'to seem' and 'be seen' with '보이다' — Korean Grammar

The verb (po·i·dabo·i·dapo·i·dapo·i·ta) is the passive and causative form of the verb (po·dabo·dapo·dapo·ta) - to see. While (po·dabo·dapo·dapo·ta) is an active action performed by a subject (I look at something), (po·i·dabo·i·dapo·i·dapo·i·ta) focuses on the object being visible or how it appears to others. It generally translates to "to be seen," "to be visible," or "to look/seem."

Expressing Visibility (To be seen)

When used on its own, (po·i·dabo·i·dapo·i·dapo·i·ta) indicates that something is visible to the speaker. In English, we typically say "I can see the mountain," focusing on the person's ability. In Korean, the grammar focuses on the object itself, literally meaning "The mountain is seen."

Because the object is the thing "being seen," it is marked with the subject particles (i) or (kagakaka), rather than the object particles (ŭl/rŭleul/rŭlŭl/rŭlul/rŭl).

칠판이 잘 보여요.
chʰil·pʰan·i jal po·yŏ·yo.chil·pan·i jal bo·yeo·yo.ch'il·p'an·i jal po·yŏ·yo.chil·phan·i cal po·ye·yo.
I can see the blackboard well. (Lit. The blackboard is seen well.)
아무것도 안 보여요.
a·mu·gŏt·do an po·yŏ·yo.a·mu·geot·do an bo·yeo·yo.a·mu·gŏt·do an po·yŏ·yo.a·mu·ket·to an po·ye·yo.
I can't see anything. (Lit. Anything is not seen.)

Describing Appearance (To look + Adjective)

One of the most common uses of (po·i·dabo·i·dapo·i·dapo·i·ta) is to express how something or someone looks based on visual evidence. This is equivalent to the English structure "You look [adjective]" or "It seems [adjective]."

To form this, you attach (-a) or (-ŏ-eo-ŏ-e) to the stem of an adjective, followed by (po·i·dabo·i·dapo·i·dapo·i·ta).

If the last vowel of the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ, add (-a po·i·da-a bo·i·da-a po·i·da-a po·i·ta).
For all other vowels, add (-ŏ po·i·da-eo bo·i·da-ŏ po·i·da-e po·i·ta).
For (ha·daha·daha·daha·ta) adjectives, it becomes (hæ po·i·dahae bo·i·dahae po·i·dahay po·i·ta).

이 케이크는 맛있어 보여요.
i kʰe·i·kʰŭ·nŭn ma·si·ssŏ po·yŏ·yo.i ke·i·keu·neun ma·si·sseo bo·yeo·yo.i k'e·i·k'ŭ·nŭn ma·si·ssŏ po·yŏ·yo.i khey·i·khu·nun ma·si·sse po·ye·yo.
This cake looks delicious.
오늘 피곤해 보여요.
o·nŭl pʰi·gon·hæ po·yŏ·yo.o·neul pi·gon·hae bo·yeo·yo.o·nŭl p'i·gon·hae po·yŏ·yo.o·nul phi·kon·hay po·ye·yo.
You look tired today.
그 옷은 비싸 보여요.
kŭ o·sŭn pi·ssa po·yŏ·yo.geu o·seun bi·ssa bo·yeo·yo.kŭ o·sŭn pi·ssa po·yŏ·yo.ku o·sun pi·ssa po·ye·yo.
That distinct clothes looks expensive.

To Show (Causative)

Because (po·i·dabo·i·dapo·i·dapo·i·ta) is also a causative verb, it can mean "to make someone see" or "to let someone see." In this context, it translates to "to show." When used this way, you use object particles because you are actively showing an item to someone.

여권을 보여 주세요.
yŏ·ggwŏn·ŭl po·yŏ ju·se·yo.yeo·ggwŏn·eul bo·yeo ju·se·yo.yŏ·ggwŏn·ŭl po·yŏ ju·se·yo.ye·ggwŏn·ul po·ye cu·sey·yo.
Please show me your passport.
사진을 보여 줄게.
sa·jin·ŭl po·yŏ jul·ge.sa·jin·eul bo·yeo jul·ge.sa·jin·ŭl po·yŏ jul·ge.sa·cin·ul po·ye cul·key.
I will show you the photo.

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