A-아/어 보이다 Explained | how to say "looks like" in Korean

A -아/어 보이다 = looks (like), seem (like)

Usage: Used with adjectives only to make a guess based on someone or something’s outward appearance.

It is used in the situation where someone is expressing their feeling on the outward appearance of a person, event or thing.

The word 보이다 indicates that something looks/seems like (something).

Tense:

Adjective + 아/어 보이다 or -게 보이다 (Present tense)

좋다 --> 좋아 보이다

Adjective + 아/어 보였다 (Past tense)

좋다 --> 좋아 보였다

Adjective + 아/어 보일 것이다 (Future tense)

좋다 --> 좋아 보일 것이다

EXAMPLES:

그렇게 왜 피곤해 보여요.

= why do you look so tired like that?

저의 여자친구는 어제 너무 슬퍼 보였어요

= My girlfriend looked really sad yesterday.

어제 늦게 자서 오늘 늦어 보일 것잖아요.

= Since I slept late yesterday, it looks like I’ll be late today

좋은 일이 있었나 봐? 기분이 좋아 보여요.

= Something good must have happened. You seemed to be in a good mood

승규가 앉아 있는 소파는 무척 편안해 보였어요.

= The chair Seungyu is sitting in looks very comfortable.

PRACTICE SECTION: translation

answers at the bottom

1.) That coffee looks hot.

2.) She seems really happy these days.

3.) This book looks interesting.

4.) What’s wrong? You look angry?

MORE EXAMPLES:

이 생일 케이크가 정말 맛있어 보여요.

= This birthday cake looks really delicious.

민준이는 안경을 쓰면 똑똑해 보인데요.

= When Minjun wears glasses, he looks smart.

If you want to say that a noun looks a certain way, then you can use ~처럼 보이다.

Example: 의사처럼 보여요 = You look like a doctor

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ANSWERS

1.) 그 커피는 뜨거워 보여요

2.) 그 사람은 요즘 너무 행복해 보여요

3.) 이 책은 재미있어 보여요

4.) 무슨 일이에요? 화가 나 보여요

That's the end! I hope I was able to help you learn this grammar. If you are interested in learning more Intermediate grammar I have a book here that you might like!

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List of grammar covered in this book:

(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 - almost did (으)ㄹ 만하다 - worth doing -지 말고 - don’t do A, do B (으)ㄴ/는지 알다/모르다 I know/ don’t know if (으)ㄴ/는 대신(에) - instead of -(으)ㄴ/는데도 - even though, although (으)ㄹ 뿐(만) 아니라 - not only this, but also 기는 하지만 - but (also) (으)ㄴ/는 척하다 - pretend to do (으)ㄹ지도 모르다 - might, may (으)ㄹ까 봐(서) - I’m worried about 게 하다 - to make someone do -다가 - and/but then (으)ㄴ 지 N(Time)이/가 되다/넘다/지나다 Verb + -게 - so that, in order to 더라고요 - I saw/experienced that.. -다가는 - if you keep V-ing,..(느)ㄴ다면 - what If (hypothetical) (으)ㄹ 정도로 - to the extent (으)ㄹ 테니까 - since it might..

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