걱정하다 vs 걱정되다: Which one should you use? 🤔

One of the most common questions from my students! They both mean “to worry,” but the nuance and sentence structure are different. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you sound more natural!

Case 1: When YOU are worried

👉 걱정되다 is more natural

In Korean, emotions often feel like something that “happens” to us rather than something we actively “do.” So when you feel worried, 걱정되다 is the more natural choice.

✅ “시험이 걱정돼요.” (I’m worried about the exam.)

🔶 “시험을 걱정해요.” (Grammatically okay, but less natural.)

💡 For “I’m worried,” 걱정돼(요) is almost always the better choice!

Case 2: When talking about SOMEONE ELSE

👉 걱정하다 is more natural

In Korean, you can only directly experience your own emotions. So when talking about someone else worrying, use the action verb 걱정하다.

✅ “엄마가 저를 많이 걱정하세요.” (My mom worries about me a lot.)

✅ “친구가 취업 문제로 걱정하고 있어요.” (My friend is worrying about getting a job.)

Case 3: Commands and Fixed Phrases

👉 Always 걱정하다

When telling someone to do or not do something, use the active form.

✅ “걱정하지 마세요!” (Don’t worry!)