Expressing Uncertainty with '것 같다' — Korean Grammar

The phrase (kŏt gat·dageot gat·dakŏt gat·daket kat·ta) is one of the most common ways to express opinions, assumptions, or uncertainty in Korean. While it literally translates to "it is like the thing that...", it functions similarly to the English expressions "I think," "it seems," or "it looks like."

Using this pattern makes your speech sound softer and more polite, as it avoids direct assertions. The structure changes slightly depending on whether you are using an adjective or a verb, and which tense you are using.

Present Tense with Adjectives

To say that something "seems" a certain way (descriptive), attach (-(ŭ)n-(eu)n-(ŭ)n-(u)n) to the adjective stem, followed by (kŏt gat·dageot gat·dakŏt gat·daket kat·ta).

If the stem ends in a vowel: add (-n).
If the stem ends in a consonant: add (-ŭn-eun-ŭn-un).

이 옷이 비싼 것 같아요.
i os·i bi·ssan gŏt gat·a·yo.i os·i bi·ssan geot gat·a·yo.i os·i bi·ssan gŏt gat·a·yo.i os·i pi·ssan ket kat·a·yo.
This clothing seems expensive.
그 영화는 재미있는 것 같아요.
kŭ yŏng·hwa·nŭn jæ·mi·in·nŭn gŏt gat·a·yo.geu yeong·hwa·neun jae·mi·in·neun geot gat·a·yo.kŭ yŏng·hwa·nŭn jae·mi·in·nŭn gŏt gat·a·yo.ku yeng·hwa·nun cay·mi·in·nun ket kat·a·yo.
That movie seems interesting.

Present Tense with Verbs

When describing an action that seems to be happening right now, use (-nŭn-neun-nŭn-nun) with the verb stem, followed by (kŏt gat·dageot gat·dakŏt gat·daket kat·ta), regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or consonant.

밖에 비가 오는 것 같아요.
pakk·e bi·ga o·nŭn gŏt gat·a·yo.bakk·e bi·ga o·neun geot gat·a·yo.pakk·e bi·ga o·nŭn gŏt gat·a·yo.pakk·ey pi·ka o·nun ket kat·a·yo.
It seems like it is raining outside.
아기가 자는 것 같아요.
a·gi·ga ja·nŭn gŏt gat·a·yo.a·gi·ga ja·neun geot gat·a·yo.a·gi·ga ja·nŭn gŏt gat·a·yo.a·ki·ka ca·nun ket kat·a·yo.
It seems like the baby is sleeping.

Past Tense (Verbs)

To express that you think something happened in the past, use (-(ŭ)n-(eu)n-(ŭ)n-(u)n) with the verb stem, followed by (kŏt gat·dageot gat·dakŏt gat·daket kat·ta). This is the same shape used for present tense adjectives, so context is important, but the meaning here indicates a completed action.

수진 씨가 벌써 떠난 것 같아요.
su·jin ssi·ga bŏl·ssŏ ttŏ·nan gŏt gat·a·yo.su·jin ssi·ga beol·sseo ddeo·nan geot gat·a·yo.su·jin ssi·ga bŏl·ssŏ ttŏ·nan gŏt gat·a·yo.su·cin ssi·ka pel·sse tte·nan ket kat·a·yo.
It seems Sujin has already left.
지갑을 잃어버린 것 같아요.
chi·gab·ŭl ir·ŏ·bŏ·rin gŏt gat·a·yo.ji·gab·eul ir·eo·beo·rin geot gat·a·yo.chi·gab·ŭl ir·ŏ·bŏ·rin gŏt gat·a·yo.ci·kab·ul ir·e·pe·lin ket kat·a·yo.
I think I lost my wallet.

Future Tense and Conjecture

To express a guess about the future ("it looks like it will...") or a strong supposition, use (-(ŭ)l-(eu)l-(ŭ)l-(u)l) with the stem, followed by (kŏt gat·dageot gat·dakŏt gat·daket kat·ta).

내일 눈이 올 것 같아요.
næ·il nun·i ol gŏt gat·a·yo.nae·il nun·i ol geot gat·a·yo.nae·il nun·i ol gŏt gat·a·yo.nay·il nun·i ol ket kat·a·yo.
It looks like it will snow tomorrow.
사람들이 좋아할 것 같아요.
sa·ram·dŭr·i jo·a·hal gŏt gat·a·yo.sa·ram·deur·i jo·a·hal geot gat·a·yo.sa·ram·dŭr·i jo·a·hal gŏt gat·a·yo.sa·lam·tur·i co·a·hal ket kat·a·yo.
I think people will like it.

Spoken Forms

In daily conversation, the noun (kŏtgeotkŏtket) in (kŏt gat·dageot gat·dakŏt gat·daket kat·ta) is often shortened to (kŏgeokŏke) for ease of pronunciation. This is very common in spoken Korean but should be written as (kŏtgeotkŏtket) in formal writing.

비싼 거 같아요.
pi·ssan gŏ gat·a·yo.bi·ssan geo gat·a·yo.pi·ssan gŏ gat·a·yo.pi·ssan ke kat·a·yo.
It seems expensive. (Spoken)
할 거 같아요.
hal gŏ gat·a·yo.hal geo gat·a·yo.hal gŏ gat·a·yo.hal ke kat·a·yo.
I think I will do it. (Spoken)

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Korean course

10 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 65. A few of them, with the words “Expressing Uncertainty with '것 같다'” is about in bold:

다시 생각해 보니, 좋은 생각이 아닌 것 같아요.
ta·si sæng·ga·kʰæ bo ni, jo·ŭn sæng·gag·i a·nin gŏt gat·a·yo.da·si saeng·ga·kae bo ni, jo·eun saeng·gag·i a·nin geot gat·a·yo.ta·si saeng·ga·k'ae bo ni, jo·ŭn saeng·gag·i a·nin gŏt gat·a·yo.ta·si sayng·ka·khay po ni, co·un sayng·kag·i a·nin ket kat·a·yo.
On second thought, that is a bad idea.
Lesson 338
저는 이 식물을 사고 싶어요. 방에 두면 예쁠 것 같아요.
chŏ·nŭn i sing·mur·ŭl sa go sip·ŏ·yo. pang e du myŏn ye·ppŭl gŏt gat·a·yo.jeo·neun i sing·mur·eul sa go sip·eo·yo. bang e du myeon ye·bbeul geot gat·a·yo.chŏ·nŭn i sing·mur·ŭl sa go sip·ŏ·yo. pang e du myŏn ye·ppŭl gŏt gat·a·yo.ce·nun i sing·mur·ul sa ko sip·e·yo. pang ey tu myen yey·ppul ket kat·a·yo.
I want to buy this plant. It will look great in my room.
Lesson 384

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