student?
A: 2년 전에 대학생이 됐어요.
I became a university student two years ago.
2
저는 어제 갑자기 고향에 가야 됐어요.
I suddenly had to go to my hometown yesterday.
아/어/여 되다 is a grammatical expression that shows "should" or "must" in Korean.
Future Tense
Informal polite future | Conjugation form |
future expression -statement | 될 거예요. |
future expression-question | 될 거예요? |
future determination-statement | 되겠어요. |
future determination-question | 되겠어요? |
Conjugation Tip!
To conjugate a verb with (으)ㄹ 거예요, we have to see the final consonant of the last syllable. The stem 되 doesn't have the final consonant. So, we need to attach ㄹ 거예요. 될 거예요.
겠 is another way to show the future tense. You attach it directly to the stem; 되겠. Since the vowel of 겠 is ㅔ, we will end the sentence by attaching 어요. However, 겠 can also show "guess" as well. So, depending on context, it may or may not be about the future.
Examples
1
저는 올해 부자가 될 거예요.
I will become rich this year.
올해-this year, 부자-rich
2
그렇게 공부해서 내년에 서울대생이 되겠어요?
If you study like that, will you be able to be a student at Seoul National University next year?
서울대 stands for Seoul National University, which is the leading national university in South Korea. This example suggests that you need to study diligently if you wish to gain admission to this university.
2. Formal Ending
A formal ending is used in official or formal situations. Again, I will show you the conjugation forms depending on the tense.
Present Tense
Formal present tense | Conjugation form |
됩니다. | |
됩니까? | |
되십시오. | |
됩시다. |
Conjugation Tip!
To conjugate formal ending present tense, we have to take a look at the final consonants. The stem of 되다 is 되. It doesn't have the final consonant.
statement: 되+ ㅂ니다 → 됩니다
question: 되 + ㅂ니까? → 됩니까?
command: 되+십시오. → 되십시오.
suggestion: 되+ㅂ시다. → 됩시다.
Examples
1
Q: 유나 씨는 내년에 몇 학년이 됩니까?
What grade will Yuna be in next year?
A: 4학년이 됩니다.
She will be a 4th grader next year.
4학년(사 학년) means the 4th grader. In a university, it means a senior student.
2
훌륭한 시민이 되십시오!
Be a great citizen!
훌륭한-great, 시민-citizen
3
훌륭한 학생이 됩시다!
Let's be great students!
Past Tense
Formal past tense | Conjugation form |
statement | 됐습니다. |
question | 됐습니까? |
Conjugation Tip!
The past tense form of the formal ending is 았/었/였습니다. To conjugate the 았/었/였 part depends on the vowel. The stem 되 has the vowel ㅚ. So, we need to attach 었습니다 to it. 되었습니다 becomes 됐습니다.
되다: 되+었습니다 → 되었습니다 → 됐습니다
Examples
1
민수 씨는 작년에 회사원이 됐습니다.
Minsu became a company employee last year.
회사 is a company. 회사원 means a company worker. If you are curious about more job-related words, please click here to read my free lesson.
2
연우 씨는 언제 배우가 됐습니까?
When did Yeonwoo become an actor?
배우 is an actor or actress. 언제 means when.
Future Tense
Formal future tense | Conjugation form |
statement of (으)ㄹ 것이다 | 될 것입니다. |
question of (으)ㄹ 것이다 | 될 것입니까? |
statement of 겠 | 되겠습니다 |
question of 겠 | 되겠습니까? |
Conjugation Tip!
될 것입니다 is equivalent to 될 거예요. The original expression is "(으)ㄹ 것이다." In informal polite form, 것이다 becomes 거예요, as this is more commonly and naturally used in everyday conversations.
Examples
1
이 프로젝트가 성공하면 큰 변화가 될 것입니다.
If this project is successful, it will be a big change.
2
내일부터 저는 새 사람이 되겠습니다.
From tomorrow, I'll become a new person.
3. Informal Casual Ending
When speaking with someone your age or younger, you can use this informal casual ending. It's a very friendly conclusion, but it might come across as impolite if used incorrectly. Therefore, exercise caution when using it!
Present Tense
Informal casual present tense | Conjugation form |
돼. | |
question | 돼? |
돼?/되니? | |
되자. |
Conjugation Tip!
To conjugate in the informal casual ending, we have to use 아/어/여. Just like the informal polite ending, 되 needs to be attached with 어. So, 되어 is the first form. But it should be contrasted into 돼.
Examples
1
Q: 언제 시간 돼?
When are you available?
A: 내일 괜찮아.
Tomorrow is okay.
When 되다 is combined with 시간(time), we can show possible, spare time. 시간이 되다 the time is available or have free time.
2
Q: 지금 시간 돼?
Do you have time now? (Is the time okay now?)
A: 아니, 안 돼.
No, I don't.
3
Q: 이거 먹어도 돼?
Can I eat this?
A: 아니, 먹으면 안 돼.
No, you can't.
(으)면 안 되다 is another 되다 expression you may want to check it out. It shows the prohibition. You can ban someone from doing something.
4
우리 친절한 사람이 되자. Let's be kind people.
Past Tense
Informal casual past tense | Conjugation form |
됐어. | |
question | 됐어? |
Conjugation Tip!
We use "았/었/였어" to conjugate words into the informal casual past. As you see, "았/었/였" is the rule that is based on "아/어/여." So, we need to see the vowel again! To conjugate 되다 we will need to use 었어 because the vowel is "ㅚ" and this is not "ㅏ" or "ㅗ"!
되+었어. → 되었어. → 됐어.
Examples
1
시간 다 됐어. 가자.
Time is up. Let's go.
2
언제 동아리 회장이 됐어?
When did you become the club president?
Future Tense
Conjugation form | |
statement of (으)ㄹ 것이다 | 될 거야. |
question of (으)ㄹ 것이다 | 될 거야? |
statement of 겠 | 되겠어. |
question of 겠 | 되겠어? |
Conjugation Tip!
The future/guess tense of (으)ㄹ 것이다 with 아/어/여 will become (으)ㄹ 거야. Now, since 되 doesn't have any final consonant, we attach the ㄹ 거야 version; 될 거야.
You can insert 겠 between the word and the ending. Since the vowel of 겠 is ㅔ, we will attach 어 at the end.
Examples
1
나는 대통령이 될 거야!
I will become a president!
2
나는 부자가 되겠어!
I will become a rich person!
되겠어 has a more determined vibe.
4. Wrap-up: 되다 Conjugation
In this post, I showed you various 되다 conjugations. Since 되다 is often used in many expressions, it is good to know how to conjugate well this verb.
The crucial aspect is whether it is conjugated with "아/어/여" or not. It only transforms into the "돼" form when it is "아/어/여." The "아/어/여" rules correspond to informal casual, informal polite, and similar forms.