-나 보다 expresses inference or deduction based on observation or evidence. It means "it seems," "it appears," "looks like," or "I guess."
Structure
Verb/Adjective + -나 보다
Breakdown:
- -나: Inferential marker
- 보다: To see
Literal meaning: "Seeing (the evidence), it appears..."
Conjugation with Verbs
Present Tense: -나 보다
After vowel or ㄹ:
- 가다 → 가나 봐요 (seems to be going)
- 오다 → 오나 봐요 (seems to be coming)
- 만들다 → 만드나 봐요 (seems to be making)
After consonant: -(으)ㄴ가 보다
- 먹다 → 먹나 봐요 (seems to be eating)
- 읽다 → 읽나 봐요 (seems to be reading)
Note: Vowel ending verbs commonly use -나, consonant endings can use -(으)ㄴ가
Past Tense: -나 보다 (irregular)
Common form for past: -(으)ㄴ/는가 보다
- 갔나 봐요 (seems went)
- 먹었나 봐요 (seems ate)
- 했나 봐요 (seems did)
Alternative: -나 보다 directly
- 간 모양이에요 (alternative expression)
Future Tense: -(으)ㄹ 모양이다
Future inference uses different pattern:
- 갈 모양이에요 (seems will go)
- 올 모양이에요 (seems will come)
Note: -나 보다 typically not used for future
Conjugation with Adjectives
Present Tense: -ㄴ가/은가 보다
After vowel or ㄹ: -ㄴ가 보다
- 크다 → 큰가 봐요 (seems big)
- 작다 → 작은가 봐요 (seems small)
- 멀다 → 먼가 봐요 (seems far)
After consonant: -은가 보다
- 좋다 → 좋은가 봐요 (seems good)
- 많다 → 많은가 봐요 (seems a lot)
- 적다 → 적은가 봐요 (seems little)
Commonly shortened: -ㄴ가 → 나
- 좋다 → 좋나 봐요 (seems good)
- 크다 → 크나 봐요 (seems big)
Past Tense: -았/었나 보다
Past state:
- 좋았나 봐요 (seems it was good)
- 컸나 봐요 (seems it was big)
- 많았나 봐요 (seems there was a lot)
With Copula (이다)
Present: -인가 보다
After noun:
- 학생인가 봐요 (seems to be a student)
- 선생님인가 봐요 (seems to be a teacher)
- 의사인가 봐요 (seems to be a doctor)
Shortened: -나 보다
- 학생이나 봐요 (seems to be a student)
Past: -였나/-이었나 보다
Was:
- 학생이었나 봐요 (seems was a student)
- 선생님이었나 봐요 (seems was a teacher)
Politeness Levels
Polite (해요체)
- 가나 봐요 (seems to be going)
- 좋나 봐요 (seems good)
- 학생이나 봐요 (seems to be a student)
Casual (반말)
- 가나 봐 (seems to be going)
- 좋나 봐 (seems good)
- 학생이나 봐 (seems to be a student)
Note: Less commonly used in formal speech
Core Usage: Inference from Evidence
Based on Visual Evidence
What you see:
- 비가 오나 봐요 (It seems to be raining) → See wet streets, umbrella
- 집에 없나 봐요 (Seems they're not home) → Lights off, no answer
- 아픈가 봐요 (Seems they're sick) → See them looking unwell
Based on Auditory Evidence
What you hear:
- 밖에 사람이 많나 봐요 (Seems there are many people outside) → Hear noise
- 전화 받는가 봐요 (Seems they're answering the phone) → Hear talking
Based on Circumstantial Evidence
Deduction from situation:
- 바쁜가 봐요 (Seems they're busy) → Not answering messages
- 고장났나 봐요 (Seems it's broken) → Not working
- 인기가 많나 봐요 (Seems it's popular) → See long line
Common Expressions
Weather
- 비가 오나 봐요 (It seems to be raining)
- 눈이 오나 봐요 (It seems to be snowing)
- 춥나 봐요 (Seems it's cold)
- 더운가 봐요 (Seems it's hot)
People's States
- 바쁜가 봐요 (Seems they're busy)
- 피곤한가 봐요 (Seems they're tired)
- 아픈가 봐요 (Seems they're sick)
- 화난가 봐요 (Seems they're angry)
Situations
- 인기가 많나 봐요 (Seems it's popular)
- 맛있나 봐요 (Seems it's delicious)
- 비싸나 봐요 (Seems it's expensive)
- 어려운가 봐요 (Seems it's difficult)
Problems
- 고장났나 봐요 (Seems it's broken)
- 문제가 있나 봐요 (Seems there's a problem)
- 잘못됐나 봐요 (Seems something went wrong)
- 없나 봐요 (Seems it's not there)
Negative Forms
Verb Negative: 안 -나 보다
Present:
- 안 가나 봐요 (seems not going)
- 안 오나 봐요 (seems not coming)
- 안 하나 봐요 (seems not doing)
Past:
- 안 갔나 봐요 (seems didn't go)
- 안 왔나 봐요 (seems didn't come)
Adjective Negative: -지 않나 보다
Present:
- 좋지 않나 봐요 (doesn't seem good)
- 크지 않나 봐요 (doesn't seem big)
Contrast with Similar Forms
-나 보다 vs -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다
-나 보다: Objective inference from evidence
- 비가 오나 봐요 (It seems to be raining)
- → Based on observation (wet ground, umbrella)
-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다: Subjective opinion/feeling
- 비가 올 것 같아요 (I think it will rain)
- → Based on feeling/judgment (dark clouds)
Key difference: Evidence-based vs Opinion-based
-나 보다 vs -(으)ㄹ 것이다
-나 보다: Inference (uncertain)
- 오나 봐요 (Seems they're coming)
- → Based on signs, not certain
-(으)ㄹ 것이다: Prediction (more certain)
- 올 거예요 (They will come)
- → More confident assertion
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Observation
A: 왜 이렇게 조용해요?
(Why is it so quiet?)
B: 다들 집에 없나 봐요.
(Seems everyone's not home.)
Dialogue 2: Weather
A: 우산 가져왔어요?
(Did you bring an umbrella?)
B: 아니요. 비가 오나 봐요?
(No. Does it seem like it's raining?)
Dialogue 3: Phone Call
A: 왜 전화 안 받아요?
(Why aren't they answering?)
B: 바쁜가 봐요. 나중에 다시 해봐요.
(Seems they're busy. Let's try again later.)
Dialogue 4: Restaurant
A: 여기 사람이 왜 이렇게 많아요?
(Why are there so many people here?)
B: 맛있나 봐요. 유명한 식당인가 봐요.
(Seems it's delicious. Seems it's a famous restaurant.)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 가 보다
Missing -나 marker
✅ Correct: 가나 봐요
Need inferential -나
❌ Incorrect: 좋는가 봐요
Wrong adnominal form
✅ Correct: 좋은가 봐요 or 좋나 봐요
Adjectives use -(으)ㄴ가 or shortened -나
Usage Notes
Natural Situations for -나 보다
Use when:
- Making deductions from what you see/hear
- Evidence is observable
- Discovering something you didn't know before
- Explaining something based on signs
Examples:
- Phone isn't working → 고장났나 봐요
- Lights are off → 집에 없나 봐요
- Long line at restaurant → 맛있나 봐요
- Someone not responding → 바쁜가 봐요
Regional Variations
Shortened Forms in Speech
Very casual/dialectal:
- 가나 봐요 → 간가 봐
- 오나 봐요 → 온가 봐
- 좋나 봐요 → 좋은가 봐
Note: Varies by region and speaker
Summary Table
| Type | Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb Present | -나 봐요 | 가나 봐요 | Seems to be going |
| Verb Past | -았/었나 봐요 | 갔나 봐요 | Seems went |
| Adjective Present | -(으)ㄴ가/나 봐요 | 좋나 봐요 | Seems good |
| Adjective Past | -았/었나 봐요 | 좋았나 봐요 | Seems was good |
| Copula Present | -인가/이나 봐요 | 학생이나 봐요 | Seems to be student |
Key Takeaways
✅ Expresses inference: Based on observation/evidence
✅ Objective deduction: What you see/hear suggests...
✅ Different from 것 같다: Evidence-based vs Opinion
✅ Common in daily speech: Natural for discoveries
✅ Present tense: -나 봐요 (verbs/adjectives)
✅ Shows discovery: "Oh, I see, it seems..."
-나 보다 is essential for expressing inferences based on observable evidence in Korean. It's the natural way to share deductions and observations, showing that you're making a judgment based on what you can see, hear, or detect from the situation.