Korean grammar patterns › Level 3
-나 보다
it seems that, I guess (inference from what one sees)
Level 3 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
The speaker's guess based on evidence they observe. Verbs -나 보다, adjectives -(으)ㄴ가 보다 (in speech often -나 보다 too), nouns 인가 보다.
Forming it
| 오다 | → 오나 봐요 |
| 바쁘다 | → 바쁜가 봐요 |
| 학생 | → 학생인가 봐요 |
| 먹다 | → 먹었나 봐요 |
Not for what the speaker knows firsthand: ✗ (about your own plan) 제가 내일 가나 봐요.
Examples
밖에 비가 오나 봐요. 사람들이 우산을 쓰고 있어요.
It seems to be raining outside. People are using umbrellas.
그 친구가 요즘 많이 바쁜가 봐요.
My friend seems to be very busy these days.
Compared with similar patterns
-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 is a general guess and can also give one's own opinion. -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다 is close to -나 보다 but slightly more formal.