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Lv 3Grammar expressionIntermediate · TOPIK II

-나 보다

-na boda

it seems that; I guess

Attaches to a verb stem (or '-나' after an adjective/noun base) to express the speaker's guess about a fact, based on some observation or evidence.

Form

Attaches to
Verb, Adjective, Auxiliary

Meanings

  1. 1

    An expression used to guess about a fact mentioned in the preceding statement.

    앞말이 나타내는 사실을 추측함을 나타내는 표현.

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

Examples

  • 승규가 전화를 안 받아. 벌써 자나 봐.

    Seunggyu isn't answering the phone. I guess he's already asleep.

  • 매일 매진인 걸 보니 이 영화가 정말 재미있나 봐.

    It sells out every day, so this movie must really be good.

  • 열이 나고 추운 걸 보니 감기에 걸렸나 보다.

    I have a fever and feel cold, so I guess I've caught a cold.

  • 나도 이제 늙었나 봐. 계단 오르는 것도 힘들어. 그건 운동 부족 때문이에요. 운동하세요.

    I guess I'm getting old. Even climbing stairs is tiring now. That's because you don't exercise enough. You should work out.

  • 나도 이제 늙었나 봐. 계단 오르는 것도 힘들어.

    I guess I'm getting old. Even climbing stairs is tiring now.

  • 그건 운동 부족 때문이에요. 운동하세요.

    That's because you don't exercise enough. You should work out.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Don’t confuse with

Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-나 보다’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “it seems that; I guess”?