Appearance, Hearsay, and Inference

-아/어 보이다 is used when something looks a certain way based on visual impression. It is usually attached to descriptive verbs, which Korean grammar often treats like adjectives. The meaning is “to look...” or “to appear...”.

For example, 피곤하다 becomes 피곤해 보이다, meaning “to look tired”. 맛있다 becomes 맛있어 보이다, meaning “to look delicious”. 어렵다 becomes 어려워 보이다, meaning “to look difficult”.

This pattern is based on what the speaker can see. The speaker is not reporting confirmed information and is not saying they heard it from someone else. They are judging from appearance.

Because it is visual and relatively direct, -아/어 보이다 is very common when talking about people’s condition, food, places, clothing, weather, work, and children. It is useful when you want to make a careful observation without claiming full certainty.

-다고 하다 is used to report what someone said or what people say. It often translates as “I hear that...”, “they say that...”, or “someone said that...”. Unlike -아/어 보이다, it is not based on appearance. The source is language: another person, a notice, the news, a message, or general information.

For descriptive verbs, Korean commonly uses -다고 하다: 춥다고 해요, “they say it is cold”; 비싸다고 해요, “they say it is expensive.” For action verbs, the present form is usually -ㄴ/는다고 하다: 온다고 해요, “they say someone is coming”; 닫는다고 해요, “they say it closes.”

Honorifics can also appear inside reported speech. For example, 교수님이 오신다고 합니다 means “They say the professor is coming.” The verb 오시다 respects the professor, while 합니다 gives the sentence a formal tone.

This pattern is very common in schools, offices, hospitals, news, weather reports, and daily conversation. It lets you pass information without claiming that you personally verified it.

-나 보다 is used when the speaker infers something from evidence or signs. The speaker does not know the fact directly, but there is enough indication to guess. It often means “it seems that...” or “I guess...” based on observable clues.

For action verbs and 있다/없다, use -나 보다: 비가 오나 봐요, “It seems to be raining”; 사람이 많나 봐요, “It looks like there are many people.” For descriptive verbs, Korean often uses -(으)ㄴ가 보다: 피곤한가 봐요, “It seems that someone is tired.”

This pattern feels more inferential than -아/어 보이다. With 피곤해 보여요, you are directly describing appearance. With 피곤한가 봐요, you infer tiredness from signs: the person is quiet, moving slowly, yawning, or not responding normally.

It is very common in real conversation because people often guess from indirect clues. Parents say 아기가 졸린가 봐요, “The baby seems sleepy.” Coworkers say 회의가 길어지나 봐요, “It looks like the meeting is getting long.”

-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 is one of the most useful Korean patterns for softening judgment. It means “I think...”, “it seems...”, or “it appears that...”. Unlike -나 보다, it does not necessarily require visible evidence. It can express a general impression, opinion, or cautious conclusion.

For descriptive verbs in the present, use -(으)ㄴ 것 같다: 바쁜 것 같아요, “I think someone is busy”; 좋은 것 같아요, “I think it is good.” For action verbs in the present, use -는 것 같다: 오는 것 같아요, “I think someone is coming.”

This pattern is extremely common because Korean speakers often avoid sounding too direct. Instead of saying 이 방법이 좋아요, “this method is good,” you can say 이 방법이 좋은 것 같아요, “I think this method is good.” The second sentence sounds softer and more modest.

In academic, workplace, and polite conversation, 것 같다 is very useful because it lets you present your view without sounding arrogant or overly certain.

Korean has several ways to say “seems”, but each one has a different information source. -아/어 보이다 comes from visual appearance. -다고 하다 comes from reported information. -나 보다 comes from inference based on signs. -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 is a softer general judgment.

Compare these four sentences: 피곤해 보여요 means “you look tired” based on appearance. 피곤하다고 해요 means “they say someone is tired” based on reported speech. 피곤한가 봐요 means “it seems someone is tired” based on signs. 피곤한 것 같아요 means “I think someone is tired” as a cautious judgment.

Choosing the right pattern makes your Korean more precise. If you saw the person’s face, use 보이다. If someone told you, use 다고 하다. If you are guessing from clues, use 나 보다. If you want to soften your opinion, use 것 같다.

These differences matter in real communication. In hospitals, work, and family situations, saying “I saw”, “I heard”, “I infer”, or “I think” are not the same. Korean grammar helps you show exactly where your information comes from.