TL;DR 🦄
- 🌫️ -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 [-(eu)l deut-ha-da] means it seems like it will... / it looks likely to... / it appears about to...
- It is mainly used for a future or near-future guess based on signs, situation, or the speaker’s judgment.
- It is softer and more literary/formal than -(으)ㄹ 것 같다, and less evidence-heavy than -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다.
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use 
Korean Helper Widgets to hear 비가 올 듯해요, 곧 끝날 듯해요, 울 듯해요, 늦을 듯해요, and 괜찮을 듯해요. Listen for the soft “it looks likely” feeling. 🎧
🌈 The Big Picture
-(으)ㄹ 듯하다 is a Korean soft prediction / appearance-based guess pattern.
Use it when something seems likely to happen soon, or when the speaker gently predicts an outcome:
- Dark clouds → “It looks like it will rain.”
- Someone’s eyes are red → “They look like they’re about to cry.”
- The meeting is almost done → “It seems like it will end soon.”
- The plan looks reasonable → “It seems like it will be okay.”
Examples:
- 하늘이 어두워요. 비가 올 듯해요.
[ha-neu-ri eo-du-wo-yo. bi-ga ol deu-tae-yo] — The sky is dark. It looks like it will rain. 🌧️
하늘 = sky; 어둡다 = to be dark; 비 = rain.
- 회의가 거의 끝났어요. 곧 끝날 듯해요.
[hoe-ui-ga geo-ui kkeun-na-sseo-yo. got kkeun-nal deu-tae-yo] — The meeting is almost finished. It seems like it will end soon. 🕒
회의 = meeting; 거의 = almost; 곧 = soon.
- 아이가 울 듯한 얼굴이에요.
[a-i-ga ul deu-tan eol-gu-ri-e-yo] — The child has a face like they are about to cry. 😢
아이 = child; 울다 = to cry; 얼굴 = face.
The feeling is not “I know.” It is “it appears likely.” 🌫️
🎨 The Core -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 Family
1. Vowel stem + ㄹ 듯하다
Use this when the stem ends in a vowel.
- 오다 [o-da] — to come → 올 듯하다 — it seems someone/something will come
- 가다 [ga-da] — to go → 갈 듯하다 — it seems someone will go
- 끝나다 [kkeun-na-da] — to end → 끝날 듯하다 — it seems it will end
- 괜찮다 [gwaen-chan-ta] — to be okay → 괜찮을 듯하다 — it seems it will be okay
2. Consonant stem + 을 듯하다
Use this when the stem ends in a consonant.
- 먹다 [meok-da] — to eat → 먹을 듯하다 — it seems someone will eat
- 늦다 [neut-da] — to be late → 늦을 듯하다 — it seems someone will be late
- 좋다 [jo-ta] — to be good → 좋을 듯하다 — it seems it will be good
- 많다 [man-ta] — to be many/much → 많을 듯하다 — it seems there will be many
3. ㄹ-ending stems: keep ㄹ + 듯하다
Do not add another 을.
- 살다 [sal-da] — to live → 살 듯하다
- 멀다 [meol-da] — to be far → 멀 듯하다
- 힘들다 [him-deul-da] — to be hard/tiring → 힘들 듯하다
4. Noun + 일 듯하다
Use 일 듯하다 after nouns.
- 문제 — problem → 문제일 듯하다 — it seems it will be a problem
- 휴일 — holiday → 휴일일 듯하다 — it seems it will be a holiday
- 실수 — mistake → 실수일 듯하다 — it seems it will be a mistake
🛠️ How It Works in Sentences
-(으)ㄹ 듯하다 often describes a prediction from clues, but the clue can be visual, situational, or just the speaker’s careful judgment.
Examples:
- 구름이 많아서 곧 비가 올 듯해요.
[gu-reu-mi ma-na-seo got bi-ga ol deu-tae-yo] — There are many clouds, so it looks like it will rain soon. ☁️
- 이 문제는 시간이 좀 걸릴 듯해요.
[i mun-je-neun si-ga-ni jom geol-lil deu-tae-yo] — This problem seems like it will take some time. 🧩
- 분위기를 보니 회의가 길어질 듯해요.
[bun-wi-gi-reul bo-ni hoe-ui-ga gi-reo-jil deu-tae-yo] — Judging by the atmosphere, the meeting seems likely to get long. 📝
You can also use it before a noun as -(으)ㄹ 듯한:
- 울 듯한 얼굴 — a face that looks like it is about to cry
- 터질 듯한 가방 — a bag that looks like it is about to burst
🧩 General Formation Rule
Vowel stems
Remove 다, then add ㄹ 듯하다.
- 오다 → 올 듯하다
- 가다 → 갈 듯하다
- 끝나다 → 끝날 듯하다
- 하다 → 할 듯하다
Consonant stems
Remove 다, then add 을 듯하다.
- 먹다 → 먹을 듯하다
- 늦다 → 늦을 듯하다
- 좋다 → 좋을 듯하다
- 많다 → 많을 듯하다
ㄹ stems
Keep the existing ㄹ, then add 듯하다.
- 멀다 → 멀 듯하다
- 힘들다 → 힘들 듯하다
- 살다 → 살 듯하다
Nouns
Noun + 일 듯하다
- 문제 → 문제일 듯하다
- 실수 → 실수일 듯하다
- 휴일 → 휴일일 듯하다
Spacing note
Write 듯하다 separately from the modifier:
- ✅ 비가 올 듯해요
- ✅ 곧 끝날 듯해요
- ✅ 문제일 듯해요
- ❌ 비가올듯해요
🚨 Nuance: Soft, Literary, and Predictive
-(으)ㄹ 듯하다 is often softer and more polished than -(으)ㄹ 것 같다.
Compare:
- 비가 올 것 같아요. — I think it will rain. Natural everyday speech.
- 비가 올 듯해요. — It seems likely to rain. Softer, a bit more written/literary.
It can also feel like something is about to happen:
- 아이가 울 듯해요. — The child looks like they are about to cry.
- 가방이 터질 듯해요. — The bag looks like it is about to burst.
Because it is gentle and indirect, it is useful for careful opinions, predictions, and descriptions.
🔍 -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 vs Related Grammar
-(으)ㄹ 듯하다
Soft prediction / seems likely to happen.
- 비가 올 듯해요. — It looks like it will rain.
-(으)ㄹ 것 같다
Everyday “I think / it seems.” More common in casual speech.
- 비가 올 것 같아요. — I think it will rain.
-나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가 보다
Evidence-based inference, often conversational.
- 비가 오나 봐요. — I guess it is raining / looks like it is raining.
-(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다
Inference from appearance/signs, a little more objective.
- 비가 온 모양이에요. — It appears that it rained.
-(으)ㄴ/는 듯하다
General “seems / appears” for present or completed states/actions.
- 집에 없는 듯해요. — It seems they are not home.
-(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다
Strong obvious prediction; much more certain and often critical.
- 늦을 게 뻔해요. — It’s obvious they’ll be late.
📚 Cross-check note
Supposition based on Sight: -(으)ㄴ/는 듯하다Vague Recollection: -(으)ㄴ/는 듯하다Based on Evidence: -나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가 보다Supposition: -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다
🪞 Synonym Alert
Possible English translations:
- “seems likely to...” → 성공할 듯해요. — It seems likely to succeed.
- “looks like it will...” → 비가 올 듯해요. — Looks like it will rain.
- “appears about to...” → 울 듯해요. — They look about to cry.
- “probably will...” → 곧 끝날 듯해요. — It will probably end soon.
Useful context words:
- 곧 — soon
- 아마 — probably
- 분위기를 보니 — judging by the atmosphere
- 하늘을 보니 — looking at the sky
⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge
- ❌ 비가 오을 듯해요 → ✅ 비가 올 듯해요.
- ❌ 먹ㄹ 듯해요 → ✅ 먹을 듯해요.
- ❌ 힘들을 듯해요 → ✅ 힘들 듯해요.
- ❌ 문제 듯해요 → ✅ 문제일 듯해요.
- ❌ Using -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 when you want a confirmed fact → ✅ Use a direct statement.
- ❌ Treating it as exactly the same as -나 보다 → ✅ -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 is especially useful for soft future prediction.
🎉 Now you can make soft, polished predictions in Korean: 비가 올 듯해요, 곧 끝날 듯해요, 괜찮을 듯해요. Future-guessing mist unlocked. 🌫️✨
Try this exercise
Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 form.
1. 오다 → 곧 비가 ＿＿＿＿.
[o-da → got bi-ga ＿＿＿＿]
It seems like rain will come soon. 🌧️
Answer
올 듯해요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 듯해요.
2. 끝나다 → 회의가 곧 ＿＿＿＿.
[kkeun-na-da → hoe-ui-ga got ＿＿＿＿]
The meeting seems like it will end soon. 🕒
Answer
끝날 듯해요.
3. 늦다 → 오늘은 좀 ＿＿＿＿.
[neut-da → o-neu-reun jom ＿＿＿＿]
Today it seems like they will be a bit late. ⏰
Answer
늦을 듯해요.
4. 힘들다 → 혼자 하면 ＿＿＿＿.
[him-deul-da → hon-ja ha-myeon ＿＿＿＿]
If you do it alone, it seems like it will be hard. 💪
Answer
힘들 듯해요 — ㄹ stem keeps ㄹ.
5. 문제 → 그건 ＿＿＿＿.
[mun-je → geu-geon ＿＿＿＿]
That seems like it will be a problem. 🧩
Answer
문제일 듯해요.
6. Choose “It looks like it will rain”:
① 비가 올 듯해요 / ② 비가 온 모양이에요
Answer
① — future/predictive -(으)ㄹ 듯하다.
7. Choose “It appears that it rained”:
① 비가 올 듯해요 / ② 비가 온 모양이에요
Answer
② — completed inference with 모양이다.
8. ❌ 먹ㄹ 듯해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹을 듯해요.
9. ❌ 만들을 듯해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
만들 듯해요.
10. -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 is strongest when:
Answer
You want a soft prediction: “it seems likely to / looks about to.”
Vocabulary Box
- 오다 → to come
- 비 → rain
- 끝나다 → to end
- 회의 → meeting
- 늦다 → to be late
- 힘들다 → to be hard/tiring
- 혼자 → alone
- 문제 → problem
- 먹다 → to eat
- 만들다 → to make
Tip 💡 Think: future-looking, soft, polished guess.
Want more reps? The Practice Hub below gives you a full -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 workout. 🌫️
🎯 Practice Hub — It seems/appears: -(으)ㄹ 듯하다
Welcome to the soft-prediction lab. 🌫️ You’ll practice making careful future guesses from signs, situations, and judgment: rain, lateness, endings, difficulty, plans, and near-future actions.
🔊 Audio reminder: Use Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a sentence aloud.
Exercise 1 — Form Builder 🔧
A. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿ 듯해요
Answer
갈 듯해요.
B. 오다 → ＿＿＿＿ 듯해요
Answer
올 듯해요.
C. 먹다 → ＿＿＿＿ 듯해요
Answer
먹을 듯해요.
D. 늦다 → ＿＿＿＿ 듯해요
Answer
늦을 듯해요.
E. 끝나다 → ＿＿＿＿ 듯해요
Answer
끝날 듯해요.
F. 힘들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 듯해요
Answer
힘들 듯해요.
G. 멀다 → ＿＿＿＿ 듯해요
Answer
멀 듯해요.
H. 좋다 → ＿＿＿＿ 듯해요
Answer
좋을 듯해요.
I. 괜찮다 → ＿＿＿＿ 듯해요
Answer
괜찮을 듯해요.
J. 문제 noun → ＿＿＿＿ 듯해요
Answer
문제일 듯해요.
Form Box
- Vowel stem → ㄹ 듯해요
- Consonant stem → 을 듯해요
- ㄹ stem → keep ㄹ + 듯해요
- Noun → 일 듯해요
Exercise 2 — Read the Situation 🌦️
A. 하늘이 어두워요. 비가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
올 듯해요. — The sky is dark, so it looks like it will rain.
B. 회의가 거의 끝났어요. 곧 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
끝날 듯해요.
C. 길이 막혀요. 좀 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
늦을 듯해요.
D. 혼자 하면 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
힘들 듯해요.
E. 사람이 너무 많아요. 오래 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
기다릴 듯해요.
F. 계획이 괜찮아요. 잘 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
될 듯해요.
G. 가방이 너무 무거워요. 터질 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
듯해요.
H. 표정이 안 좋아요. 울 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
듯해요.
I. 가격을 보니 좀 비쌀 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
듯해요.
J. 시간이 부족해요. 오늘 끝내기 어려울 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
듯해요.
Vocabulary Box
- 하늘 → sky
- 어둡다 → to be dark
- 길이 막히다 → for traffic to be jammed
- 혼자 → alone
- 계획 → plan
- 잘되다 → to go well
- 터지다 → to burst
- 표정 → facial expression
- 가격 → price
- 부족하다 → to be insufficient
Exercise 3 — Soft, Strong, or Evidence-Based? 🔍
A. “It looks like it will rain.”
① 비가 올 듯해요 / ② 비가 온 모양이에요
Answer
① — soft future prediction.
B. “It appears that it rained.”
① 비가 올 듯해요 / ② 비가 온 모양이에요
Answer
② — completed inference from evidence.
C. “It’s obvious they’ll be late.”
① 늦을 듯해요 / ② 늦을 게 뻔해요
Answer
② — strong obvious prediction.
D. “It seems they’ll be late.”
① 늦을 듯해요 / ② 늦을 게 뻔해요
Answer
① — softer prediction.
E. “I think it will be okay.”
① 괜찮을 것 같아요 / ② 괜찮을 게 뻔해요
Answer
① — general everyday guess.
F. More polished “It seems it will be okay”:
① 괜찮을 듯해요 / ② 괜찮나 봐요
Answer
① — polished soft prediction.
G. “I guess they are busy” from no reply:
① 바쁜가 봐요 / ② 바쁠 듯해요
Answer
① — evidence-based inference about current state.
H. “It seems they will be busy tomorrow”:
① 바쁜가 봐요 / ② 바쁠 듯해요
Answer
② — future prediction.
I. “Looks like they are about to cry”:
① 울 듯해요 / ② 운 모양이에요
Answer
① — about-to-happen feeling.
J. “It seems they cried”:
① 울 듯해요 / ② 운 모양이에요
Answer
② — completed inference.
Decision Box
- 올 듯해요 → seems likely to come/rain
- 온 모양이에요 → seems to have come/rained
- 올 것 같아요 → I think it will come/rain
- 올 게 뻔해요 → it is obvious it will come/rain
- 오나 봐요 → I guess it is coming/raining
Exercise 4 — Rewrite with -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 ✍️
A. 비가 올 것 같아요. → ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
비가 올 듯해요.
B. 회의가 곧 끝날 것 같아요. → ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
회의가 곧 끝날 듯해요.
C. 오늘은 늦을 것 같아요. → ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
오늘은 늦을 듯해요.
D. 혼자 하면 힘들 것 같아요. → ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
혼자 하면 힘들 듯해요.
E. 이 방법이 좋을 것 같아요. → ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
이 방법이 좋을 듯해요.
F. 사람이 많을 것 같아요. → ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
사람이 많을 듯해요.
G. 가방이 터질 것 같아요. → ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
가방이 터질 듯해요.
H. 곧 연락이 올 것 같아요. → ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
곧 연락이 올 듯해요.
I. 그건 문제일 것 같아요. → ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
그건 문제일 듯해요.
J. 괜찮을 것 같아요. → ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
괜찮을 듯해요.
Vocabulary Box
- 방법 → method
- 연락 → contact
- 괜찮다 → to be okay
- 터지다 → to burst
- 문제 → problem
Tip 💡 The meaning is close to -(으)ㄹ 것 같다, but -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 feels softer and more polished.
Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️
A. ❌ 오을 듯해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
올 듯해요.
B. ❌ 먹ㄹ 듯해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹을 듯해요.
C. ❌ 힘들을 듯해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
힘들 듯해요.
D. ❌ 문제 듯해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
문제일 듯해요.
E. 비가 올 듯해요 means:
Answer
It seems like it will rain / it looks likely to rain.
F. 울 듯한 얼굴 means:
Answer
A face that looks like it is about to cry.
G. Choose the polished soft prediction: ① 끝날 듯해요 / ② 끝난 모양이에요
Answer
① — seems like it will end.
H. Choose the completed inference: ① 끝날 듯해요 / ② 끝난 모양이에요
Answer
② — appears to have ended.
I. Choose the strong prediction: ① 늦을 듯해요 / ② 늦을 게 뻔해요
Answer
② — obvious/bound to be late.
J. -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 is strongest when:
Answer
You want to express a soft future prediction or “about to happen” appearance.
Final Check
- Vowel: 올 듯해요, 갈 듯해요
- Consonant: 먹을 듯해요, 늦을 듯해요
- ㄹ stem: 힘들 듯해요, 멀 듯해요
- Noun: 문제일 듯해요
- Noun modifier: 울 듯한 얼굴
Tip 💡 For everyday speech, -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 is common. For a softer, more polished tone, use -(으)ㄹ 듯해요.
🎉 Soft-prediction grammar mastered! With -(으)ㄹ 듯하다, you can say things seem likely, appear about to happen, or feel gently predictable: 비가 올 듯해요, 곧 끝날 듯해요, 괜찮을 듯해요. 🌫️✨
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