-스럽다
Seems Like, -ish
-스럽다 is a suffix that turns a noun into an adjective, giving it the quality of that noun. For example, '사랑' (love) becomes '사랑스럽다' (lovely).
How It Works
-스럽다 is a very useful suffix that transforms a noun into a descriptive adjective. It indicates that something or someone possesses the characteristics or evokes the feeling of the noun it's attached to.
Key Functions:
1. Adds a Quality/Feeling: It's used to describe a state or appearance. For example, '자랑' means 'pride' or 'a boast'. '자랑스럽다' means 'to be proud' or 'praiseworthy'.
2. Noun to Adjective: It's a productive way to create new adjectives from nouns.
Common Nouns Used with -스럽다:
- 사랑 (love) → 사랑스럽다 (to be lovely, adorable)
- 자랑 (pride) → 자랑스럽다 (to be proud, praiseworthy)
- 자연 (nature) → 자연스럽다 (to be natural)
- 걱정 (worry) → 걱정스럽다 (to be worrisome, concerning)
- 부담 (burden) → 부담스럽다 (to be burdensome)
- 실망 (disappointment) → 실망스럽다 (to be disappointing)
- 만족 (satisfaction) → 만족스럽다 (to be satisfactory)
- 어른 (adult) → 어른스럽다 (to be mature, adult-like)
Conjugation (ㅂ Irregular):
Adjectives ending in -스럽다 follow the 'ㅂ' irregular conjugation rule, which is also seen in words like 덥다 (hot) and 춥다 (cold). When followed by a vowel (like in the -아/어요 ending), the 'ㅂ' changes to '우'.
- 사랑스럽다 + -어요 → 사랑스러 + 우 + 어요 → 사랑스러워요 (is lovely)
- 자랑스럽다 + -었어요 → 자랑스러 + 우 + 었어요 → 자랑스러웠어요 (was proud)
- 자연스럽다 + -(으)ㄴ → 자연스러운 (natural)
Examples (5)
- 그 강아지는 정말 사랑스러워요.
That puppy is so lovely.
Word by Word: That puppy really is lovely.
- 아들이 상을 받아서 정말 자랑스러워요.
I'm so proud because my son received an award.
Word by Word: Son an award received so really am proud.
- 그 배우의 연기는 아주 자연스러웠어요.
That actor's performance was very natural.
Word by Word: That actor's acting very was natural.
- 결과가 실망스러웠지만 다시 도전할 거예요.
The result was disappointing, but I'm going to try again.
Word by Word: Result was disappointing but again will challenge.
- 너무 비싼 선물은 좀 부담스러워요.
Such an expensive gift feels a bit burdensome.
Word by Word: Too expensive gift a little is burdensome.
Common Mistakes
Incorrectly conjugating -스럽다 as a regular adjective.
Not Quite그 아이는 정말 사랑스럽아요.Better그 아이는 정말 사랑스러워요.-스럽다 is a 'ㅂ' irregular adjective. When you add a vowel ending like -아요/어요, the 'ㅂ' changes to '우', which then combines with '어' to become '워'. So, it becomes -스러워요, not -스럽아요.
Confusing -스럽다 with -답다.
Not Quite그는 정말 남자스러워요.Better그는 정말 남자다워요.While both create adjectives from nouns, -답다 means 'to be befitting of' a certain role or noun (e.g., 남자답다 - manly, 학생답다 - like a student should be). -스럽다 is used for more abstract qualities or feelings. For 'man', -답다 is the natural choice to mean 'manly'.
Learn This First
To express qualities 'seems like/-ish', you need adjective conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -답다Like, Befitting
Both are suffixes that turn nouns into adjectives. However, -답다 means 'befitting of a role/status' (e.g., 학생답다 - befitting a student), while -스럽다 means 'having the quality/feeling of' an abstract noun (e.g., 사랑스럽다 - lovely).
- Irregular verb patterns
-스럽다 is a key example of the 'ㅂ' irregular pattern. Understanding irregular patterns is essential for correctly conjugating adjectives like 사랑스럽다 into forms like 사랑스러워요.
- -ㄴ/은Adjective Noun Modifier
This is the adjectival ending used to make -스럽다 adjectives modify nouns directly. For example, 사랑스럽다 becomes '사랑스러운' to describe a noun, as in '사랑스러운 강아지' (a lovely puppy).
- -게-ly (Adverbial Form)
This particle turns adjectives, including those made with -스럽다, into adverbs. For example, '자연스럽다' (to be natural) becomes '자연스럽게' (naturally), as in '자연스럽게 행동하세요' (Please act naturally).