This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Home
Learn
Korean
Vocabulary
끓여지다

A2 verb #7,000 most common 8 min read

끓여지다

kkullyeojida Top 7,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 끓여지다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 끓여지다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most basic meaning of '끓여지다', which is 'to be boiled'. You will mostly see this in the context of water or simple food like ramen. While beginners usually learn the active verb '끓이다' (to boil) first, you might see '끓여진 물' (boiled water) on a menu or a sign. At this stage, just remember that this word describes the state of something that has already been heated to 100 degrees Celsius. You don't need to worry about the complex passive grammar yet; just recognize it as a word related to cooking and heat. Think of it as 'boiled' in the phrase 'boiled water'. It is a useful word to know when you are in a kitchen or a restaurant and want to confirm if something is hot and cooked.

At the A2 level, you begin to learn the '-어지다' grammar, which turns verbs into a passive or resulting state. '끓여지다' is a perfect example of this. You should be able to distinguish between '끓여요' (I boil it) and '끓여져요' (It is being boiled). At this level, you can use this word in simple sentences about cooking or daily routines. For example, '커피를 위해 물이 끓여지고 있어요' (Water is being boiled for coffee). You should also learn that this verb uses the subject markers '이/가'. Understanding this distinction helps you sound more natural when describing processes rather than just actions. It is also helpful for reading basic recipes where the instructions might say '물이 끓여지면...' (Once the water is boiled...).

At the B1 level, you should understand the nuance that '끓여지다' carries compared to the intransitive '끓다'. '끓다' is a natural occurrence, while '끓여지다' implies a deliberate process. You can use this word to describe more complex cooking methods, such as making traditional Korean stews (Jjigae) or broths (Yuksu). You should also be able to use the word in different tenses and with auxiliary verbs, like '끓여져 있다' (to be in a state of having been boiled). At this level, you can also start using the word in professional or semi-formal contexts, such as describing a task you performed in a kitchen or a scientific observation in a school lab. It shows a higher level of grammatical control to choose the passive voice correctly.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use '끓여지다' in formal writing and detailed descriptions. You should understand its use in the 'passive of result', where the focus is on the completed state of the object. For example, in a food blog or a restaurant review, you might write '정성스럽게 끓여진 육수의 깊은 맛' (The deep flavor of the broth that was boiled with great care). You should also be familiar with how this verb interacts with other complex grammar patterns like '-도록' (so that) or '-아/어 보이다' (to look like). For instance, '충분히 끓여진 것처럼 보여요' (It looks like it has been boiled enough). This level requires you to use the word to add descriptive depth and professional tone to your Korean.

At the C1 level, you should have a sophisticated understanding of the sociolinguistic and stylistic reasons for choosing '끓여지다'. This includes its use in academic papers, technical manuals, and high-level literature. You should be able to analyze why an author chose the passive '끓여지다' over the active '끓이다'—perhaps to create a sense of detachment, to emphasize the passage of time, or to focus on the chemical transformation of the subject. You might also encounter this word in metaphorical or abstract contexts in modern poetry or prose, where the 'boiling' refers to emotions or social tensions being 'prepared' or 'simmered' by external circumstances. Your usage should be flawless, including the correct use of honorifics and formal endings.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like intuition for the word '끓여지다'. You understand the subtle historical development of the '끓-' root and how the addition of causative and passive markers reflects the logic of the Korean language. You can use the word in any context, from the most casual kitchen talk to the most formal scientific discourse. You are also aware of regional variations or archaic forms that might appear in historical documents. At this level, you can debate the nuances between '끓여지다' and its synonyms like '달여지다' or '고아지다' in the context of traditional Korean medicine or culinary history. You use the word not just to communicate, but to convey specific stylistic nuances and cultural depth.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

끓여지다 in 30 Seconds

끓여지다 is the passive form of 끓이다, meaning 'to be boiled'. It focuses on the object being heated.
It is primarily used for liquids like water, soup, and broth, emphasizing the process or result of boiling.
Grammatically, it requires subject markers (이/가) and is common in recipes, science, and formal descriptions.
It differs from 끓다 (natural boiling) by implying that someone or something initiated the boiling process.

The Korean verb 끓여지다 is a complex passive construction that specifically describes the process of a liquid or food item being brought to a boil by an external force or agent. To understand this word, one must first look at its root, 끓이다 (to boil something), which is the causative form of the intransitive verb 끓다 (to boil). By adding the auxiliary passive suffix -어지다, we create a double-layered nuance where the focus is entirely on the object undergoing the change. In everyday Korean life, which is deeply rooted in a 'soup culture' (Guk and Jjigae), this word describes the transition of ingredients into a finished, heated state. Unlike the simple '끓다' which might describe water naturally bubbling, '끓여지다' implies that a chef, a cook, or a machine has initiated the process. You will find this word most frequently in culinary documentation, scientific descriptions of heat transfer, and formal recipes where the state of the ingredients is the primary subject of the sentence.

Grammatical Component: The root 끓(kkul-) + causative suffix -이- + passive auxiliary -어지다.

육수가 오랫동안 끓여지면 맛이 깊어집니다. (When the broth is boiled for a long time, the flavor becomes deep.)

In social contexts, Koreans use this word to emphasize the care or the duration of cooking. For example, when describing a traditional herbal medicine (Hanyak), one might say it was 'boiled down' or 'boiled thoroughly' using this passive form to highlight the process the medicine underwent to reach its potent state. It is a word of transformation. It moves the focus away from the person standing at the stove and places it squarely on the steam, the bubbles, and the changing chemical composition of the liquid. It is also used in industrial contexts, such as when water is boiled in a massive boiler for heating a building, or in a factory setting where chemicals are processed through heat. The use of the passive voice here adds a layer of objectivity and technical precision that the simple active verb lacks.

Contextual Usage: Commonly used in passive descriptions of food preparation where the 'who' is less important than the 'how'.

차는 80도의 물에서 끓여져야 향이 좋습니다. (Tea must be boiled/steeped in 80-degree water for a good aroma.)

Using 끓여지다 correctly requires a firm grasp of Korean passive particles. Since the verb is passive, the noun that is being boiled must be followed by the subject markers 이/가 or the topic markers 은/는. You should never use the object marker 을/를 with this verb. For instance, '라면을 끓여지다' is grammatically incorrect; it must be '라면이 끓여지다'. This grammatical shift is crucial for English speakers who often struggle with the distinction between 'to boil' (active) and 'to be boiled' (passive). In Korean, the passive voice is frequently used to describe natural results or states resulting from an action, making '끓여지다' a natural choice for describing the current state of a pot on the stove.

Sentence Pattern: [Subject] + 이/가 + [Adverb] + 끓여지다

삼계탕이 가마솥에서 천천히 끓여지고 있습니다. (The Samgyetang is slowly being boiled in a cauldron.)

Another important aspect is the tense. In the present continuous form 끓여지고 있다, it describes an ongoing process. In the past tense 끓여졌다, it describes a completed state. Interestingly, Korean speakers often use the '-어지다' form to soften a statement or to make it sound more objective and descriptive. If you say '내가 라면을 끓였다' (I boiled the ramen), the focus is on your action. If you say '라면이 맛있게 끓여졌다' (The ramen has been boiled deliciously), the focus is on the quality of the food itself. This distinction is vital in polite or descriptive speech where highlighting one's own labor might seem too direct or boastful. Instead, focusing on the result—the beautifully boiled dish—is considered more refined.

이 물은 이미 한 번 끓여진 물입니다. (This water is water that has already been boiled once.)

Advanced Nuance: Combining with auxiliary verbs like -아/어 두다 (to do for future use): '끓여져 있다' (to be in a state of having been boiled).

You will encounter 끓여지다 in several specific domains. First and foremost is the culinary world. In high-end cooking shows (like 'Chef's Table' or Korean culinary documentaries), narrators often use passive verbs to describe the slow, meticulous preparation of ingredients. Instead of saying 'The chef boils the stock,' they say 'The stock is boiled for forty-eight hours,' using '끓여지다' to emphasize the time and transformation. You will also see this word on the back of food packaging. Instant noodle (Ramen) instructions or frozen soup packages often use the passive form in their descriptive text: '정성껏 끓여진 육수' (Carefully boiled broth). This phrasing makes the product sound more artisanal and high-quality, as if the process itself was a craft.

이 한약은 사흘 밤낮을 끓여져서 완성되었습니다. (This herbal medicine was completed after being boiled for three days and nights.)

Secondly, the word appears in scientific and educational contexts. In a chemistry lab or a middle school science textbook, the passive voice is the standard for reporting experiments. 'The liquid was boiled' is translated as '액체가 끓여졌다'. This maintains scientific objectivity. You might also hear it in news reports concerning public health, such as a notice during a water contamination warning: '수돗물은 반드시 끓여져야 안전합니다' (Tap water must be boiled to be safe). Here, the passive voice emphasizes the requirement of the water's state rather than the action of the citizen. Finally, in literature, authors use '끓여지다' to create atmospheric descriptions of kitchens, winter mornings, or the cozy feeling of a home where something is always simmering on the stove.

Media Usage: Common in documentaries, recipes, science textbooks, and news announcements.

실험실에서 시약이 끓여지는 동안 온도를 측정하세요. (Measure the temperature while the reagent is being boiled in the lab.)

The most frequent mistake learners make is confusing 끓다 (intransitive) with 끓여지다 (passive). While both can be translated as 'to be boiling' in English, they are used differently in Korean. '끓다' is a natural process where the subject (usually water) reaches its boiling point. You say '물이 끓어요' when you see bubbles. You use '끓여지다' when you want to emphasize that someone is boiling the water or that the boiling is part of a deliberate process. Using '끓여지다' for a simple pot of water on a stove might sound slightly over-complicated or overly formal in casual conversation. Another mistake is the 'Double Passive' trap. Some learners might try to combine too many passive markers, but '끓여지다' is already a complete passive form. Avoid adding unnecessary suffixes that clutter the meaning.

Common Error: Using '끓여지다' when the simple '끓다' is more natural for natural phenomena.

Incorrect: 주전자의 물이 끓여져요. (Sounds like the water is being forced to boil by an unseen force.)
Correct: 주전자의 물이 끓어요. (The water in the kettle is boiling.)

A third mistake involves particle confusion. As mentioned before, learners often use the object marker -을/를 with '끓여지다'. Because '끓이다' (the root) takes an object, learners assume the passive version does too. However, in Korean, the object of an active sentence becomes the subject of a passive sentence. Therefore, '라면을 끓이다' (to boil ramen) becomes '라면이 끓여지다' (ramen is boiled). If you use '-을' with '끓여지다', the sentence becomes nonsensical. Lastly, be careful with the context of 'boiling'. If you are boiling something solid like an egg or a potato, the word 삶아지다 is much more appropriate. '끓여지다' is strictly for liquids or dishes where the liquid is the main component, like soup or stew.

Wrong: 계란이 끓여졌어요.
Right: 계란이 삶아졌어요.

Understanding the nuances of Korean 'heating' verbs is key to fluency. While 끓여지다 refers to boiling liquids, there are several related terms. 삶아지다 is used for solid foods (eggs, potatoes, meat) being boiled in water where the water is later discarded or the solid is the focus. 데워지다 means to be warmed up, usually referring to food that was already cooked but has gone cold. 달여지다 is a very specific term used for herbal medicine or tea that is boiled down over a long period to extract its essence. If you use '끓여지다' for medicine, people will understand, but '달여지다' sounds much more professional and culturally accurate.

Comparison Table

끓여지다: Focus on the liquid/soup being boiled.
삶아지다: Focus on solids (potatoes, eggs) in water.
데워지다: Reheating something previously cooked.
달여지다: Boiling down herbs or medicine for essence.

Another alternative is 졸여지다, which means to be boiled down until the liquid has mostly evaporated, concentrating the flavor (like a glaze or a thick sauce). In many cases, you can also use the active form 끓이다 or the intransitive 끓다 depending on what you want to emphasize. If you are describing a scene where a mother is cooking, '어머니가 국을 끓이신다' (Mother is boiling the soup) is more natural. If you are describing the soup itself on the table, '맛있게 끓여진 국' (The soup that has been boiled deliciously) is perfect. Choosing the right synonym depends on whether you are looking at the ingredient, the liquid, the heat level, or the intended outcome of the cooking process.

소스가 충분히 졸여지면 불을 끄세요. (Turn off the heat when the sauce has been boiled down sufficiently.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient Korean, the word for 'boil' was also used to describe the sound of a crowd or the feeling of intense emotion, a metaphorical link that persists in modern Korean idioms.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /k͈ɯʎ.ʎʌ.dʑi.da/

US /k͈ɯʎ.ʎʌ.dʑi.da/

Primary stress is on the first syllable '끓'.

Rhymes With

지다 (jida) 해지다 (haejida) 커지다 (keojida) 그려지다 (geuryeojida) 버려지다 (beoryeojida) 느껴지다 (neukkyeojida) 보여지다 (boyeojida) 알려지다 (allyeojida)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'kk' as a soft 'k'.
Merging the 'l' and 'y' sounds too much.
Failing to aspirate the 'j' in 'jida' correctly.
Mispronouncing the 'eu' vowel as 'u' or 'i'.
Ignoring the double consonant intensity.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in context, but requires understanding of passive endings.

Writing 4/5

Challenging to use correctly with particles (avoiding the object marker).

Speaking 4/5

Pronunciation of 'kk' and 'l' together can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 3/5

Sounds similar to 끓이다 in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

끓다 끓이다 물 불 냄비

Learn Next

삶아지다 구워지다 튀겨지다 볶아지다 데쳐지다

Advanced

달이다 고다 졸이다 뜸 들이다 우려내다

Grammar to Know

-어지다 (Passive/Resultative)

만들어지다 (to be made), 써지다 (to be written).

-이/히/리/기 (Causative/Passive suffixes)

끓이다 (to boil something).

-고 있다 (Continuous)

끓여지고 있다 (is being boiled).

-아/어 두다 (Action for future)

끓여져 있다 (is kept in a boiled state).

-ㄴ/은 (Adnominal Past)

끓여진 물 (boiled water).

Examples by Level

물이 끓여지고 있어요.

The water is being boiled.

Present continuous passive form.

이 물은 끓여진 물입니다.

This water is boiled water.

Passive past participle used as an adjective.

라면이 냄비에서 끓여져요.

The ramen is being boiled in the pot.

Simple present passive.

차가 끓여지면 알려주세요.

Please let me know when the tea is boiled.

Conditional '-(으)면' with passive verb.

우유가 따뜻하게 끓여졌어요.

The milk has been boiled warmly.

Past tense passive.

국이 끓여지고 있나요?

Is the soup being boiled?

Question form of present continuous.

여기 끓여진 물이 있어요.

Here is some boiled water.

Adnominal form (noun modifying).

주전자가 끓여지고 있어요.

The kettle is being boiled (meaning the water inside).

Metonymic use of subject.

찌개가 맛있게 끓여졌습니다.

The stew has been boiled deliciously.

Formal polite past tense.

약이 끓여지는 냄새가 나요.

I can smell the medicine being boiled.

Noun modifying present form.

물이 10분 동안 끓여졌어요.

The water was boiled for 10 minutes.

Duration with passive voice.

수프가 천천히 끓여져야 해요.

The soup must be boiled slowly.

Obligation form '-어야 하다'.

이미 끓여진 물을 쓰세요.

Please use the water that has already been boiled.

Imperative with past passive modifier.

커피 물이 끓여지고 있니?

Is the coffee water being boiled?

Informal question form.

보리차가 시원하게 끓여졌네요.

The barley tea has been boiled nicely (and cooled).

Exclamatory ending '-네요'.

냄비에서 물이 끓여지는 소리가 들려요.

I hear the sound of water being boiled in the pot.

Passive noun phrase as object.

육수가 진하게 끓여질수록 맛있어요.

The more the broth is boiled thickly, the tastier it is.

'-을수록' (the more... the more) pattern.

깨끗한 물이 끓여져서 병에 담겼다.

Clean water was boiled and then put into a bottle.

Sequential actions with '-어서'.

모든 재료가 함께 끓여지고 있습니다.

All ingredients are being boiled together.

Collective subject with passive.

온도가 낮아서 물이 잘 안 끓여져요.

The water isn't being boiled well because the temperature is low.

Negative passive with '안'.

이것은 가마솥에서 끓여진 전통 방식입니다.

This is the traditional method boiled in a cauldron.

Passive modifier in a descriptive sentence.

차가 너무 오래 끓여지면 써져요.

If tea is boiled for too long, it becomes bitter.

Resultative '-어지다' (to become bitter) following passive.

수돗물은 끓여져야 마실 수 있습니다.

Tap water can be drunk only if it is boiled.

Passive as a prerequisite.

정성껏 끓여진 삼계탕을 대접했다.

I served Samgyetang that had been boiled with care.

Past passive modifier with adverb.

실험 용액이 비커에서 끓여지는 과정을 관찰하세요.

Observe the process of the experimental solution being boiled in the beaker.

Formal imperative with passive process description.

전통 한약은 옹기에서 끓여져야 제맛이 난다.

Traditional herbal medicine must be boiled in an earthenware pot to get the proper taste.

Plain style with passive obligation.

대량의 물이 보일러를 통해 끓여지고 있다.

A large amount of water is being boiled through the boiler.

Industrial/technical context.

이 비법 소스는 비밀리에 끓여져 왔다.

This secret sauce has been boiled in secret.

'-어 왔다' (have been doing) with passive.

멸치 육수가 끓여지는 동안 채소를 손질했다.

While the anchovy broth was being boiled, I prepared the vegetables.

Simultaneous actions with '-는 동안'.

수프가 충분히 끓여졌는지 확인해 봐.

Check if the soup has been boiled enough.

Indirect question '-는지' with passive.

잘 끓여진 국물 한 그릇이 보약이다.

A bowl of well-boiled broth is like restorative medicine.

Metaphorical comparison.

물이 끓여지기 시작하면 소금을 넣으세요.

When the water starts to be boiled, add salt.

'-기 시작하다' (start to) with passive.

역사의 소용돌이 속에서 민중의 분노가 끓여지고 있었다.

In the vortex of history, the people's anger was being boiled (brewed).

Metaphorical literary use.

고압 환경에서 액체가 끓여지는 현상을 규명했다.

The phenomenon of liquid being boiled in a high-pressure environment was identified.

Academic passive usage.

장시간 끓여진 사골은 칼슘이 풍부하다.

Beef bones that have been boiled for a long time are rich in calcium.

Descriptive passive with scientific fact.

그의 문장은 마치 가마솥에서 오랫동안 끓여진 듯 깊이가 있다.

His sentences have depth, as if they were boiled for a long time in a cauldron.

Simile '-ㄴ 듯' with passive.

오염된 강물이 산업 폐수와 함께 끓여지는 참사가 벌어졌다.

A disaster occurred where contaminated river water was boiled along with industrial waste.

Passive in a news report context.

어머니의 손맛은 끓여지는 국물 속에 고스란히 배어 있다.

Mother's touch is fully permeated within the boiling broth.

Abstract quality in a physical process.

이 차는 명인에 의해 수작업으로 끓여진 명차다.

This tea is a famous tea boiled by hand by a master.

Agent marking with '-에 의해'.

냄비 바닥이 타지 않도록 수시로 끓여지는 상태를 점검해야 한다.

One must frequently check the boiling state so that the bottom of the pot does not burn.

Precautionary instruction with passive.

전통주의 발효 과정에서 원료가 끓여지는 온도는 매우 정밀해야 한다.

In the fermentation process of traditional alcohol, the temperature at which the ingredients are boiled must be very precise.

High-level technical description.

그녀의 슬픔은 가슴속에서 소리 없이 끓여지고 있었다.

Her sorrow was being boiled (simmering) silently within her chest.

Poetic/Abstract passive.

도시의 열기가 아스팔트 위에서 끓여지듯 이글거렸다.

The city's heat shimmered as if being boiled on the asphalt.

Advanced simile with environmental description.

고전 문헌에 따르면, 이 약재는 반드시 달여지거나 끓여져야 효능이 극대화된다.

According to ancient texts, the efficacy of this medicinal herb is maximized only when it is decocted or boiled.

Comparison of two passive verbs.

정치적 갈등이 끓여지다 못해 결국 폭발하고 말았다.

The political conflict was boiled so much that it eventually exploded.

'-다 못해' (unable to withstand more) with passive.

장인의 혼이 끓여지는 쇳물 속에 녹아들어 간다.

The artisan's soul melts into the boiling molten metal.

Metaphorical use in traditional craft.

끓여진 물의 산소 함량 변화에 대한 논문을 작성했다.

I wrote a paper on the change in oxygen content of boiled water.

Formal academic subject.

이 요리는 수백 번의 시행착오 끝에 가장 완벽한 상태로 끓여지게 되었다.

After hundreds of trials and errors, this dish came to be boiled in its most perfect state.

'-게 되다' (come to be) combined with passive.

Common Collocations

팔팔 끓여지다

오랫동안 끓여지다

정성껏 끓여지다

충분히 끓여지다

약불에서 끓여지다

한 번 끓여지다

함께 끓여지다

진하게 끓여지다

맛있게 끓여지다

깨끗이 끓여지다

Common Phrases

끓여진 물

— Water that has been boiled. Often used to refer to safe drinking water.

끓여진 물을 식혀서 마셔요.

잘 끓여진 국

— A soup that has been well-prepared through boiling.

잘 끓여진 국 한 그릇이면 충분해요.

이미 끓여졌다

— It has already been boiled. Used to prevent double-boiling.

그 물은 이미 끓여졌으니 그냥 쓰세요.

다 끓여지면

— When it is all finished boiling.

다 끓여지면 식탁으로 가져올게요.

끓여지는 중

— In the middle of being boiled.

지금 찌개가 끓여지는 중이에요.

천천히 끓여진

— Slow-boiled. Implies high quality or care.

천천히 끓여진 육수가 일품이다.

다시 끓여지다

— To be boiled again (re-boiled).

남은 국이 다시 끓여지고 있다.

따뜻하게 끓여진

— Boiled to a warm/hot state.

따뜻하게 끓여진 우유를 마셨다.

진국으로 끓여지다

— To be boiled into a rich, thick broth.

곰탕이 진국으로 잘 끓여졌네.

가마솥에 끓여진

— Boiled in a traditional large pot.

가마솥에 끓여진 밥물이 맛있다.

Often Confused With

끓여지다 vs 끓다

끓다 is intransitive (natural boiling), 끓여지다 is passive (action done to the subject).

끓여지다 vs 끓이다

끓이다 is active (I boil the water), 끓여지다 is passive (The water is boiled).

끓여지다 vs 삶아지다

Use 삶아지다 for solids like eggs; 끓여지다 is for the liquid itself.

Idioms & Expressions

"속이 끓여지다"

— To feel extremely anxious or worried (passive version of 속이 끓다).

자식 걱정에 부모님 속이 끓여진다.

Literary

"피가 끓여지다"

— To have one's passion or anger ignited by external factors (rare passive).

불의를 보고 청년들의 피가 끓여졌다.

Poetic

"애가 끓여지다"

— To be deeply heart-wrenching or distressing (passive nuance).

그의 사연은 듣는 이의 애가 끓여지게 했다.

Old-fashioned

"냄비 근성으로 끓여지다"

— To be heated up quickly and cooled down quickly (referring to short-lived interest).

그 이슈는 냄비처럼 금방 끓여졌다가 식었다.

Slang/Metaphor

"죽이 끓여지다"

— A situation is being messed up or complicated (from 'to make porridge').

일이 완전히 죽이 끓여지듯 엉망이 됐다.

Informal

"기름에 끓여지다"

— To be in a very difficult or agonizing situation (like being boiled in oil).

고난의 세월 속에서 그는 기름에 끓여지듯 단련됐다.

Literary

"소문이 끓여지다"

— Rumors are being actively generated or 'cooked up'.

마을 전체에 이상한 소문이 끓여지고 있었다.

Metaphorical

"분노가 끓여지다"

— Anger is being stirred up by someone or something.

그의 도발에 내 안의 분노가 끓여졌다.

Neutral

"분위기가 끓여지다"

— The atmosphere is being heated up (excited).

축제 열기로 분위기가 뜨겁게 끓여졌다.

Modern

"머릿속이 끓여지다"

— To be confused or overwhelmed with thoughts.

시험 공부로 머릿속이 복잡하게 끓여지는 기분이다.

Informal

Easily Confused

끓여지다 vs 끓다

Both involve boiling and the subject 'water'.

끓다 is a natural state (The water boils), while 끓여지다 emphasizes the process (The water is being boiled by someone).

물이 끓어요 (Natural) vs 물이 끓여지고 있어요 (Process).

끓여지다 vs 삶다

Both involve hot water and cooking.

삶다 is for solids where you care about the food, not the water. 끓이다/끓여지다 is for when the liquid is part of the dish.

고구마를 삶다 (Boil sweet potato) vs 국을 끓이다 (Boil soup).

끓여지다 vs 달이다

Both involve long boiling times.

달이다 is specifically for extracting medicine or making a concentrate. 끓이다 is general.

한약을 달이다 (Decoct medicine).

끓여지다 vs 데우다

Both involve heating liquid.

데우다 is just to make warm (reheat). 끓이다 is to bring to 100 degrees.

우유를 데우다 (Warm up milk).

끓여지다 vs 졸이다

Both involve boiling liquid.

졸이다 is specifically to reduce the volume of liquid to make it salty or thick.

생선을 간장에 졸이다 (Simmer fish in soy sauce).

Sentence Patterns

N이/가 끓여져요.

물이 끓여져요.

N이/가 맛있게 끓여졌어요.

찌개가 맛있게 끓여졌어요.

N이/가 끓여지는 동안 ~

육수가 끓여지는 동안 채소를 썰어요.

N이/가 충분히 끓여져야 ~

약은 충분히 끓여져야 효과가 있어요.

N에 의해 끓여진 N

장인에 의해 끓여진 육수.

N이/가 끓여지다 못해 ~

물이 끓여지다 못해 다 증발했다.

이미 끓여진 N

이미 끓여진 물을 마셨다.

N을/를 위해 끓여지다

손님을 위해 차가 끓여지고 있다.

Word Family

Nouns

끓음 (boiling)

끓기 (the act of boiling)

Verbs

끓다 (to boil - intransitive)

끓이다 (to boil - transitive/causative)

들끓다 (to swarm/boil over)

Adjectives

끓는 (boiling)

끓인 (boiled)

삶다 (to boil solids)

찌다 (to steam)

굽다 (to roast)

튀기다 (to fry)

볶다 (to stir-fry)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in culinary, scientific, and descriptive contexts. Less common than '끓다' in very casual talk.

Common Mistakes

물을 끓여져요. → 물이 끓여져요.
Passive verbs cannot take object markers (을/를). The water is the subject.
계란이 끓여졌어요. → 계란이 삶아졌어요.
For solid foods like eggs, '삶아지다' is the correct verb.
물이 끓어졌어요. → 물이 끓여졌어요.
The correct passive form comes from the causative '끓이다', not the intransitive '끓다'.
커피를 끓여져요. → 커피 물이 끓여져요.
You don't usually 'boil' coffee (the drink), you boil the water for it.
바다가 끓여져요. → 바다가 끓어요.
For natural phenomena without an agent, the simple intransitive '끓다' is better.

Tips

Particle Alert

Never use 을/를 with 끓여지다. It is a passive verb, so the thing being boiled is the subject (이/가).

Soup vs. Solids

Use 끓여지다 for soups and liquids. Use 삶아지다 for things like noodles (sometimes) or eggs/meat.

Focus on the Result

Use this word when the quality of the boiling matters more than who did it. It sounds more descriptive.

Tense Consonants

Make sure to pronounce the double ㄲ clearly. It should sound like a sharp 'k' with no air escaping.

Reading Recipes

When you see '끓여지면' in a recipe, it means 'Once [the subject] has reached a boil'.

Objective Tone

In essays or reports, use the passive 끓여지다 to sound more academic and less personal.

Identify the Agent

If you hear 끓여지다, the speaker is focusing on the water/food, not the cook.

Hospitality

Saying '끓여진 물이에요' (It's boiled water) tells your guest the water is safe and you cared for them.

Emotional Heat

Recognize that '끓여지다' can describe intense internal feelings in literary Korean.

The 'Done' Suffix

Always remember that -지다 often means 'to become' or 'to be done', helping you spot passive verbs.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'K-K-Kettle' for the 'kk' sound in 끓 (kkul). Then imagine a 'Yeo' (Yo-yo) spinning in the bubbles as it is 'Ji-da' (done).

Visual Association

Imagine a large silver pot (냄비) with steam rising in the shape of the letters '끓'. See a hand turning the stove off, signifying the passive 'done' state of '어지다'.

Word Web

Water Heat Soup Stove Bubbles Steam Cooking Passive

Challenge

Try to describe your favorite soup using only passive verbs like 끓여지다 and 담겨지다 (to be contained).

Word Origin

The root '끓-' (kkul-) is a native Korean word that has existed since Middle Korean. It originally referred to the physical bubbling of liquid under heat. The addition of the causative '-이-' (i) transformed it into '끓이다' (to make something boil). The final addition of '-어지다' (-eojida) is a productive grammatical construction in modern Korean used to create passive or resultative meanings.

Original meaning: To bubble or reach a high temperature due to fire.

Koreanic

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but ensure you don't use it for people (metaphorically) in a way that sounds violent.

English speakers often just say 'The water is boiling' for both active and passive contexts. In Korean, being specific with '끓여지다' sounds more sophisticated.

Korean Food Documentaries (e.g., 'Korean Cold Noodle Rhapsody') Traditional Medical Texts (Dongui Bogam) Ramen Commercials (Nongshim, Ottogi)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Cooking at home

국이 다 끓여졌어.
물이 아직 안 끓여졌네.
맛있게 끓여줘.
찌개가 끓여지는 소리.

In a restaurant

이 육수는 어떻게 끓여졌나요?
잘 끓여진 삼계탕입니다.
다시 끓여질 수 있을까요?
정성껏 끓여진 국물.

Science/Lab

액체가 끓여지는 온도.
시약이 끓여진 후.
비커에서 끓여지다.
가열되어 끓여지는 과정.

Pharmacy/Health

약이 3시간 동안 끓여졌다.
끓여진 물만 마시세요.
도구가 끓여져 소독되었다.
충분히 끓여져야 안전함.

Literature

분노가 끓여지는 가슴.
소문이 끓여지는 저잣거리.
슬픔이 끓여진 눈물.
세월이 끓여진 맛.

Conversation Starters

"이 국물은 정말 깊은 맛이 나는데, 어떻게 끓여진 걸까요?"

"라면이 아주 꼬들꼬들하게 잘 끓여졌네요!"

"물이 다 끓여지면 커피 한 잔 하실래요?"

"전통 한약은 왜 이렇게 오래 끓여져야 하나요?"

"어제 끓여진 국이 아직 남아 있어요."

Journal Prompts

오늘 내가 정성껏 끓여진 음식을 먹었을 때의 기분을 써보세요.

추운 겨울날, 부엌에서 무언가 끓여지는 소리를 들으면 어떤 생각이 드나요?

내 마음속에서 무언가 '끓여지고' 있는 감정이 있다면 무엇인지 묘사해 보세요.

전통적인 방식으로 끓여진 음식과 현대적인 방식의 차이에 대해 생각해보세요.

누군가를 위해 따뜻한 물이 끓여지는 과정을 지켜본 경험을 적어보세요.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Technically, people will understand you, but it's not natural. Use '삶아지다' for eggs, potatoes, or anything solid that you cook in water.

끓여지다 is the process (to be boiled), while 끓여져 있다 is the state (to be in a boiled state). '물이 끓여져 있다' means the water was boiled and is still there, ready.

Yes, but '끓다' or '끓이다' are more common. You use '끓여지다' when you want to focus on the result, like 'The ramen came out well-boiled!'

끓어지다 is not used. We use the causative root 끓이- + 어지다. This is because we are boiling 'something', so we use the transitive base.

Yes, metaphorically. '속이 끓여지다' can mean to be extremely worried or anxious, though '속이 끓다' is more common.

Usually, yes. It implies reaching the boiling point. If it's just warm, use '데워지다'.

You would say '그 물은 저에 의해 끓여졌어요', but it's more natural to say '제가 그 물을 끓였어요'.

In speech, it stays 끓여지다. You can't really shorten the root '끓'.

Always use '이' or '가' for the subject that is being boiled.

Yes, it is very common in technical manuals to describe water being boiled in boilers or chemicals in vats.