-ㄴ/는 셈 치다
Consider It as, Assume That
-ㄴ/는 셈 치다 is used when you decide to treat a situation as something it isn't, usually to simplify things or accept a negative outcome. It's like saying 'I'll just consider it as...' or 'Let's just pretend that...'
How It Works
This pattern expresses the speaker's decision to treat a situation as if it were a certain way, often contrary to the actual facts. It's a way of mentally reframing a situation for practical or emotional reasons.
Conjugation:
The form depends on the type of word (verb, adjective, or noun) and the tense of the action being considered.
1. Action Verbs
- Present Tense: Verb stem + -는 셈 치다
- 가는 셈 치다 (consider it as going)
- 먹는 셈 치다 (consider it as eating) - Past Tense: Verb stem + -ㄴ/은 셈 치다
- 간 셈 치다 (consider it as having gone)
- 먹은 셈 치다 (consider it as having eaten)
2. Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)
- Present Tense: Adjective stem + -ㄴ/은 셈 치다
- 예쁜 셈 치다 (consider it as pretty)
- 좋은 셈 치다 (consider it as good)
3. Nouns (with 이다)
- Noun + -인 셈 치다
- 휴가인 셈 치다 (consider it as a vacation)
Tense of the whole sentence: The overall tense (past, present, future) is usually expressed by conjugating the final verb, 치다. For example:
- Past: 잃어버린 돈은 기부한 셈 쳤어요. (I considered the lost money as a donation.)
- Future: 이번 시험은 연습인 셈 칠 거예요. (I will consider this exam as practice.)
Usage Nuances:
This expression is often used in situations where:
1. Accepting a loss or disappointment: When something bad happens (like losing money), you might use this pattern to mentally 'write it off' as something else (like a donation) to feel better.
2. Making do with something imperfect: If you buy something with a small flaw, you might 'consider it new' anyway.
3. Rounding up or simplifying: If a task is 99% complete, you might 'consider it done' and take a break.
It is distinct from -ㄴ/는 셈이다, which describes a situation that is factually equivalent to something else, and -다고 치다, which sets up a hypothetical premise for discussion.
Examples (5)
- 잃어버린 돈은 그냥 기부한 셈 칠게요.
I'll just consider the lost money as a donation.
Word by Word: The lost money I will just consider it as donated.
The speaker didn't actually donate the money, but decides to think of the loss in this way to feel better about it.
- 이 옷에 작은 흠이 있지만 그냥 새것인 셈 치고 입으려고요.
This shirt has a small flaw, but I'll just treat it as new and wear it.
Word by Word: On this clothing a small flaw exists but just I will treat it as a new thing and wear it.
- 일이 거의 다 끝났으니, 다 한 셈 치고 쉽시다.
The work is almost finished, so let's consider it done and take a break.
Word by Word: The work is almost all finished, so considering it as all done let's rest.
Even though the work isn't 100% complete, it's close enough to be treated as finished for the purpose of taking a break.
- 이번 시험에 떨어졌지만, 좋은 경험을 한 셈 치려고요.
I failed this exam, but I'm going to treat it as having had a good experience.
Word by Word: This exam I failed but, a good experience I did I am going to consider it as.
The speaker is reframing a negative outcome (failing) into a positive one (gaining experience).
- 이번 여행은 출장이었지만 휴가인 셈 치고 마음껏 즐겼어요.
This trip was for business, but I treated it like a vacation and enjoyed it to the fullest.
Word by Word: This trip was a business trip but I treated it as a vacation and enjoyed it to my heart's content.
Common Mistakes
Confusing -ㄴ/는 셈 치다 with -ㄴ/는 셈이다.
Different Meaning매일 10시간씩 일하면 하루의 반을 일하는 셈 쳐요.Better매일 10시간씩 일하면 하루의 반을 일하는 셈이에요.-ㄴ/는 셈이다 is used for factual calculations or equivalents ('it's practically...'). The correct sentence means 'If you work 10 hours a day, it's like working half the day.' Using -ㄴ/는 셈 치다 implies you are forcing yourself to consider it that way, which is unnatural for a simple calculation.
Using -ㄴ/는 셈 치다 instead of -다고 치다 for hypotheticals.
Different Meaning네가 복권에 당첨된 셈 치고, 제일 먼저 뭘 할 거야?Better네가 복권에 당첨됐다고 치고, 제일 먼저 뭘 할 거야?-다고 치다 is used to set up a hypothetical premise for a question or discussion ('Let's assume that...'). -ㄴ/는 셈 치다 is more about the speaker's personal decision to accept a situation. For posing a hypothetical question to someone else, -다고 치다 is the correct choice.
Learn This First
To express assumptions 'consider it as', you need modifier forms and approximation patterns.
Related Patterns
- -다고 치다Suppose That, Assuming
Both involve assumptions. However, -다고 치다 sets up a temporary, hypothetical premise for the sake of argument ('Let's say...'). -ㄴ/는 셈 치다 is about the speaker's personal, often more permanent, decision to view a real situation in a certain way.
- -ㄴ/는 척하다Pretend to
-는 척하다 means 'to pretend' and usually implies a deceptive outward action (e.g., pretending to be asleep). -ㄴ/는 셈 치다 is an internal, mental decision to 'consider' something as true and doesn't necessarily involve deceiving others.
- -(으)ㄹ걸 그랬다I Should Have Done
-ㄹ걸 그랬다 expresses regret ('I should have...'). It can set up a situation where the speaker then uses -ㄴ/는 셈 치다 to cope with the regrettable outcome. For example, after saying 'I should have bought the other one,' you might say, 'Oh well, I'll just consider this a lesson learned (교훈을 얻은 셈 쳐야지).'