KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다”: How to Use It (TOPIK 4)
How to attach it
The ending differs for verbs and adjectives, so the table shows both. Compare how each word changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch (verb) | 보는 셈이다 | boneun semida |
| 읽다 | to read (verb) | 읽는 셈이다 | ingneun semida |
| 크다 | big (adjective) | 큰 셈이다 | keun semida |
| 좋다 | good, nice (adjective) | 좋은 셈이다 | joeun semida |
What changes
- For verbs, -는 attaches directly to the stem (읽 → 읽는). A stem ending in ㄹ drops the ㄹ first (살 → 사는).
- For adjectives, the present-tense form is -(으)ㄴ: ㄴ after a vowel (크 → 큰) and 은 after a consonant (좋 → 좋은).
Explanation
일주일에 닷새를 만나니까 거의 매일 만나는 셈이에요.
“-(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다” means “it amounts to / you could say that …,” describing a situation that is not exactly so but effectively comes to that. The sentence means “We meet 5 days a week, so it’s practically every day.” Do not confuse it with “-는 척하다” (pretend to), which implies acting.
일주일 중 닷새를 야근했으니 거의 매일 야근한 셈이에요.
“-(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다” means “it amounts to ~ / it’s as good as ~”: it states a conclusion drawn from the facts rather than the plain fact itself. The sentence means “I worked overtime 5 days out of the week, so it’s as if I worked overtime almost every day.” “-(으)ㄴ 탓이다” gives a (usually negative) cause, which is a different job from the “conclusion” meaning of “셈.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 일주일에 닷새를 만나니까 거의 매일 만나는 셈이에요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 일주일에 | ||
| 일 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㄹ | il |
| 주 | ㅈ+ㅜ | ju |
| 일 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㄹ | il |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 닷새를 | ||
| 닷 | ㄷ+ㅏ+ㅅ | [닫] dat |
| 새 | ㅅ+ㅐ | [쌔] sae |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 만나니까 | ||
| 만 | ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄴ | man |
| 나 | ㄴ+ㅏ | na |
| 니 | ㄴ+ㅣ | ni |
| 까 | ㄲ+ㅏ | kka |
| 거의 | ||
| 거 | ㄱ+ㅓ | geo |
| 의 | ㅇ+ㅢ | ui |
| 매일 | ||
| 매 | ㅁ+ㅐ | mae |
| 일 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㄹ | il |
| 만나는 | ||
| 만 | ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄴ | man |
| 나 | ㄴ+ㅏ | na |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 셈이에요 | ||
| 셈 | ㅅ+ㅔ+ㅁ | [세] se |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [미] mi |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 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
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 닷새 → [닫쌔]
- 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. 셈이 → [세미]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 만나다 | verb | to meet | TOPIK level 1 |
| 거의 | adverb | almost | TOPIK level 2 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 일주일에 닷새를 만나니까 거의 매일 만나는 ____이에요.
Show the answer
Answer: 일주일에 닷새를 만나니까 거의 매일 만나는 셈이에요.
Question 2 Choose the word that fits the blank: 일주일 중 닷새를 야근했으니 거의 매일 야근한 ____.
Show the answer
Answer: 일주일 중 닷새를 야근했으니 거의 매일 야근한 셈이에요.
More grammar at this level
Learn this phrase by playing: typing drills and quizzes help it stick.
Practice in the gameRead this page in: 日本語 简体中文 繁體中文 Tiếng Việt Bahasa Indonesia Oʻzbekcha Монгол Français Español (México) ไทย