Learn Hardcore Korean: bakkeseo keun soriga deullyeoyo.

들려요 is the present polite form of 들리다, which means “to be heard; to be audible.”
It describes the sound’s audibility (impersonal), not an active act of listening. So it’s closer to “A loud noise is heard / I can hear a loud noise (it’s audible).”
Formed by contraction: 들리- + -어요 → 들려요 (ㅣ + 어 → 여).

How is 들려요 different from 들어요 (from 듣다)?

듣다 = “to hear/listen” (active). Present polite: 들어요 (ㄷ → ㄹ irregular).
- Ex: 밖에서 큰 소리를 들어요 = I (am outside and) hear a loud noise.
들리다 = “to be heard; be audible” (passive/intransitive). Present polite: 들려요.
- Ex: 밖에서 큰 소리가 들려요 = A loud noise is heard (from outside).
들리다 focuses on the sound reaching you; 듣다 focuses on you doing the hearing.

Why is it 큰 소리가 and not 큰 소리를?

With 들리다, the thing that is heard is the subject, so use 이/가: 큰 소리가.
With 듣다, the thing you hear is the object, so use 을/를: 큰 소리를.

Does 밖에서 mean “outside” or “from outside”? Why use 에서?

에서 marks the place where an action happens, and with senses (sound/smell), it often marks the source. Here it means “from outside.”
Compare:
- 밖에서 밥을 먹어요 = I eat outside. (place of action)
- 밖에서 큰 소리가 들려요 = A loud sound is heard from outside. (source)
에 is for static location: 밖에 있어요 = I’m outside.
(으)로부터/부터 are typically for sources like people or abstract origins; with places for sound, 에서 is natural.

Can I say 밖에 큰 소리가 들려요?

Avoid this. 밖에 usually means “only” and pairs with a negative (예: 돈밖에 없어요).
As a location, 밖에 works with static verbs (밖에 있어요), but to mark the source of a sound, use 밖에서.

Can I change the word order, like 큰 소리가 밖에서 들려요?

Yes. Word order is flexible:
- 밖에서 큰 소리가 들려요.
- 큰 소리가 밖에서 들려요.
Both are natural; the first foregrounds the location, the second the sound. Keep the verb at the end.

What politeness level is 들려요? How would I say it in other levels?

How is this pronounced naturally?

What’s the difference between 소리가 들리다 and 소리가 나다 (e.g., 밖에서 큰 소리가 나요)?

소리가 나다 = a sound occurs/happens (event-focused).
소리가 들리다 = a sound is heard/is audible (listener-focused).
In many contexts both are fine; choose based on whether you’re emphasizing the sound happening vs. you perceiving it.

How do I say “I hear a loud noise while I’m outside” (emphasizing where I am)?

Use the active verb: 밖에서 큰 소리를 들어요.
If you want to emphasize the sound’s source instead, use the original: 밖에서 큰 소리가 들려요.

Can I omit particles like 이/가 or 에서 in casual speech?

Dropping 이/가 is common in conversation: 밖에서 큰 소리 들려요.
Don’t drop 에서 if you need the “from outside” meaning. Without it, you just have “A loud sound is heard.”

How do I make “a loud sound heard from outside” as a noun phrase?

밖에서 들리는 큰 소리
- 들리는 = present attributive of 들리다 (“that is heard”).
- Modify further if needed: 밖에서 들리는 아주 큰 소리.

How do I say it in past/negative/future?

Is 들려요 ever “to let someone hear” or “to play (a song) for someone”?

Why is it 큰 (from 크다) and not 크는?

Descriptive verbs (adjectives) like 크다 use -(으)ㄴ in the present attributive: 큰 소리 = “loud sound.”
크는 would suggest a progressive action (more for active verbs) and sounds odd here. If you mean “growing louder,” use 커지는 소리.

Can I emphasize the movement of the sound toward me?

Yes, use 들려오다: 밖에서 큰 소리가 들려와요. (A loud sound is heard coming from outside toward here.)
The away-from-here counterpart 들려가다 exists but is much less common.