Meaning and Usage
믿어지다 is a verb that means 'to become believable' or 'to be able to believe something.' It is often used when someone finds it hard to accept or trust information or events at first, but gradually comes to believe them.
Common Contexts
This word is frequently used in emotional or surprising situations, such as hearing unexpected news or witnessing something incredible. It often expresses a sense of disbelief turning into belief.
Collocations and Patterns
- 믿어지다 + ~지 않다: to express disbelief or skepticism (e.g., 믿어지지 않다 - 'cannot believe')
- 정말 믿어지다: to emphasize that something is truly believable
- 믿어지다 after 듣다 (to hear) or 보다 (to see): shows the process of coming to believe after receiving information or seeing something
Register and Nuance
믿어지다 is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Korean. It often conveys an emotional reaction, so it is common in personal conversations or narratives.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 믿어지다 with 믿다 (to believe). 믿다 is the active verb meaning 'to believe,' while 믿어지다 focuses on the state of something becoming believable, often implying surprise or doubt initially.