-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 락/턱/듯
As if, As Though
Used to say 'as if' or 'as though' an action is occurring. It attaches to verbs and adjectives. For example, '비가 올 듯' means 'as if it's going to rain'.
How It Works
This advanced pattern provides a literary way to create similes for actions and states. It's formed by attaching a tense-marking ending to a verb or adjective stem, followed by one of three dependent nouns: 락, 턱, or 듯. While they all translate to 'as if' or 'as though', they have distinct nuances.
1. -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 듯
This is the most common and versatile of the three. It's often used interchangeably with -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 듯하다 and -듯이. It creates a general comparison, suggesting something appears to be in a certain state or performing an action.
- Present: Verb Stem + -는 듯 / Adjective Stem + -(으)ㄴ 듯
- Past: Verb/Adjective Stem + -(으)ㄴ 듯
- Future/Conjecture: Verb/Adjective Stem + -(으)ㄹ 듯
2. -ㄹ/을 락
This form is most frequently found in the pattern -ㄹ락 말락 하다, which means 'to be on the verge of doing something and then not' or 'to flicker/alternate'. It emphasizes a repeated or alternating state.
- Example: 보일락 말락 하다 (to be barely visible, to flicker in and out of sight)
3. -ㄹ/을 턱
Note: 턱 does NOT mean 'as if'. It is a bound noun meaning 'reason / grounds', used almost only in the negative frame -(으)ㄹ 턱이 없다 = 'there is no reason/way that...'.
- Example: 그가 그것을 알 턱이 없다 (there's no way he could know that)
To say 'shout as if one's throat would burst', use 듯이: 목이 터질 듯이 소리쳤다.
In many cases, these expressions are used adverbially to modify the main verb of the sentence.
Examples (5)
- 하늘에 먹구름이 낀 것이 곧 비가 쏟아질 듯했다.
The dark clouds in the sky looked as if it would pour rain at any moment.
Word by Word: In the sky dark clouds gathered which soon rain would pour as if it was.
Here, '-ㄹ 듯' is used with the verb 쏟아지다 (to pour) to describe the appearance of the sky, creating a strong visual image of impending rain.
- 그는 모든 것을 안다는 듯 자신만만하게 이야기했다.
He spoke confidently, as if he knew everything.
Word by Word: He everything knows as if confidently spoke.
'-는 듯' describes the manner of his speaking. It suggests his behavior gave the impression of knowing everything.
- 불빛이 멀리서 보일락 말락 했다.
The light was flickering in the distance, barely visible.
Word by Word: The light from afar be seen as if not be seen as if did.
The pattern '-ㄹ락 말락 하다' perfectly captures the alternating state of the light appearing and disappearing.
- 그가 그걸 알 턱이 없어요.
There's no way he could know that.
Word by Word: He throat would burst as if shouted.
턱 means 'reason/grounds', used in -(으)ㄹ 턱이 없다 = 'there is no reason/way that...'. It is not an 'as if' word.
- 그는 아무 일도 없었다는 듯 태연하게 행동했다.
He acted calmly, as if nothing had happened.
Word by Word: He any event also didn't exist as if calmly acted.
The past tense is incorporated using '-았다는 듯' to show that his calm behavior was contrary to something that had already occurred.
Common Mistakes
Using -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 듯 with nouns instead of -처럼.
Not Quite그는 배우 듯 잘생겼다.Better그는 배우처럼 잘생겼다.-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 듯 attaches to verb and adjective stems to describe an action or state. To say something is 'like a noun', you should use the particle -처럼.
Assuming 아는 듯 말했다 is wrong — it is actually natural.
Different Meaning어제 그는 모든 것을 몰랐던 듯 말했다.Better어제 그는 모든 것을 아는 듯 말했다.The past main verb 말했다 already sets the past time frame, so '아는 듯 말했다' is natural and correct ('spoke as if he knew'). Both 아는 듯 and 안다는 듯 are fine here, with only a subtle nuance.
Learn This First
To express similarity 'as if/as though', you need modifier forms and similarity patterns.
Related Patterns
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 듯하다It Seems/appears That
This is the adjectival form of the same expression and is often used interchangeably. '비가 올 듯하다' and '비가 올 듯' both mean 'It seems like it will rain.' -듯하다 functions as the main predicate of the sentence.
- -처럼/같이Like
Means 'like' or 'as', but it attaches to nouns, not verbs or adjectives. Use -처럼 to compare nouns (e.g., '천사처럼' - like an angel), and use -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 듯 to compare actions or states (e.g., '날아갈 듯' - as if flying).
- -ㄴ/는 척하다Pretend to
Means 'to pretend to'. While -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 듯 describes an appearance that may or may not be intentional, -ㄴ/는 척하다 specifically implies a deliberate act of faking. '아는 듯 말하다' (to speak as if one knows) vs. '아는 척하다' (to pretend to know).
- -나 보다It Seems/looks Like
This pattern also expresses supposition ('it seems/looks like'). However, -나 보다 is based more on direct observation and inference ('비가 오나 보다' - I see signs, so it looks like it's raining), while -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 듯 is more of a figurative simile or a feeling ('하늘이 울 듯 어두웠다' - The sky was dark as if it were crying).