요청받다

The Korean verb 요청받다 (yocheong-batda) is a compound verb derived from the noun 요청 (yocheong), meaning 'request,' and the verb 받다 (batda), meaning 'to receive.' Together, it literally translates to 'to receive a request' or more naturally in English, 'to be asked for something' or 'to be requested to do something.' This word is central to both professional and social interactions in Korea, as it describes a passive situation where an external party initiates a desire for action or information from you. Unlike the active form 요청하다 (to request), which focuses on the person making the demand, 요청받다 places the focus on the recipient of that demand. This distinction is crucial in Korean culture, where the flow of favors and duties often defines social hierarchy and professional relationships.

Formal Usage

In business settings, you will often hear this word when a department receives a formal directive or when a freelancer is asked by a client to perform a specific task. It carries a professional tone that suggests the request is official.

Social Context

In social scenarios, while 부탁받다 (to be asked a favor) is more common for friends, 요청받다 is used when the favor is more structured, such as being asked to give a speech or provide specific data.

Understanding the nuance of 요청받다 requires looking at the social dynamics of Korea. When you are '요청받다'-ed, there is often an implicit expectation of compliance, especially if the request comes from a senior or a client. It is rarely a casual 'suggestion' but rather a clear solicitation of your skills, time, or resources. For instance, a celebrity might be 요청받다 to appear on a show, or a company might be 요청받다 by the government to provide records. The word implies that the request has been formally acknowledged by the recipient. It is not just that someone asked; it is that the request has landed on your desk, so to speak. This verb is also frequently used in the passive voice in news reports to describe diplomatic or legal interactions between countries or organizations.

Nuance of 'Receive'

The use of '받다' (receive) implies that the request is an object or a message that has physically or digitally reached you. It emphasizes the completed action of the request reaching the target.

In summary, 요청받다 is the standard way to describe being on the receiving end of a formal request. Whether it's a request for data, a request for help, or a request for participation, this verb covers the reception of that intent. It is a versatile verb that bridges the gap between everyday professional life and high-level formal communication. Mastering its use allows you to describe your responsibilities and the pressures put upon you by others in a grammatically correct and culturally appropriate way. It is a staple of the CEFR A2/B1 level because it moves beyond simple active sentences into the realm of describing interactions and third-party influences on one's actions.

Using 요청받다 correctly involves understanding how to link the person making the request to the person receiving it. The most common structure involves using the particles ~에게(서) or ~로부터 to indicate the source of the request. For example, 'I received a request from my boss' would be '상사로부터 요청을 받았다.' However, in many cases, the word is used as a single unit 요청받다, where the object is integrated. In this case, the thing being requested is often marked with the particle ~을/를 or described using a clause ending in ~해 달라고 (asking to do something).

The 'Source' Particle

Use ~로부터 for formal sources (organizations, companies) and ~에게서 for people. '회사로부터 요청받았다' (Requested by the company).

The 'Action' Clause

When you are asked to 'do' something, use the pattern: [Action Verb] + -아/어 달라고 요청받다. For example: '도와달라고 요청받았다' (I was requested to help).

The verb conjugates like any other '받다' verb. In the past tense, it becomes 요청받았다; in the present, 요청받는다 (written) or 요청받아요 (polite spoken); and in the future, 요청받을 것이다. Because the act of receiving a request is often a completed event by the time you talk about it, the past tense is the most frequent form you will encounter. It is also common to see it in the form of a noun-modifying adjective: 요청받은 일 (the work I was requested to do). This is very useful for organizing tasks in a professional setting.

In more complex sentences, you might see 요청받다 used with the ~고자 or ~기 위해 structures to explain why someone was requested. For example: '협력을 요청받기 위해 회의에 참석했다' (I attended the meeting in order to be requested for cooperation - though this is a bit rare, the logic holds). More commonly, it appears in passive descriptions of events: '그 제안은 위원회에 의해 요청받은 것이다' (That proposal was one requested by the committee). By practicing these patterns, you can move from simple 'I was asked' sentences to complex professional reporting.

Common Collocation

정식으로 요청받다 (To be formally requested). This emphasizes that the request went through official channels.

You will encounter 요청받다 in a variety of real-world environments, ranging from the workplace to digital platforms. In a Korean office, it is the standard term used in emails and meetings. When a manager says, "우리 팀이 이 업무를 요청받았습니다" (Our team has been requested to do this task), it signals a new responsibility. It sounds much more objective and professional than saying someone "told us to do it." It implies a level of respect for the task itself as a formal 'request' rather than just a simple 'order.'

Another common place is in news broadcasts and newspapers. Journalists use 요청받다 to describe interactions between high-profile figures or nations. For example, "한국 정부는 미국으로부터 협조를 요청받았습니다" (The Korean government received a request for cooperation from the U.S.). In this context, the word helps maintain a neutral, journalistic tone. It focuses on the diplomatic exchange without assigning too much emotion to the action. Similarly, in legal dramas or real-life court reporting, a witness might say they were 요청받다 to testify, indicating that their presence is the result of a formal solicitation.

In the service industry, staff members often use this word to relay information to their colleagues. A waiter might tell the kitchen, "추가 반찬을 요청받았습니다" (I have been requested for more side dishes). While 주문받다 (to receive an order) is used for food, 요청받다 is used for specific extra requests like napkins, water, or dietary adjustments. This makes the service sound more refined. Furthermore, in the world of social media and content creation, influencers often talk about being 요청받다 for certain types of content or collaborations. "구독자분들께 이 영상을 찍어달라고 요청받았어요" (I was requested by my subscribers to film this video) is a very common way to introduce a new upload.

News Headlines

Often shortened in headlines to just '요청받아' to save space while reporting on official demands.

Customer Service

Used in automated emails: '비밀번호 재설정을 요청받았습니다' (We received a request to reset your password).

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 요청받다 with 부탁받다. While both involve being asked to do something, 부탁받다 is used for personal favors between friends or acquaintances, whereas 요청받다 is for formal, official, or professional requests. If you tell your boss you were '부탁받다'-ed to do a report, it might sound like a casual favor rather than a professional assignment. Conversely, asking a friend to '요청' you for a coffee might sound hilariously over-formal, as if you're asking them to submit a written application for your time.

Another mistake is the incorrect use of particles. Many learners try to use the object particle ~을/를 with the person who asked, but the person must be marked with ~에게서 or ~로부터. You are receiving the *request*, not receiving the *person*. Additionally, some learners confuse 요청받다 with 요구받다. While they look similar, 요구받다 (to be demanded) is much stronger and often has a negative or forceful connotation. If you say you were '요구받다'-ed to do overtime, it sounds like you were forced; if you say '요청받다', it sounds like a professional request you might have agreed to.

Finally, check the context of 'receiving.' Sometimes learners use 요청받다 when they actually mean they 'accepted' a request. 요청받다 only covers the act of the request arriving. If you want to say you accepted it, you should use 요청을 수락하다. Just because you were '요청받다'-ed doesn't necessarily mean you said yes! Forgetting this distinction can lead to misunderstandings in business negotiations where 'receiving' a proposal is very different from 'accepting' it.

Confusion with 주문받다

Don't use 요청받다 for ordering food. That is always 주문받다. Use 요청받다 for the extra things (like 'no onions').

Misusing 'From'

Avoid using '에게' alone; '에게서' or '로부터' is much clearer for indicating the source of the request.

To truly master 요청받다, you must see how it sits among its synonyms. Each word has a specific "flavor" and is used in different social hierarchies. The most common alternative is 부탁받다. As mentioned, this is the go-to word for favors. If your mom asks you to buy milk, you are 부탁받은 것. If your company asks you to buy 1,000 liters of milk for a factory, you are 요청받은 것. The scale and formality are the deciding factors here.

요청받다 vs. 부탁받다

요청받다: Formal, professional, official. Used with companies, clients, or for specific data/actions.
부탁받다: Personal, casual, favor-oriented. Used with friends, family, and for general help.

요청받다 vs. 요구받다

요청받다: Politer solicitation. There is a sense of choice or formal procedure.
요구받다: A demand. Often implies that the recipient is obligated or pressured to comply (e.g., '요구를 받다' for a ransom or a strict ultimatum).

Another important synonym is 의뢰받다 (uirioe-batda). This is specifically used when someone is 'commissioned' to do something based on their expertise. A lawyer is 의뢰받다-ed for a case; an artist is 의뢰받다-ed for a painting. While 요청받다 is general, 의뢰받다 implies a professional contract or a specific hiring of skills. Then there is 권고받다 (gwongo-batda), which means 'to be advised' or 'to be recommended' to do something. This is softer than a request; it's more like receiving a formal suggestion from an authority figure, like a doctor or a government body.

Lastly, consider 제의받다 (jeui-batda), which means 'to receive a proposal' or 'to be offered.' This is used when someone offers you a deal or a partnership. "I was offered a job" is "일자리를 제의받았다." This differs from 요청받다 because a proposal usually implies a benefit for you, whereas a request focuses on what the other person wants you to do. By choosing the right word from this set, you show a sophisticated understanding of Korean social dynamics and professional etiquette.