-나 보다 expresses inference or conclusion based on observed evidence or circumstances. It means "it appears," "it seems," or "I guess" and indicates the speaker is drawing a conclusion from what they see, hear, or experience.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -나 보다
Forms:
- Present: -(으)ㄴ가 보다 / -나 보다
- Past: -았/었나 보다
- Future: -(으)ㄹ 모양이다 (different pattern)
Present Tense Forms
With Verbs: -나 보다
Action verbs in present:
- 가나 봐요 (Seems like they're going)
- 오나 봐요 (Seems like they're coming)
- 하나 봐요 (Seems like they're doing)
- 먹나 봐요 (Seems like they're eating)
Pattern: Verb stem + -나 보다
With Adjectives: -(으)ㄴ가 보다
Descriptive adjectives:
- 좋은가 봐요 (Seems like it's good)
- 예쁜가 봐요 (Seems like it's pretty)
- 큰가 봐요 (Seems like it's big)
- 바쁜가 봐요 (Seems like they're busy)
With vowel ending:
- 크다 → 큰가 봐요 (Seems big)
With consonant ending:
- 작다 → 작은가 봐요 (Seems small)
- 많다 → 많은가 봐요 (Seems like there's a lot)
With 이다/아니다
Copula forms:
- 학생인가 봐요 (Seems like they're a student)
- 아닌가 봐요 (Seems like it's not)
Past Tense: -았/었나 보다
Past Evidence
Inferring from past events:
- 갔나 봐요 (Seems like they went)
- 왔나 봐요 (Seems like they came)
- 했나 봐요 (Seems like they did)
- 먹었나 봐요 (Seems like they ate)
Pattern: Past stem + -나 보다
Examples
Drawing conclusions:
- 비가 왔나 봐요 (Seems like it rained - ground is wet)
- 공부했나 봐요 (Seems like they studied - they did well)
- 떠났나 봐요 (Seems like they left - they're not here)
Evidence-Based Inference
Direct Observation
What you can see:
- 아프나 봐요 (Seems like they're sick - they look unwell)
- 바쁜가 봐요 (Seems like they're busy - they're rushing)
- 피곤한가 봐요 (Seems like they're tired - they're yawning)
Indirect Evidence
Logical deduction:
- 안 오나 봐요 (Seems like they're not coming - it's late)
- 좋아하나 봐요 (Seems like they like it - they keep eating)
- 비가 오나 봐요 (Seems like it's raining - people have umbrellas)
Formality Levels
Casual
-나 봐:
- 가나 봐 (Seems like going)
- 했나 봐 (Seems like did)
- 좋은가 봐 (Seems good)
Polite
-나 봐요:
- 가나 봐요 (Seems like going)
- 했나 봐요 (Seems like did)
- 좋은가 봐요 (Seems good)
Formal
-나 봅니다:
- 가나 봅니다 (Seems like going)
- 했나 봅니다 (Seems like did)
Negative Forms
Present Negative
안 + Verb + -나 보다:
- 안 가나 봐요 (Seems like not going)
- 안 오나 봐요 (Seems like not coming)
- 안 하나 봐요 (Seems like not doing)
Verb + -지 않나 보다:
- 가지 않나 봐요 (Seems like not going)
- 오지 않나 봐요 (Seems like not coming)
Past Negative
안 + Past + -나 보다:
- 안 갔나 봐요 (Seems like didn't go)
- 안 왔나 봐요 (Seems like didn't come)
Past + -지 않았나 보다:
- 가지 않았나 봐요 (Seems like didn't go)
With Adjectives
안 + Adjective + -ㄴ가 보다:
- 안 좋은가 봐요 (Seems like it's not good)
- 안 바쁜가 봐요 (Seems like not busy)
Comparison with Similar Patterns
-나 보다 vs -(으)ㄹ 것 같다
-(으)ㄹ 것 같다 (I think/seems):
- 갈 것 같아요 (I think they'll go)
- Subjective opinion
- Less certain
- More common in casual speech
-나 보다 (appears/seems):
- 가나 봐요 (Seems like they're going)
- Based on evidence
- More objective
- Conclusion from observation
-나 보다 vs -(으)ㄴ 것 같다
-(으)ㄴ 것 같다 (seems like):
- 간 것 같아요 (Seems like they went)
- Speculative
- Personal judgment
-았/었나 보다 (appears that):
- 갔나 봐요 (Appears they went)
- Evidence-based
- More definite conclusion
-나 보다 vs -(으)ㄹ 듯하다
-(으)ㄹ 듯하다 (seems like - formal):
- 갈 듯해요 (Seems like will go)
- More formal/literary
- Predictive
-나 보다 (appears - evidence):
- 가나 봐요 (Appears to be going)
- Based on current evidence
- More certain
Common Usage Situations
Observing Someone's State
Physical/emotional state:
- 아픈가 봐요 (Seems like they're sick)
- 피곤한가 봐요 (Seems like they're tired)
- 행복한가 봐요 (Seems like they're happy)
- 슬픈가 봐요 (Seems like they're sad)
Weather Inference
Based on signs:
- 비 오나 봐요 (Seems like it's raining)
- 눈 오나 봐요 (Seems like it's snowing)
- 추운가 봐요 (Seems like it's cold)
Absence/Presence
Noticing someone's status:
- 없나 봐요 (Seems like they're not here)
- 있나 봐요 (Seems like they're here)
- 갔나 봐요 (Seems like they left)
Reactions and Preferences
Inferring from behavior:
- 좋아하나 봐요 (Seems like they like it)
- 싫어하나 봐요 (Seems like they don't like it)
- 관심 있나 봐요 (Seems like they're interested)
With Question Words
Wondering About Reason
왜 + -나 보다:
- 왜 안 오나 봐요 (I wonder why they're not coming)
- 왜 그러나 봐요 (I wonder why they're like that)
Usage: Expressing puzzlement while drawing conclusion
Expressing Uncertainty Politely
Softening Statements
Less direct than stating facts:
- Direct: 바빠요 (They're busy)
- Indirect: 바쁜가 봐요 (Seems like they're busy)
Politeness: Shows humility, doesn't presume to know for certain
Past Observation
Looking at Results
Inferring from outcome:
- 공부 많이 했나 봐요 (Seems like they studied a lot - based on good grades)
- 잘 쉬었나 봐요 (Seems like they rested well - they look refreshed)
- 운동했나 봐요 (Seems like they exercised - they're sweaty)
Continuous Form
-(으)ㄴ가 보다
Ongoing state:
- 자고 있나 봐요 (Seems like they're sleeping)
- 먹고 있나 봐요 (Seems like they're eating)
- 공부하고 있나 봐요 (Seems like they're studying)
Structure: -고 있다 → -고 있나 보다
Common Expressions
Everyday Phrases
Frequently used:
- 그런가 봐요 (Seems like it's so / I guess so)
- 그렇지 않나 봐요 (Seems like it's not)
- 아닌가 봐요 (Seems like it's not)
- 맞나 봐요 (Seems like it's correct)
Acknowledging Information
When learning something new:
- 그렇군요, 바쁜가 봐요 (I see, seems like you're busy)
- 아, 안 오나 봐요 (Ah, seems like they're not coming)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 갈나 봐요 (wrong stem)
Using future stem with present pattern
✅ Correct: 가나 봐요 (present) OR 갈 것 같아요 (future guess)
Use present stem with -나 보다
❌ Incorrect: 좋나 봐요 (adjective like verb)
Wrong form for adjective
✅ Correct: 좋은가 봐요
Adjectives need -(으)ㄴ가 보다
❌ Incorrect: Using without evidence
Baseless speculation
✅ Correct: Use -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 for guesses
-나 보다 requires observable evidence
Summary Table
| Form | Structure | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present (verb) | V-나 보다 | 가나 봐요 | Seems like going |
| Present (adj) | A-(으)ㄴ가 보다 | 좋은가 봐요 | Seems good |
| Past | V-았/었나 보다 | 갔나 봐요 | Seems like went |
| Negative | 안 V-나 보다 | 안 가나 봐요 | Seems like not going |
| Continuous | V-고 있나 보다 | 자고 있나 봐요 | Seems like sleeping |
| Copula | N-인가 보다 | 학생인가 봐요 | Seems like a student |
When to Use -나 보다
Best for:
- Drawing conclusions from evidence ✓
- Observing situations ✓
- Polite indirectness ✓
- Current/recent observations ✓
Not ideal for:
- Wild guesses ✗
- Future predictions ✗
- No observable evidence ✗
Alternative: Use -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 for general speculation