Q. Difference between "습관이 생기다" and "습관이 되다"
One of my students wrote this sentence as homework today.
"자주 물어보는 습관이 됐어요"
At first glance, it might seem okay—but just a small detail makes it sound awkward.
So I’d like to share with you why that is! 😊
"습관이 생기다" vs. "습관이 되다", what's the difference?
These two expressions are both about habits, but they have slightly different nuances!
✅ “습관이 생기다”
This phrase is used when a new habit starts to form, often naturally or unintentionally.
For example:👉 “운동하는 습관이 생겼어요”= “I developed a habit of working out.”
It emphasizes the beginning of a habit that has gradually come into your life.
✅ “습관이 되다”
This means that a certain behavior has become a fully established habit—something you now do regularly without much thought.
For example:👉 “일찍 일어나는 게 습관이 됐어요”= “Waking up early has become a habit.”
It focuses more on the settled state of a behavior.
Then why does this sound awkward?
You might hear this sentence and feel that something is off:
“물어보는 습관이 됐어요” (❌) This sounds a bit awkward in Korean.
Why?Because “습관” is already a noun, and saying it “became a habit” creates a redundant expression—as if you’re saying “a habit became a habit.”
Instead, a more natural version is: “물어보는 게 습관이 됐어요”(✅)= “Asking has become a habit.”
Here, you’re talking about the action of asking becoming a habit, which sounds smoother and more natural.
Another natural option is: “물어보는 습관이 생겼어요”(✅)= “I’ve developed the habit of asking.”
This works well when you’re describing a new habit that has started to form.
📝 Summary
Use “습관이 생기다” = when a new habit forms naturally
Use “습관이 되다” = when an action becomes a regular part of your life
With “되다”, it's more natural to say👉 “~는 게 습관이 됐다”than👉 “~는 습관이 됐다”