LEARN + KOREAN / 109 of 125 TOPIK II

As If It Were Seen -듯이

A snowy town looks as though it belongs in a painting. The streets are covered, and voices can barely be heard. One pattern gives the comparison; passive verbs shift attention to what is seen, heard, or affected.

As Though Something Were True

Use -는 듯이 for an ongoing action, -(으)ㄴ 듯이 for a completed action or present adjective, and -(으)ㄹ 듯이 for an anticipated event: 아는 듯이, 놀란 듯이, 울 듯이. Nouns take -인 듯이. The comparison need not be literally true.

aineun da aneun deusi gogaereul kkeudeogyeosseoyo.

The child nodded as though they knew everything.

got biga ol deusi haneuri eoduwojyeosseoyo.

The sky grew dark as though it would rain soon.

What Is Seen, Heard, or Affected

Some verbs form a passive with -이-, -히-, -리-, or -기-: 보다 → 보이다, 닫다 → 닫히다, 듣다 → 들리다, 안다 → 안기다. Learn the passive with its base verb; you cannot reliably choose the suffix from the final consonant alone. The affected thing becomes the subject.

changmuni dachyeo isseoseo bakkui soriga jal an deullyeoyo.

The window is closed, so I can’t hear outside sounds well.

meolli nun deopin sani boyeoyo.

A snow-covered mountain is visible in the distance.

Hint · 힌트

-아/어 보이다 in 피곤해 보여요 means “look tired.” The passive verb 보이다 in 산이 보여요 means the mountain is visible. The same written verb participates in different constructions.

Vocabulary

Korean	English
끄덕이다 kkeudeogida	to nod
하늘 haneul	sky
닫히다 dachida	to be closed
들리다 deullida	to be audible
보이다 boida	to be visible
덮이다 deopida	to be covered
풍경 punggyeong	scenery
인상적이다 insangjeogida	to be impressive
떠 있다 tteo itda	to be floating
한눈에 hannune	at a glance
붐비다 bumbida	to be crowded
둘러싸이다 dulleossaida	to be surrounded
고층 빌딩 gocheung bilding	high-rise building
늘어서다 neureoseoda	to stand in a row
골목 golmok	alley
이어지다 ieojida	to be connected
펼쳐지다 pyeolchyeojida	to spread out
언덕 eondeok	hill
내려다보다 naeryeodaboda	to look down on
배 bae	boat

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