기억하다 VS 기억나다

What’s the Difference Between 기억하다 and 기억나다?

Both 기억하다 and 기억나다 are related to memory and can be translated as “to remember” in English.

But in Korean, they are used in different sentence structures and express different perspectives.

Let’s break it down with clear examples!

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1. 기억하다 :  to remember (actively, on purpose)

• This verb is used when you intentionally remember something,
  or you are the one trying to recall something.

• The subject is actively remembering.

[ Examples Sentences ]

• 저는 그날을 기억해요.  I remember that day.

• 제 초등학교 선생님의 얼굴을 아직도 기억해요.  I still remember my elementary school teacher’s

• 비밀번호를 잘 기억하세요!  Please remember the password well!

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2. 기억나다 :  to come to mind / to recall (passively)

• This verb is used when something suddenly comes back to your mind,
  often without trying.

• The subject is not doing the remembering — the memory comes to them.

[ Examples Sentences ]

• 어릴 때 자주 가던 공원이 기억나요?  Do you remember the park we used to go to as kids?

• 그 사람의 얼굴은 기억나는데 이름이 기억 안 나요.  I remember that person’s face, but not the name.

• 그때 일이 이제서야 기억나요.  Now I finally remember what happened back then.

[ Simple Tip ]

If you are the one remembering something actively, use 기억하다.

If a memory comes back to you, use 기억나다.

 

[Mini Quiz ]

1.  초등학교 때 만난 친구들의 이름을 아직도 _____.

ㄱ) 기억해요

ㄴ) 기억나요

2.  아! 이제 _____.

ㄱ) 기억했어요

ㄴ) 기억났어요

3.  시험을 잘 보기 위해서 공부한 것을 잘 _____.

ㄱ) 기억해야 해요

ㄴ) 기억나야 해요

4. 그 노래를 듣자마자 그때 생각이 _____.

ㄱ) 기억했어요.

ㄴ) 기억났어요.

[Mini Quiz - 정답 ]

1. 초등학교 때 만난 친구들의 이름을 아직도 _____.   

1.  I still _____ the names of the friends I met in elementary school.

ㄱ) 기억해요 (remember)  ✅

ㄴ) 기억나요 (comes to mind)

👉  You are intentionally remembering these names. Use 기억하다 when you actively remember something.

2.  아! 이제 _____.   

2.  Oh! Now I _____.

ㄱ) 기억했어요 (remembered [actively])

ㄴ) 기억났어요 (it came back to me)  ✅

👉  This expresses the sudden return of a memory — you weren't trying, but the memory came back.
Use 기억나다 for spontaneous recall.

3. 시험을 잘 보기 위해서 공부한 것을 잘 _____.  

3. To do well on the test, you need to _____ what you studied.

ㄱ) 기억해야 해요 (need to remember)  ✅

ㄴ) 기억나야 해요 (it needs to come to mind)

👉  This is about actively remembering what you studied. You're responsible for recalling it → use 기억하다.

4. 그 노래를 듣자마자 그때 생각이 _____.  

4. As soon as I heard that song, the memories of that time _____.

ㄱ) 기억했어요 (I remembered)

ㄴ) 기억났어요 (came back to me)  ✅

👉 The memory came back spontaneously because of a trigger (the song). Use 기억나다 when something reminds you of a memory.

If you have any additional questions,  feel free to ask in the comments!😊