-게 보이다
Seem, Appear
-게 보이다 means 'to look/seem/appear + adjective'. It's used to describe your impression of something based on how it looks. For example, '음식이 맛있게 보여요' means 'The food looks delicious'.
How It Works
-게 보이다 is a useful pattern for expressing your visual impression of a person, object, or situation. It's formed by attaching -게 to an adjective stem, followed by the verb 보이다.
Structure:
Adjective Stem + -게 보이다
Breakdown:
- Adjective Stem: The base form of the adjective without
-다. (e.g.,행복하다->행복하-) - -게: An adverbial ending that means '-ly' or 'in a... way'. It modifies the following verb.
- 보이다: The passive form of
보다(to see). It means 'to be seen', 'to appear', or 'to look'.
So, 행복하게 보이다 literally means 'to be seen happily' or 'to appear happy'.
Comparison with -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다:
While both can mean 'seems like', -게 보이다 is specifically based on visual evidence. You use it when you are describing what you see.
In contrast, -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다 is a more general expression of conjecture and can be based on any kind of evidence (hearing, smelling, a general feeling) or no evidence at all.
Conjugation:
The 보이다 part conjugates like any other verb.
- Present: 보여요 / 보입니다
- Past: 보였어요 / 보였습니다
- Future: 보일 거예요 / 보일 겁니다
Examples (4)
- 이 케이크는 정말 맛있게 보여요.
This cake looks really delicious.
Word by Word: This cake really deliciously looks.
- 오늘 좀 피곤하게 보여요. 괜찮아요?
You look a bit tired today. Are you okay?
Word by Word: Today a little tiredly look. Are you okay?
In conversation, this is often said as
피곤해 보여요. This form uses the related pattern -아/어 보이다 (피곤하(다) + -아/어 보이다->피곤해 보이다). This shows how-게 보이다and-아/어 보이다are often interchangeable. - 그 옷을 입으니까 더 날씬하게 보여요.
You look slimmer wearing those clothes.
Word by Word: Those clothes because you wear more slimly you look.
- 그 배우는 사진보다 실물이 더 젊게 보였어요.
That actor looked younger in person than in photos.
Word by Word: That actor than photos in-person more youngly looked.
Common Mistakes
Using -게 보이다 for non-visual impressions.
Not Quite전화 목소리를 들으니까 슬프게 보여요.Better전화 목소리를 들으니까 슬픈 것 같아요.-게 보이다is strictly for visual appearances. Since the clue is auditory (hearing a voice on the phone), you should use -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다 to express that someone 'sounds' sad.Attaching -게 보이다 to verbs.
Not Quite밖에 비가 오게 보여요.Better밖에 비가 오는 것 같아요.This pattern can only be used with adjectives. To say 'it looks like it's raining' (a verb action), you must use the pattern -는 것 같다.
Learn This First
To express 'seem/appear', you need adverbial forms and 보이다.
Related Patterns
- -아/어 보이다Seem to, Appear to
This pattern is very similar and often interchangeable with
-게 보이다. Both mean 'to look' or 'to seem'.-아/어 보이다is often used with adjectives describing a state or appearance (e.g.,젊어 보이다- to look young), while-게 보이다is slightly more versatile. - -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다Seems Like, Looks Like
This also means 'it seems like', but it's much broader. While
-게 보이다is based specifically on visual appearance, -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다 is used for guesses based on any kind of evidence (visual, auditory, etc.) or just a general feeling. It can also be used with verbs and nouns.