KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -아/어 보이다
Korean Grammar “-아/어 보이다”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 3)
How to attach it
This pattern is used with adjectives. Compare how each adjective below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 작다 | small | 작아 보이다 | jaga boida |
| 좋다 | good, nice | 좋아 보이다 | joa boida |
What changes
- -아/어 follows the last vowel of the stem: 아 after ㅏ or ㅗ, 어 after other vowels (읽 → 읽어, 열 → 열어). When the stem ends in a vowel, the two vowels merge (보 + 아 → 봐), and 하다 becomes 해.
Explanation
오늘 민수 씨는 기분이 좋아 보여요.
“-아/어 보이다” means “to look / seem ~” and describes the impression you get from appearance; add “-아/어” to an adjective stem. The sentence means “Minsu looks to be in a good mood today.” “-아/어 보이다” is about a visible impression, whereas “-나 보다” is a guess based on something you saw or heard. You cannot use 있다 here, as in “좋아 있어요.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 오늘 민수 씨는 기분이 좋아 보여요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [오늘 민수 씨는 기부니 조아 보여요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 오늘 | ||
| 오 | ㅇ+ㅗ | o |
| 늘 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄹ | neul |
| 민수 | ||
| 민 | ㅁ+ㅣ+ㄴ | min |
| 수 | ㅅ+ㅜ | su |
| 씨는 | ||
| 씨 | ㅆ+ㅣ | ssi |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 기분이 | ||
| 기 | ㄱ+ㅣ | gi |
| 분 | ㅂ+ㅜ+ㄴ | [부] bu |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [니] ni |
| 좋아 | ||
| 좋 | ㅈ+ㅗ+ㅎ | [조] jo |
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 보여요 | ||
| 보 | ㅂ+ㅗ | bo |
| 여 | ㅇ+ㅕ | yeo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 분이 → [부니]
- Silent ㅎ: a final ㅎ (including the ㅎ inside ㄶ and ㅀ) is not pronounced before a vowel. 좋아 → [조아]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 기분 | noun | mood, feeling | TOPIK level 2 |
| 좋다 | adjective | good, nice | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 오늘 민수 씨는 기분이 좋아 ____.
Show the answer
Answer: 오늘 민수 씨는 기분이 좋아 보여요.
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