-(으)ㄹ 것 같다: How to Guess, Hedge, and Sound Polite in Korean
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · How we write & review
After this page, you can use -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 / -(으)ㄴ 것 같다 / -는 것 같다 to guess, hedge, and give opinions without sounding blunt.
10-second answer
The short answer
-(으)ㄹ 것 같다 (-(eu)l geot gatda) means "it seems like / I think / probably." 비가 올 것 같아요 (biga ol geot gatayo) = "It looks like it'll rain." But its real job is politeness: Koreans hedge opinions and even plans with it — 저는 못 갈 것 같아요 (jeoneun mot gal geot gatayo, "I don't think I can go") is the normal way to decline, where a flat 못 가요 (mot gayo) sounds abrupt.
Quick check — did that land?
1. Which form means 'It looks like it'll rain'?
Want to say I think it will rain? 같다 will be a perfect one for this.
The Three Forms
| Form | Time / meaning | Verb example | Adjective example |
|---|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 | Future guess, or a soft opinion about anything | 비가 올 것 같아요 (it'll probably rain) | 맛있을 것 같아요 (it looks tasty) |
| -는 것 같다 | Present — seems to be happening | 자는 것 같아요 (seems to be sleeping) | — (adjectives use -(으)ㄴ) |
| -(으)ㄴ 것 같다 | Present state (adjectives) / past (verbs) | 이미 간 것 같아요 (seems to have already left) | 바쁜 것 같아요 (seems busy) |
| -았/었을 것 같다 | Guess about the past | 벌써 도착했을 것 같아요 (they've probably arrived) | 힘들었을 것 같아요 (must have been hard) |
것 vs 거
것 is the dictionary form; 거 is how everyone says it. 갈 것 같아요 and 갈 거 같아요 are the same sentence — write 것 in anything formal, say 거.
See also: -(으)ㄴ/는데 Explained
Quick Examples
오늘은 좀 늦을 것 같아요.
oneureun jom neujeul geot gatayo.
I think I'll be a bit late today.
Your own plan, hedged — the standard polite heads-up text.
이 영화 재미있을 것 같아.
i yeonghwa jaemiisseul geot gata.
This movie looks like it'll be good.
Adjective + -을 것 같다 = a guess before experiencing it.
그 사람 한국어 잘하는 것 같아요.
geu saram hangugeo jalhaneun geot gatayo.
That person seems to speak Korean well.
Present -는 것 같다 — an observation about something ongoing. Koreans often reach for -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 even when they're fairly sure, to avoid stating their own opinion too directly. It's a habit that has grown over time; people didn't hedge like this as much in the past.
어제 많이 힘들었을 것 같아요.
eoje mani himdeureosseul geot gatayo.
That must have been really hard yesterday.
Past guess with -았/었을 것 같다 — also a warm, sympathetic thing to say.
죄송한데 저는 이번엔 못 갈 것 같아요.
joesonghande jeoneun ibeonen mot gal geot gatayo.
Sorry, I don't think I can make it this time.
The polite refusal formula: 죄송한데 + -(으)ㄹ 것 같다.
Why Koreans Hedge Things They Actually Know
English speakers hear 못 갈 것 같아요 and wonder whether the person is really unsure. They aren't — it's a courtesy. Stating your own preference or refusal as a bare fact can come across as imposing it on the listener, so -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 wraps it in a layer of "in my estimation." The same instinct produces 좋은 것 같아요 ("I think it's good") when someone means "it's good," and 아닌 것 같은데요 ("I don't think so…") as a gentle correction. Learn to add it to opinions, refusals, and evaluations of other people's things, and your Korean will instantly sound more considerate.
Compare the near-synonyms: -나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가 보다 is a guess from evidence you just noticed (불이 꺼져 있네, 자나 봐 — "the light's off, guess they're asleep"), and -겠- is a guess from general sense or sympathy (힘들겠다 — "that must be tough"). -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 is the neutral, all-purpose one and the safest default.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Wrong modifier for adjectives
바쁘는 것 같아요 ✗ → 바쁜 것 같아요 ✓ (present state) or 바쁠 것 같아요 ✓ (guess about later). Adjectives never take -는.
Mistake #2 — Stating refusals flat
안 가요 as an answer to an invitation sounds cold. 못 갈 것 같아요 is what a native would say.
Mistake #3 — Hedging facts you're responsible for
회의는 3시인 것 같아요 when you organized the meeting sounds evasive. Hedge opinions and predictions, not your own schedule.
Mini Quiz
2. Why would a Korean say 못 갈 것 같아요 instead of 못 가요?
3. Which is correct for 'That person seems busy'?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
-았/었으면 좋겠다: Wishing and Hoping in Korean
Guessing, then wishing — the next soft-spoken pattern for saying what you want without demanding it.
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