[Grammar Lesson] V + 나 보다 / A + (으)ㄴ가 보다 / N + 인가 보다: Used to express guess or assumption based on a situation
1. Expressing guess based on a situation (Present)
V + 나 보다 (for action verbs)
A + (으)ㄴ가 보다 (for descriptive adjectives)
N + 인가 보다 (for nouns)
is used when the speaker makes a guess or assumption based on what they see, hear, or feel. It can be translated as:
“It seems that…, I guess…, It looks like…, Apparently…”
Examples:
-
김 부장님은 매일 술을 드시네요. 술을 좋아하시나 봐요.
→ Manager Kim drinks every day. I guess he likes alcohol. -
옆집에서 고기 냄새가 나네요. 삼겹살을 먹나 봐요.
→ I smell meat from the neighbor’s house. They must be eating grilled pork. -
음식이 매운가 봐요. 메이 씨 얼굴이 빨개요.
→ The food seems spicy. Mei’s face is all red!
2. Used with 있다 / 없다
This structure also works with 있다 (to exist/have) and 없다 (to not exist/have).
Examples:
-
사람들이 웃으면서 극장에서 나오네요. 영화가 재미있나 봐요.
→ People are smiling as they leave the theater. The movie must be fun. -
오늘 진짜 많이 먹네요. 맛있나 봐요.
→ You ate a lot today. It must be delicious. -
에릭 씨는 여자 친구가 있나 봐요. 커플링을 끼고 있어요.
→ Eric must have a girlfriend. He’s wearing a couple ring.
3. Expressing guess in the past (았/었나 보다)
Use this form when talking about assumptions about past events.
Examples:
-
배가 많이 나온 걸 보니까 오늘 많이 먹었나 봐요.
→ Looking at your big belly, you must’ve eaten a lot today. -
수미 씨가 계속 기침을 하네요. 감기에 걸렸나 봐요.
→ Sumi keeps coughing. She must have caught a cold. -
늦잠 자는 걸 보니까 어제 많이 피곤했나 봐요.
→ Seeing you oversleep, you must’ve been really tired yesterday.
4. Talking about the future – (으)ㄹ 건가 보다
When guessing about a future action, use: (으)ㄹ 건가 보다
Examples:
-
민수 씨가 짐을 싸네요. 이사를 할 건가 봐요.
→ Minsu is packing. I guess he’s moving. -
날씨가 흐리네요. 비가 올 건가 봐요.
→ The sky is cloudy. Looks like it’s going to rain.
5. With Nouns – N + 인가 보다
When the preceding word is a noun, use 인가 보다
Examples:
-
말하는 걸 보니까 외국 사람인가 봐요.
→ Judging from how they speak, they must be a foreigner. -
저 사람이 영호 씨의 제일 친한 친구인가 봐요.
→ That person must be Young-ho’s best friend.
