Becoming Something and Other Uses of 되다
되다 can be used for several things, including becoming something, asking for or giving permission, describing whether something works, and asking for personal information.
Becoming something using 되다
Section titled “Becoming something using 되다”되다 can be used to say that you are becoming something.
Examples:
- What do you want to become? → 뭐가 되고 싶어요?
- I want to become a nicer person → 저는 더 친전한 사람이 되고 싶어요.
- I want to become a Korean teacher → 저는 한국어 선생님이 되고 싶어요.
To be okay (permission) using 되다
Section titled “To be okay (permission) using 되다”되다 can also be used to give permission as in “to be okay”.
Examples:
- Is it really okay to go? Can I really go? → 정말 가도 돼요?
- It’s not okay → 안 돼요.
For something to work using 되다
Section titled “For something to work using 되다”되다 can also be used say something works, e.g. to say a machine works properly.
Examples:
- The machine doesn’t work now. → 이 기계가 지금 안 돼요.
- The printer suddenly doesn’t work. → 프린터가 갑자기 안 돼요.
- My cell phone works well. → 제 핸드폰이 잘 돼요.
Asking to tell about something using 되다
Section titled “Asking to tell about something using 되다”되다 can also be used wih the adverb 어떻게 (how) to ask someone to tell you about something. This is a more polite way to ask a person’s name, age or information about themselves.
Examples:
- Tell me about your family. → 가족이 어떻게 되세요?
- Tell me about your hobbies. / What are your hobbies? → 취미가 어떻게 돼요?
- Tell me about your name. / What is your name? → 이름이 어떻게 돼요?
- Tell me about your age. / How old are you? → 나이가 어떻게 돼요?
- Tell me about your age. / How old are you? (More polite than 나이) → 연세가 어떻게 되세요?