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전이되다

B2 verb #6,500 most common 8 min read

전이되다

jeonidoeda Top 6,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 전이되다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 전이되다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '전이되다' is a very difficult word that you won't usually need. However, you can think of it as a special way to say 'moving' or 'spreading.' Imagine you have a feeling, like being happy, and that feeling moves to your friend. In simple Korean, we say '기분이 옮아요' (The mood moves). '전이되다' is just a much more 'grown-up' and 'scientific' way to say that. You might see it in a simple science book for kids talking about how heat moves from a hot cup to your hand. Don't worry about using it yet; just remember it means 'to move from one place to another' in a special way.

At the A2 level, you start learning more about health and feelings. You might hear '전이되다' in a TV show when a doctor is talking. It means a sickness or a feeling is 'moving' to a new part of the body or a new person. For example, if you are very stressed, that stress might 'move' to your stomach and make it hurt. While you would normally use '퍼지다' (to spread) or '옮다' (to move/catch), knowing that '전이되다' exists will help you understand more formal situations. It's like the difference between saying 'The cold moved' and 'The infection was transferred.'

At the B1 level, you should begin to recognize '전이되다' in news reports or educational materials. This word is specifically used when something doesn't just move, but 'transfers' its state. A key area is 'learning transfer' (학습 전이). If you learn Spanish, it helps you learn Italian—this is knowledge 'transferring.' In B1, you should also be aware of its medical meaning: metastasis. If you read a news article about a famous person's health, this word might appear. You should practice identifying the subject (what is moving) and the destination (where it is going).

At the B2 level, you are expected to use '전이되다' accurately in formal writing and discussions. You should understand the difference between '전이되다' (passive: to be transferred) and '전이시키다' (active: to transfer). You should be able to use it in at least three contexts: medical (cancer spreading), psychological (emotions or transference), and educational (knowledge transfer). At this level, you should also be careful not to confuse it with '전염되다' (to be infected). Using '전이되다' in your speaking or writing about social issues or science will greatly improve your score on exams like TOPIK II.

At the C1 level, you should master the abstract and metaphorical uses of '전이되다.' This includes discussing the 'transfer of power' in politics, the 'transfer of energy' in advanced physics, or complex 'transference' in psychoanalysis. You should be able to discuss the 'positive and negative transfer' of skills in high-level academic contexts. You should also understand its use in describing social phenomena, such as how a 'crisis' in the housing market might 'transfer' to the banking sector. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's Sino-Korean roots and its formal register.

At the C2 level, '전이되다' is a tool for precise, nuanced expression in professional and academic discourse. You should be able to use it to describe subtle shifts in philosophical thought, the intricate metastasis of biological systems, or the complex socio-economic 'spillover' effects that are more accurately described as '전이.' You should be comfortable using it in academic papers, high-level business negotiations, and literary analysis. At this level, you are not just using the word; you are using it to define the boundaries and transitions of complex systems and ideas.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

전이되다 in 30 Seconds

A formal verb for 'to be transferred' or 'to spread.'
Used for cancer metastasis in medical contexts.
Describes the transfer of feelings or skills in psychology/education.
Indicates a systematic movement from one state or location to another.

The Korean verb 전이되다 (jeon-i-doeda) is a multifaceted term primarily used to describe the process of something moving, shifting, or spreading from one specific point to another. It is a Sino-Korean word derived from the Hanja 轉 (jeon - to turn/shift) and 移 (i - to move/migrate), followed by the passive verb 되다 (doeda - to become). Unlike simple movement verbs, 전이되다 implies a systematic or consequential transition, often involving a change in state or the influence of one entity over another across a boundary.

Medical Context: In medicine, this is the technical term for metastasis. It describes cancer cells spreading from the primary tumor to distant organs or tissues. For example, '암세포가 폐로 전이되었다' means 'The cancer cells have metastasized to the lungs.'

검사 결과, 종양이 다른 장기로 전이되지 않았음을 확인했습니다.

Psychological Context: In psychology, it refers to transference, where a patient unconsciously redirects feelings for a significant person (like a parent) toward their therapist. It can also refer to the transfer of emotions between individuals in a social group.

Furthermore, in the field of education, we use the term 학습 전이 (learning transfer). This occurs when knowledge or skills acquired in one area influence the learning of another area. For instance, knowing how to play the piano might help you learn the organ more quickly; this is a 'positive transfer' (긍정적 전이). Conversely, if old habits interfere with new learning, it is a 'negative transfer' (부정적 전이).

과거의 잘못된 습관이 새로운 기술 습득에 전이되어 어려움을 겪고 있다.

Sociological & Physical Context: It can describe the spread of social phenomena, such as a protest movement in one city sparking similar actions in another, or the transfer of heat and energy in physics. It suggests a chain reaction or a flow from a source to a recipient.

In summary, 전이되다 is used whenever something—whether physical like a cell, abstract like an emotion, or structural like a skill—crosses a boundary to establish itself in a new location. It is a vital word for B2 learners who wish to discuss science, health, psychology, or complex social dynamics in Korean.

Mastering the usage of 전이되다 requires understanding its typical grammatical partners. Since it is a passive verb (되다), the thing that is spreading or being transferred is usually the subject, marked by -이/가. The destination or the target of the transfer is often marked by -로 (to/toward) or -에게 (to a person).

그의 불안한 감정이 팀원 전체에게 전이되었다.

Pattern 1: [Subject] + [Destination]-로 전이되다: This is the most common structure for physical or medical contexts. It emphasizes the movement toward a specific target. Example: '열기가 옆 방으로 전이되었다' (The heat was transferred to the next room).

When discussing abstract concepts like learning or psychological states, the 'destination' might be a person or a different field of study. In these cases, the context determines whether the transfer is beneficial or harmful. For instance, in an educational setting, teachers strive for 'positive transfer' where students apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems.

수학적 사고력이 코딩 실력으로 전이되는 과정을 연구하고 있습니다.

Pattern 2: [Condition] + [Subject]-가 전이되다: Sometimes the focus is on the phenomenon itself. '암이 전이될 위험이 있다' (There is a risk of the cancer metastasizing). Here, the possibility of the action is the core of the sentence.

In formal writing, 전이되다 is often used in the present continuous or future tense to describe ongoing processes or risks. In academic papers, you will see it paired with nouns like '과정' (process), '현상' (phenomenon), or '효과' (effect). For example, '전이 효과' (transfer effect) is a common phrase in psychology and linguistics.

공포 분위기가 순식간에 군중 사이로 전이되었다.

Pattern 3: [Source]-에서 [Destination]-로 전이되다: This highlights the entire path. '에너지가 태양에서 지구로 전이되는 과정' (The process of energy being transferred from the sun to the earth).

By practicing these patterns, you can accurately describe complex transfers in both scientific and social spheres. Remember that the choice of '전이되다' immediately elevates your speech to a more precise, educated register.

While you might not hear 전이되다 every day at a convenience store, it is ubiquitous in specific professional and educational environments. If you are watching a Korean medical drama (K-Drama) like Hospital Playlist or Dr. Romantic, you will hear this word constantly. Doctors use it during consultations or surgical planning to describe the stage of a patient's illness.

다행히 암이 다른 곳으로 전이되지는 않았습니다.

News and Media: News anchors use it when reporting on social trends or economic crises. For example, if a financial crisis in one country starts affecting neighboring countries, they might describe it as the crisis '전이되는' (spreading/transferring) to the regional economy.

In academic lectures, particularly in psychology, education, or physics departments, 전이되다 is a core vocabulary item. Professors use it to explain how theories are applied to different data sets or how human behavior is influenced by previous experiences. If you are taking the TOPIK II (Test of Proficiency in Korean), this word frequently appears in the reading and listening sections related to science or social issues.

심리학에서는 환자의 감정이 상담가에게 전이되는 현상을 중요하게 다룹니다.

Workplace and Professional Meetings: In a corporate setting, a manager might use this word to describe the 'transfer' of a project's momentum or the spread of a particular corporate culture from the headquarters to branch offices. It sounds much more strategic and analytical than using simple words like '가다' (go) or '퍼지다' (spread).

Finally, you might encounter this word in literature or high-end journalism when describing the 'transfer' of power, the spread of an ideology, or the transition of a historical period. It carries a weight of inevitability or systematic process that makes it very effective in storytelling and analytical writing.

혁명의 열기는 이웃 나라로 빠르게 전이되었다.

Summary of Contexts: 1. Medical (Metastasis) 2. Psychology (Transference) 3. Education (Transfer of Learning) 4. Physics (Energy transfer) 5. Sociology (Spread of ideas/moods).

Because 전이되다 deals with 'moving' and 'spreading,' it is often confused with other similar Korean verbs. The most common mistake is using it interchangeably with 전염되다 (jeon-yeom-doeda), which means 'to be infected' or 'to catch a disease.'

Mistake 1: 전이되다 vs. 전염되다: Use 전염되다 for contagious diseases like the flu or COVID-19 that spread from person to person. Use 전이되다 for cancer spreading within one's own body or for abstract transfers like skills or emotions. You wouldn't say a cold '전이되었다' unless you were speaking very metaphorically.

Incorrect: 감기가 친구에게 전이되었다.
Correct: 감기가 친구에게 전염되었다.

Mistake 2: Active vs. Passive Voice: Learners often forget that '전이되다' is passive. If you want to say 'The researcher transferred the data,' you cannot use '전이되다.' You must use 전이시키다 (to cause to transfer) or a different verb like '이동시키다' or '옮기다'.

Another mistake is using 전이되다 for simple physical movement, like moving furniture. For physical objects being moved by a person, 옮기다 or 이동하다 are the correct choices. 전이되다 implies a more complex, often invisible or internal process of shifting.

Incorrect: 의자를 거실로 전이시켰다.
Correct: 의자를 거실로 옮겼다.

Mistake 3: Overusing in Casual Speech: While not grammatically 'wrong,' using 전이되다 to describe a mood at a party might sound overly dramatic or clinical. In casual settings, '퍼지다' (to spread) or '번지다' (to spread/smudge) are more natural. Use 전이되다 when you want to emphasize the transfer of a state rather than just the expansion of it.

Lastly, be careful with the particles. Learners sometimes use '-에' instead of '-로' for the destination. While '-에' can work in some contexts, '-로' (toward/to) better captures the directional movement inherent in '전이'.

To truly master 전이되다, it's helpful to compare it with its synonyms and near-synonyms. Each has a specific nuance that dictates when it should be used over the others.

전이되다 vs. 확산되다 (hwak-san-doeda): 확산되다 means 'to diffuse' or 'to spread out' over a wide area (like a scent or a rumor). 전이되다 focuses more on the movement from point A to point B. Use 확산되다 for things that expand in all directions, and 전이되다 for things that jump or shift to a new location.

소문이 마을 전체로 확산되었다. (The rumor spread through the whole village.)
암이 간으로 전이되었다. (The cancer metastasized to the liver.)

전이되다 vs. 이동하다 (i-dong-hada): 이동하다 is the general word for 'to move' or 'to travel.' It is neutral and can apply to people, cars, or files. 전이되다 is more specific, usually implying that the thing moving is a condition, an energy, or a biological entity that is establishing itself in a new spot.

전이되다 vs. 전파되다 (jeon-pa-doeda): 전파되다 is used for waves (radio, light) or the spread of news and culture. It implies a broadcasting or wide distribution. 전이되다 is more about the specific relocation of an essence or a state.

Other alternatives include 옮겨가다 (to move over - more native/casual) and 번지다 (to spread/smudge - often used for fire, ink, or emotions). While '번지다' is excellent for describing how a feeling 'smudges' onto others, '전이되다' is the clinical, precise way to describe that same phenomenon in a psychological paper.

불길이 옆 건물로 번졌다. (The fire spread to the next building.)
학습 내용이 실제 상황으로 전이되는 것이 중요하다. (It is important for learning content to transfer to real situations.)

Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the word that fits the level of formality and the specific nature of the 'movement' you are describing. '전이되다' remains the gold standard for medical, psychological, and technical contexts.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient texts, '전이' was sometimes used to describe the moving of a capital city or the changing of seasons, but in modern Korean, it has become highly specialized in science and psychology.

Pronunciation Guide

UK tɕʌnidwe-da

US tʃʌnidwe-da

The primary stress is on the first syllable '전' (jeon).

Rhymes With

변이되다 (byeoni-doeda - to mutate) 전시되다 (jeonsi-doeda - to be exhibited) 전달되다 (jeondal-doeda - to be delivered) 준비되다 (junbi-doeda - to be prepared) 정리되다 (jeongri-doeda - to be organized) 논의되다 (nonui-doeda - to be discussed) 동의되다 (dongui-doeda - to be agreed upon) 건의되다 (geoni-doeda - to be suggested)

Common Errors

Pronouncing '전' as 'joon' (it should be 'jeon').
Pronouncing '이' as 'ai' (it should be 'ee').
Merging '되다' into '대다'.
Confusing the 'eo' sound with 'o'.
Missing the subtle pause between '전이' and '되다'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 7/5

Common in news and textbooks, but requires context to know if it's medical or abstract.

Writing 8/5

Requires correct particle usage (-로, -에게) and understanding of the passive voice.

Speaking 6/5

Useful for sounding professional, though '퍼지다' is easier for daily life.

Listening 7/5

Crucial for understanding medical dramas or academic lectures.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

이동하다 옮기다 퍼지다 되다 변하다

Learn Next

전염되다 확산되다 파급되다 변이하다 전달하다

Advanced

기전 (mechanism) 항암제 (anticancer drug) 역전이 (countertransference) 상호작용 (interaction) 매개체 (medium)

Grammar to Know

Passive -되다

발견되다, 결정되다, 전이되다.

Directional -로

서울로 가다, 폐로 전이되다.

Causative -시키다

전이시키다 (to make something transfer).

Noun + -성 (Suffix for nature/property)

전이성 (metastatic), 가능성 (possibility).

Noun modification with -는

전이되는 과정 (the process that is transferring).

Examples by Level

열이 옆으로 전이돼요.

The heat moves to the side.

Present tense, informal polite.

기분이 친구에게 전이됐어요.

The mood moved to my friend.

Past tense.

색깔이 전이될 수 있어요.

The color can transfer.

-ㄹ 수 있다 (can).

에너지가 전이됩니다.

Energy is transferred.

Formal polite style.

무서운 마음이 전이돼요.

The scary feeling spreads.

Abstract subject.

빛이 전이되는 것 같아요.

It looks like the light is transferring.

-는 것 같다 (looks like).

병이 전이되지 않아요.

The sickness does not spread (within the body).

Negative form -지 않다.

공부한 것이 전이돼요.

What I studied transfers.

Subject nominalization.

암이 다른 곳으로 전이되지 않았으면 좋겠어요.

I hope the cancer hasn't spread to other places.

-았/었으면 좋겠다 (hope).

웃음은 사람들에게 쉽게 전이됩니다.

Laughter is easily transferred to people.

Adverb '쉽게' (easily).

스트레스가 몸의 통증으로 전이되었어요.

Stress transferred into physical pain.

Directional particle -로.

나쁜 습관이 동생에게 전이될까 봐 걱정이에요.

I'm worried my bad habits might transfer to my younger sibling.

-ㄹ까 봐 걱정이다 (worried that).

따뜻한 공기가 방 안으로 전이되고 있어요.

Warm air is transferring into the room.

Present progressive -고 있다.

그의 자신감이 나에게도 전이되었다.

His confidence was transferred to me too.

Particle -도 (too).

슬픈 영화의 분위기가 관객들에게 전이됐어요.

The sad atmosphere of the movie transferred to the audience.

Atmosphere as subject.

기술이 다른 분야로 전이되는 것을 보았습니다.

I saw the technology being transferred to other fields.

Object clause with -는 것.

초기 치료를 놓치면 암세포가 전이될 위험이 큽니다.

If you miss early treatment, there's a high risk the cancer cells will metastasize.

-면 (if) conditional.

학습한 내용이 실생활로 전이되도록 노력해야 합니다.

We must try so that the learned content transfers to real life.

-도록 (so that).

불안한 심리가 사회 전체로 전이되는 현상이 나타났다.

A phenomenon of anxious psychology spreading to the whole society appeared.

Noun modification -는 현상.

피아노 실력이 기타 연주로 전이되는 긍정적 효과가 있다.

There is a positive effect of piano skills transferring to guitar playing.

Subject phrase -가 있다.

열에너지가 금속 막대를 통해 전이되는 과정을 관찰하세요.

Observe the process of heat energy transferring through the metal rod.

Through -를 통해.

환자의 과거 상처가 의사와의 관계에서 전이될 수 있습니다.

A patient's past wounds can be transferred in their relationship with the doctor.

Psychological context.

한 지역의 시위가 전국으로 전이되기 시작했습니다.

Protests in one region began to spread to the whole country.

-기 시작하다 (begin to).

부모의 불안이 자녀에게 전이되지 않도록 주의하세요.

Be careful so that the parents' anxiety does not transfer to the children.

Imperative -세요.

암이 림프절을 통해 다른 장기로 전이된 것으로 보입니다.

It appears the cancer has metastasized to other organs through the lymph nodes.

-ㄴ 것으로 보이다 (it appears that).

제2언어 학습에서 모국어의 특징이 전이되는 현상이 흔하다.

In second language learning, the phenomenon of mother tongue characteristics transferring is common.

Topic marker -은/는.

부정적인 감정의 전이는 조직의 생산성을 떨어뜨릴 수 있다.

The transfer of negative emotions can lower the productivity of an organization.

Nominalized subject '전이는'.

물리학에서 전도는 열이 직접 접촉을 통해 전이되는 방식이다.

In physics, conduction is a method where heat is transferred through direct contact.

Definition style sentence.

금융 위기가 실물 경제로 전이되는 것을 막기 위한 대책이 필요하다.

Measures are needed to prevent the financial crisis from spreading to the real economy.

-기 위한 (for the purpose of).

상담 과정에서 발생하는 역전이는 상담사의 감정이 환자에게 전이되는 것이다.

Countertransference occurring in the counseling process is the counselor's emotions transferring to the patient.

Technical terminology.

새로운 기술이 기존 산업 구조로 전이되면서 많은 변화가 생겼다.

As new technology transferred into the existing industrial structure, many changes occurred.

-면서 (while/as).

문화적 가치관은 세대 간의 소통을 통해 자연스럽게 전이된다.

Cultural values are naturally transferred through intergenerational communication.

Adverb '자연스럽게'.

종양의 전이 여부를 파악하기 위해 정밀 검사를 실시하겠습니다.

We will conduct a detailed examination to determine whether the tumor has metastasized.

Noun '여부' (whether or not).

인지 심리학에서는 지식의 전이가 어떻게 창의성으로 이어지는지 연구한다.

Cognitive psychology studies how the transfer of knowledge leads to creativity.

Indirect question -는지.

특정 지역의 분쟁이 국제적인 갈등으로 전이될 가능성을 배제할 수 없다.

The possibility of a specific regional conflict transferring into an international conflict cannot be ruled out.

Advanced idiom '배제할 수 없다'.

예술적 영감은 종종 한 장르에서 다른 장르로 전이되어 새로운 형태를 낳는다.

Artistic inspiration often transfers from one genre to another, giving birth to new forms.

Literary style.

권력의 전이가 평화롭게 이루어지는 것은 민주주의의 핵심이다.

The peaceful transfer of power is the core of democracy.

Abstract concept '권력의 전이'.

시장 불안정성이 외환 시장으로 전이되면서 환율이 급등했다.

As market instability transferred to the foreign exchange market, the exchange rate soared.

Economic context.

부정적 전이를 최소화하기 위해 새로운 언어의 문법 체계를 명확히 이해해야 한다.

To minimize negative transfer, one must clearly understand the grammar system of the new language.

Academic purpose -기 위해.

집단 무의식이 개인의 꿈으로 전이되는 과정을 분석하는 것은 흥미롭다.

Analyzing the process of the collective unconscious transferring into an individual's dreams is interesting.

Jungian psychology context.

암세포의 전이 기전을 규명하는 것은 현대 의학의 가장 큰 과제 중 하나이다.

Elucidating the mechanism of cancer cell metastasis is one of the greatest tasks of modern medicine.

Technical term '기전' (mechanism).

사회적 트라우마가 세대를 거쳐 전이되는 양상을 심층적으로 고찰해야 한다.

We must deeply consider the patterns of social trauma transferring across generations.

Academic verb '고찰해야 한다'.

양자 역학적 상태가 거시적 계로 전이되는 과정은 여전히 논쟁의 대상이다.

The process of quantum mechanical states transferring to macroscopic systems is still a subject of debate.

Physics terminology.

언어적 직관이 비언어적 영역으로 전이될 때 비로소 깊은 통찰이 가능해진다.

Deep insight becomes possible only when linguistic intuition transfers to non-linguistic domains.

Philosophical nuance.

자본의 전이가 국경을 넘어 순식간에 일어나는 세계 경제 체제에 살고 있다.

We live in a global economic system where the transfer of capital happens instantly across borders.

Globalism context.

정치적 선동이 대중의 분노로 전이되어 폭력적인 사태로 번질 우려가 있다.

There is a concern that political incitement will transfer into public anger and spread into a violent situation.

Social risk description.

메타인지 능력이 다양한 학문 분야로 전이됨으로써 학습 효율이 극대화된다.

Learning efficiency is maximized by the transfer of metacognitive abilities to various academic fields.

-음으로써 (by doing/being).

신화적 모티프가 현대 문학으로 전이되어 재해석되는 방식은 매우 다양하다.

The ways in which mythical motifs are transferred to and reinterpreted in modern literature are very diverse.

Literary analysis.

Synonyms

옮겨지다 확산되다 이전되다 파급되다

Antonyms

정체되다 차단되다

Common Collocations

암이 전이되다

감정이 전이되다

학습이 전이되다

열이 전이되다

공포가 전이되다

위기가 전이되다

에너지가 전이되다

기술이 전이되다

습관이 전이되다

분위기가 전이되다

Common Phrases

전이 효과

— Transfer effect; the impact of one thing on another through transfer.

학습의 전이 효과를 높여야 한다.

전이 단계

— Transfer stage; a specific point in the process of spreading.

암이 이미 전이 단계에 들어섰다.

긍정적 전이

— Positive transfer; when previous learning helps new learning.

수학 공부는 논리력 향상에 긍정적 전이를 일으킨다.

부정적 전이

— Negative transfer; when previous learning hinders new learning.

모국어의 간섭으로 인한 부정적 전이가 발생했다.

전이 기전

— Mechanism of metastasis/transfer.

과학자들은 암의 전이 기전을 연구하고 있다.

전이성 종양

— Metastatic tumor.

검사 결과 전이성 종양으로 판명되었다.

감정의 전이

— Transference of emotions.

집단 내에서 감정의 전이는 매우 빠르다.

열전이

— Heat transfer.

단열재는 열전이를 막는 역할을 한다.

에너지 전이

— Energy transfer.

광합성은 빛 에너지가 화학 에너지로 전이되는 과정이다.

지식 전이

— Knowledge transfer.

기업 내 지식 전이를 위한 시스템을 구축했다.

Often Confused With

전이되다 vs 전염되다

Means infection from person to person (flu, virus). 전이되다 is spread within a body or abstract transfer.

전이되다 vs 전달되다

Means to be delivered or passed on (a message, a package). 전이되다 implies a change in state or location of the essence.

전이되다 vs 변이되다

Means to be mutated (like a virus variant). 전이되다 is about moving, not changing form.

Idioms & Expressions

"불똥이 튀다"

— To have sparks fly; meaning a problem transfers to an unintended target.

그들의 싸움에 나에게까지 불똥이 튀었다.

Informal

"바람을 타다"

— To ride the wind; meaning a trend or mood spreads/transfers quickly.

그 소문은 바람을 타고 전이되었다.

Literary

"피는 못 속인다"

— Blood cannot be hidden; meaning traits transfer through genetics.

그의 재능을 보니 피는 못 속인다는 말이 맞다.

Common

"윗물이 맑아야 아랫물이 맑다"

— The lower water is clear only if the upper water is clear; meaning behavior transfers from leaders to followers.

사장님의 태도가 직원들에게 전이되니 윗물이 맑아야 한다.

Proverb

"하나를 보면 열을 안다"

— Knowing ten by seeing one; implies knowledge transfer and generalization.

그는 전이 능력이 좋아 하나를 보면 열을 안다.

Common

"손을 타다"

— To be handled; sometimes used for the transfer of a person's touch/habit.

이 물건은 사람의 손을 타서 전이된 흔적이 있다.

Common

"입에서 입으로"

— From mouth to mouth; how news transfers.

그 소식은 입에서 입으로 전이되어 퍼졌다.

Common

"도미노 현상"

— Domino effect; a series of transfers triggered by one event.

파산이 도미노 현상처럼 전이되었다.

Formal

"물들다"

— To be dyed/influenced; the transfer of character or mood.

그는 나쁜 친구들에게 물들어 나쁜 습관이 전이되었다.

Common

"뿌리 깊은 나무"

— A deep-rooted tree; something that doesn't let negative things transfer to it easily.

그는 신념이 전이되지 않는 뿌리 깊은 나무 같다.

Literary

Easily Confused

전이되다 vs 이동하다

Both mean 'to move'.

이동하다 is general movement; 전이되다 is systematic or clinical transfer.

차가 이동한다 (Car moves) vs. 암이 전이된다 (Cancer metastasizes).

전이되다 vs 확산되다

Both involve spreading.

확산되다 is diffusion in all directions; 전이되다 is movement to a specific new site.

향기가 확산되다 (Scent diffuses) vs. 학습이 전이되다 (Learning transfers).

전이되다 vs 옮다

The native Korean equivalent.

옮다 is casual and used for catching a cold; 전이되다 is formal and technical.

감기가 옮다 (Catch a cold) vs. 암이 전이되다 (Cancer metastasizes).

전이되다 vs 전파되다

Both mean spreading.

전파되다 is used for waves or news; 전이되다 is for states or biological cells.

전파가 전파되다 (Radio waves propagate) vs. 열이 전이되다 (Heat transfers).

전이되다 vs 유전되다

Both involve passing something on.

유전되다 is specifically biological inheritance across generations; 전이되다 is movement within a system or context.

재능이 유전되다 (Talent is inherited) vs. 감정이 전이되다 (Emotions are transferred).

Sentence Patterns

N-이/가 N-로 전이되다

암이 간으로 전이되었다.

N-이/가 N-에게 전이되다

슬픔이 나에게 전이되었다.

N-의 전이 여부를 확인하다

종양의 전이 여부를 확인하다.

N-이/가 전이될 위험이 있다

바이러스가 전이될 위험이 있다.

N-에서 N-로 전이되는 과정

에너지가 빛에서 열로 전이되는 과정.

N-이/가 N-로 전이됨에 따라

기술이 산업으로 전이됨에 따라 변화가 생겼다.

전이되지 않도록 주의하다

나쁜 습관이 전이되지 않도록 주의하다.

긍정적/부정적 전이 효과

학습의 긍정적 전이 효과.

Word Family

Nouns

전이 (jeon-i - transfer/metastasis)

전이성 (jeon-i-seong - metastatic nature)

전이물 (jeon-i-mul - transferred object)

Verbs

전이시키다 (jeon-i-sikida - to transfer something/cause metastasis)

전이하다 (jeon-i-hada - to transfer - less common than passive form)

Adjectives

전이적인 (jeon-i-jeogin - transitional/transfer-related)

이동 (movement)

변이 (mutation)

전달 (delivery)

확산 (diffusion)

전파 (propagation)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in medical, psychological, and academic literature; rare in casual daily life.

Common Mistakes

Using 전이되다 for COVID-19. → 전염되다 or 감염되다.
COVID-19 is a contagious infection between people, not metastasis.
Using 을/를 with 전이되다. → 이/가 ... 전이되다.
It's a passive verb, so it takes a subject, not an object.
Using it for moving furniture. → 옮기다.
'전이되다' is for abstract, medical, or scientific movement.
Confusing it with 변이되다. → 전이되다 (move), 변이되다 (mutate).
A virus 'mutates' into a new variant, but cancer 'transfers' to a new organ.
Using it in very casual talk. → 옮다 or 퍼지다.
'전이되다' can sound too clinical or 'stiff' in a casual chat about a mood.

Tips

Passive Voice

Always remember that '되다' makes the verb passive. The thing moving is the subject.

Context Matters

Check if you are in a hospital, a school, or a lab to know the exact meaning.

Formal Tone

Use this word in essays to sound more academic and sophisticated.

Clear Enunciation

Pronounce the 'eo' in 'jeon' clearly to avoid confusion with other 'jeon' words.

Hanja Link

Remember 'I' (移) means to move, like in '이사' (moving house).

Emotional Transfer

Use it to describe how a leader's mood affects the whole team.

TOPIK Tip

Look for '전이' in scientific reading passages; it usually explains a process.

Medical Dramas

Watch K-Dramas to hear how doctors use the word with patients' families.

Not Just Spreading

It's not just '퍼지다' (spreading); it's 'moving to a new spot'.

vs. 전염

Metastasis (전이) vs. Infection (전염). Don't mix them up!

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Jeon' (전) as 'Journey' and 'I' (이) as 'Into'. A 'Journey Into' a new place or state = 전이되다.

Visual Association

Imagine a cancer cell with a suitcase moving to a new organ, or an 'A+' grade jumping from a math book into a coding laptop.

Word Web

Cancer Transference Learning Energy Mood Shift Spread Transition

Challenge

Write three sentences: one about a hospital, one about a school, and one about a party, all using '전이되다'.

Word Origin

Derived from the Hanja characters 轉 (전) and 移 (이). 轉 means to turn, revolve, or change. 移 means to move, shift, or change position. Together, they form '전이', representing a shift in state or location.

Original meaning: To shift or change one's position or state.

Sino-Korean (Hanja-based)

Cultural Context

Be careful when using this word around patients; '전이되다' in a medical context usually implies a serious stage of cancer (Stage 4).

In English, we use different words: 'metastasize' for cancer, 'transference' for psychology, and 'transfer' for learning. Korean uses '전이되다' for all three, making it a very efficient word to learn.

Hospital Playlist (K-Drama) - Frequently used in surgical scenes. Sky Castle (K-Drama) - Used when discussing the transfer of academic pressure. Modern Psychology Journals in Korea.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Hospital/Clinic

암이 전이되었나요?
전이 여부를 확인합시다.
전이성 암입니다.
다른 부위로의 전이.

Psychology/Counseling

감정의 전이 현상.
상담가에게 전이되다.
부정적 감정 전이.
무의식의 전이.

Classroom/Education

학습 전이 효과.
긍정적 전이를 유도하다.
지식의 전이 과정.
실생활로의 전이.

Science Lab

열 에너지가 전이되다.
입자의 전이.
상전이 현상.
상태가 전이되다.

Economy/News

위기의 전이를 막다.
불안 심리 전이.
시장 간의 전이.
파급 효과와 전이.

Conversation Starters

"혹시 암이 다른 곳으로 전이될까 봐 걱정되시나요?"

"어릴 때 배운 외국어 습관이 지금도 전이되나요?"

"팀장의 스트레스가 팀원들에게 전이되는 걸 느껴본 적 있어요?"

"좋은 에너지가 주변 사람들에게 전이되면 정말 좋겠죠?"

"수학 공부가 논리적 사고력으로 전이된다고 생각하시나요?"

Journal Prompts

오늘 나의 기분이 다른 사람에게 전이된 순간이 있었나요? 어떤 기분이었나요?

과거에 배운 어떤 기술이 현재의 일에 전이되어 도움을 주고 있나요?

사회적으로 나쁜 뉴스가 사람들의 심리에 전이되는 과정을 보면 어떤 생각이 드나요?

내가 가진 좋은 습관을 다른 사람에게 전이시킬 수 있다면 무엇을 전이시키고 싶나요?

병원에서 '전이'라는 말을 들었을 때의 느낌이나 생각에 대해 써보세요.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Usually no. For a cold or virus spreading between people, '전염되다' (infected) or '옮다' (catch) is correct. Use '전이되다' for cancer spreading inside your body.

No. In education, '학습 전이' (transfer of learning) is a very positive thing! It means you can use what you learned in school in the real world.

'전이되다' is passive (something transfers by itself), while '전이시키다' is active (someone or something causes it to transfer).

No. Use '이사하다' for moving house. '전이되다' is for abstract or scientific things.

Yes, to describe how a crisis in one market 'transfers' to another, or how a corporate culture 'transfers' to a new branch.

It uses 轉 (turn/shift) and 移 (move/migrate).

The noun is '전이' (jeon-i), and the verb is '전이되다'.

Yes, it frequently appears in TOPIK II Level 4-6 reading passages about science and society.

Not really, but '옮다' is the casual version. In gaming, people might say '전이' for transferring stats or buffs.

Yes, in physics, energy transfer is often called '에너지 전이'.