-는 듯하다Korean expression · TOPIK 5

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TOPIK 5 5급 Expressions 표현

An expression used to guess the content of the preceding statement.

형태Forms

-는 듯하다-ㄴ듯하다-은 듯하다-ㄹ 듯하다-을 듯하다

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

An expression used to guess the content of the preceding statement.

앞에 오는 말의 내용을 추측함을 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after 있다, 없다, 계시다, adjectives and verbs ending in 있다 or 없다, the honorific -으시- or the future -겠-.

‘있다’, ‘없다’, ‘계시다’나 ‘있다’, ‘없다’로 끝나는 형용사, 동사 또는 ‘-으시-’, ‘-겠-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

승규가 흠뻑 젖어서 온 걸 보니 아직도 비가 오는 듯하다.

Seeing Seunggyu come in soaking wet, it seems it's still raining.

아직 이 일은 아무도 모르는 듯하니 드러내지 말고 그냥 덮어 두자.

It seems no one knows about this yet, so let's not reveal it and just keep it under wraps.

지수의 표정이 어두운 걸 보니 안 좋은 일이 있는 듯하다.

Seeing Jisu's dark expression, it seems something bad happened.

대화In conversation

엄마, 어디서 타는 듯한 냄새가 나요.

Mom, I smell something burning.

어머! 냄비를 불에 올려놓고 깜빡 잊어버렸네!

Oh no! I put a pot on the stove and completely forgot about it!

관련 문법Related grammar

Other expressions you will meet alongside this one.

-게 마련이다 -ge maryeonida -기 마련이다 An expression used to indicate that it is natural for something to occur or become a certain state. TOPIK 5 -게 생겼다 -ge saengyeotta An expression used to indicate that someone is facing the situation expressed by the preceding statement. TOPIK 5 -기 나름이다 -gi nareumida -을 나름이다 An expression used to indicate that something depends on how the act mentioned in the preceding statement is done. TOPIK 5 -기가 바쁘게 -giga bappeuge An expression used to indicate that something happens as soon as the act mentioned in the preceding statement is completed. TOPIK 5 -기가 쉽다 -giga swipda An expression used to state that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is likely to occur. TOPIK 5 -기만 하다 -giman hada An expression used to state that one does only one act without doing anything else. TOPIK 5

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -는 듯하다 mean in Korean?

-는 듯하다 is a expression introduced at 5급 (TOPIK 5). An expression used to guess the content of the preceding statement.

When do you use -는 듯하다?

Attaches after 있다, 없다, 계시다, adjectives and verbs ending in 있다 or 없다, the honorific -으시- or the future -겠-. The other shape is -ㄴ듯하다, -은 듯하다, -ㄹ 듯하다, -을 듯하다 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -는 듯하다 and -ㄴ듯하다?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same expression, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -는 듯하다?

5급 — TOPIK 5, advanced. It is one of 56 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.