-(으)ㄹ 듯하다 expresses speculation or inference based on observation or evidence. It means "seems like," "appears to," or "looks as if" and is more formal and literary than similar patterns.
Structure
Verb stem + -(으)ㄹ 듯하다
Endings with consonant: -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 Endings with vowel: -ㄹ 듯하다
Meaning: "It seems like [verb]," "appears to [verb]"
Conjugation Rules
With Vowel Ending
Verb ends in vowel: -ㄹ 듯하다:
- 가다 → 갈 듯하다 (seems to go)
- 오다 → 올 듯하다 (seems to come)
- 보다 → 볼 듯하다 (seems to see)
With Consonant Ending
Verb ends in consonant: -을 듯하다:
- 먹다 → 먹을 듯하다 (seems to eat)
- 입다 → 입을 듯하다 (seems to wear)
- 듣다 → 들을 듯하다 (seems to hear)
ㄹ Irregular
ㄹ drops before -ㄹ:
- 살다 → 살 듯하다 (seems to live - NOT 살ㄹ)
- 만들다 → 만들 듯하다 (seems to make)
Basic Meaning
Speculation Based on Evidence
Observing and inferring:
- 비가 올 듯해요 (It seems like it will rain)
- 성공할 듯해요 (Seems like it will succeed)
- 잘할 듯해요 (Seems like they'll do well)
Nuance: Based on visible signs or logical deduction
Appearance
How something looks:
- 맛있을 듯해요 (Seems like it will be delicious)
- 재미있을 듯해요 (Seems like it will be fun)
- 어려울 듯해요 (Seems like it will be difficult)
Tense Forms
Present Inference
-(으)ㄹ 듯하다:
- 갈 듯해요 (Seems like will go)
- 올 듯해요 (Seems like will come)
- 할 듯해요 (Seems like will do)
Past Observation
-(으)ㄹ 듯했다:
- 갈 듯했어요 (It seemed like would go)
- 올 듯했어요 (It seemed like would come)
- 비가 올 듯했어요 (It seemed like it would rain)
Usage: Describing past speculation that may or may not have occurred
Formality Levels
Casual
-(으)ㄹ 듯해:
- 갈 듯해 (Seems like will go)
- 올 듯해 (Seems like will come)
Polite
-(으)ㄹ 듯해요:
- 갈 듯해요 (Seems like will go)
- 올 듯해요 (Seems like will come)
Formal
-(으)ㄹ 듯합니다:
- 갈 듯합니다 (Seems like will go)
- 성공할 듯합니다 (Seems like will succeed)
Similar Patterns Comparison
-(으)ㄹ 듯하다 vs -(으)ㄹ 것 같다
-(으)ㄹ 것 같다 (seems like - casual):
- 비가 올 것 같아요 (I think it will rain)
- Most common in speech
- Subjective feeling
-(으)ㄹ 듯하다 (seems like - formal):
- 비가 올 듯해요 (It seems it will rain)
- More formal/literary
- More objective observation
-(으)ㄹ 듯하다 vs -나 보다
-나 보다 (appears/seems):
- 비가 오나 봐요 (It appears to be raining)
- Based on direct evidence
- More certain
-(으)ㄹ 듯하다 (seems like):
- 비가 올 듯해요 (It seems like it will rain)
- Prediction/inference
- Less certain, more speculative
Usage Contexts
Weather Predictions
Forecasting:
- 눈이 올 듯해요 (Seems like it will snow)
- 날씨가 좋을 듯해요 (Seems like the weather will be good)
- 바람이 불 듯해요 (Seems like it will be windy)
Outcome Predictions
Guessing results:
- 성공할 듯해요 (Seems like it will succeed)
- 잘될 듯해요 (Seems like it will go well)
- 합격할 듯해요 (Seems like will pass)
Taste/Experience Predictions
Anticipating quality:
- 맛있을 듯해요 (Seems like it will be delicious)
- 재미있을 듯해요 (Seems like it will be fun)
- 좋을 듯해요 (Seems like it will be good)
Literary and Formal Usage
Written Language
Common in writing:
- 이 계획은 성공할 듯하다 (This plan seems like it will succeed)
- 그는 올 듯하지 않다 (He doesn't seem like he will come)
News and Reports
Formal reporting:
- 경제가 회복될 듯합니다 (The economy seems like it will recover)
- 법안이 통과될 듯합니다 (The bill seems like it will pass)
Literary Descriptions
Descriptive writing:
- 비가 쏟아질 듯한 하늘 (Sky that looks like rain will pour)
- 터질 듯한 심장 (Heart that feels like it will burst)
Adjective Form: -(으)ㄹ 듯한
Modifying Nouns
As an adjective:
- 올 듯한 사람 (Person who seems like they'll come)
- 될 듯한 일 (Thing that seems like it will work)
- 비가 올 듯한 날씨 (Weather that seems like it will rain)
Structure: -(으)ㄹ 듯한 + Noun
Common Expressions
Fixed expressions:
- 터질 듯한 (about to burst)
- 죽을 듯한 (as if dying)
- 넘어질 듯한 (about to fall)
Negative Form
-(으)ㄹ 듯하지 않다
Doesn't seem like:
- 올 듯하지 않아요 (Doesn't seem like will come)
- 될 듯하지 않아요 (Doesn't seem like it will work)
- 성공할 듯하지 않아요 (Doesn't seem like it will succeed)
-지 않을 듯하다
Alternative negative:
- 오지 않을 듯해요 (Seems like won't come)
- 되지 않을 듯해요 (Seems like won't work)
Adverbial Form: -(으)ㄹ 듯이
"As if" Meaning
Manner adverb:
- 죽을 듯이 (as if dying)
- 터질 듯이 (as if bursting)
- 날 듯이 (as if flying)
Usage: Describes manner of action
Examples:
- 죽을 듯이 아파요 (Hurts as if dying)
- 날 듯이 기뻐요 (Happy as if flying)
- 터질 듯이 웃었어요 (Laughed as if bursting)
With Past Tense Modifier
-았/었을 듯하다
Seems like it was/did:
- 갔을 듯해요 (Seems like they went)
- 했을 듯해요 (Seems like they did)
- 먹었을 듯해요 (Seems like they ate)
Usage: Speculation about past events
Expressing Doubt
Questioning Form
-(으)ㄹ 듯한가요?:
- 올 듯한가요? (Does it seem like they'll come?)
- 될 듯한가요? (Does it seem like it will work?)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 갈 듯이다 (wrong ending)
Confusing adjective and verb forms
✅ Correct: 갈 듯하다
Proper verb form
❌ Incorrect: 갈 것 듯하다 (mixing patterns)
Combining -것 같다 with 듯하다
✅ Correct: 갈 듯하다 OR 갈 것 같다
Use one pattern, not both
❌ Incorrect: Using excessively in casual speech
Too formal for everyday conversation
✅ Correct: Use -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 in casual speech
Match formality to context
Summary Table
| Form | Structure | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | V-(으)ㄹ 듯하다 | 갈 듯해요 | Seems like will go |
| Past | V-(으)ㄹ 듯했다 | 갈 듯했어요 | Seemed like would go |
| Adjective | V-(으)ㄹ 듯한 N | 올 듯한 사람 | Person who seems like will come |
| Adverb | V-(으)ㄹ 듯이 | 죽을 듯이 | As if dying |
| Negative | V-(으)ㄹ 듯하지 않다 | 갈 듯하지 않아요 | Doesn't seem like will go |
| Past speculation | V-았/었을 듯하다 | 갔을 듯해요 | Seems like went |
Usage Guide
Use -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 when:
- Writing formally ✓
- Making predictions ✓
- Literary descriptions ✓
- News reports ✓
- Objective observations ✓
Avoid -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 when:
- Casual conversation ✗
- Very personal opinions ✗
- Need simpler expression ✗
Instead use: -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 for casual contexts