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The Korean expression 「모양이다」 is used to infer what is probably happening based on what you can see, hear, or already know. In Chinese, it is often translated as “看來,” “好像,” or “看樣子,” but what really determines when it is used is that there are usually already some clues behind the judgment.

If there is a long line outside a restaurant, you might look at the crowd and say 「맛있는 모양이에요」, meaning the food seems to be good. If you arrive at a shop and find all the lights turned off, you could also say 「벌써 문을 닫은 모양이에요」, inferring that the shop may already have closed. In both cases, you have not directly confirmed the answer; you are simply making an inference from the situation in front of you.

「모양이다」 also changes depending on when the inferred event takes place. The adnominal form used before it differs for something happening now, something that has already happened, and something that is expected to happen next based on present signs. Separating “where the clues come from” from “what time the inference refers to” makes the pattern much easier to distinguish than simply memorizing translations such as “it seems” or “apparently.”

What does the Korean 「모양이다」 mean? Using clues to say “it seems” or “apparently”

「모양이다」 expresses an inference that something is happening, has already happened, or is likely to happen next based on other facts, actions, or surrounding circumstances. In Chinese, it is commonly translated as “看來……,” “好像……,” or “看樣子……,” leaving room for the fact that the speaker has not personally confirmed it.

「모양」 itself is a noun, and adding 「이다」 forms 「모양이다」. In this construction, it does not refer to physical shape or appearance. Instead, the preceding adnominal form provides the content of the inference, which is why structures such as 「가는 모양이다」, 「바쁜 모양이다」, and 「학생인 모양이다」 appear. In writing, there should be a space between the preceding adnominal form and 「모양이다」.

• Example:  다들 우산을 쓰고 있네요. 비가 오는 모양이에요.
  Romanization: da-deul u-san-eul sseu-go it-ne-yo. bi-ga o-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Everyone has an umbrella up.
  It looks like it’s raining.
  The fact that everyone is carrying an umbrella is the visible clue, and from that situation the speaker infers that it is raining.
• Example:  표정이 밝은 걸 보니 좋은 일이 있는 모양이에요.
  Romanization: pyo-jeong-i bal-geun geol bo-ni jo-eun i-ri it-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Judging by that happy expression, it looks like something good happened.
  The speaker does not directly know what happened, but infers from the person’s expression that there may be good news behind it.
• Example:  명찰을 보니 이분은 직원인 모양이에요.
  Romanization: myeong-cha-reul bo-ni i-bu-neun ji-gwon-in mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Judging by the name tag, this person appears to be a staff member.
  The name tag provides the clue for identifying the person, and the noun 「직원」 is followed by 「인 모양이다」.

How to attach 「모양이다」 to verbs, adjectives, and nouns

Before 「모양이다」, the preceding word must first be changed into an adnominal form. The form depends on both the part of speech and the time being inferred. For a verb describing an action happening now, use 「-는 모양이다」. For a completed action, use 「-(으)ㄴ 모양이다」. For a future inference, use 「-(으)ㄹ 모양이다」. Adjectives describing a present state generally take 「-(으)ㄴ 모양이다」, while nouns take 「-인 모양이다」.

What it attaches to	Form	Example	Meaning
Verb, present	V＋는 모양이다	가다 → 가는 모양이다	It looks like someone is going / is about to go
Verb, completed	V＋(으)ㄴ 모양이다	가다 → 간 모양이다	It looks like someone has already gone
Verb, future	V＋(으)ㄹ 모양이다	가다 → 갈 모양이다	It looks like someone will go next
Adjective, present	A＋(으)ㄴ 모양이다	바쁘다 → 바쁜 모양이다	It looks like someone is busy
있다／없다 type	있는／없는 모양이다	맛있다 → 맛있는 모양이다	It looks delicious
Noun	N＋인 모양이다	학생 → 학생인 모양이다	It looks like the person is a student

The forms most easily confused are the verb patterns 「-는／-(으)ㄴ／-(으)ㄹ」. For example, 「가는 모양이에요」 is based on what someone is currently doing, 「간 모양이에요」 infers from the result that the person has already left, and 「갈 모양이에요」 infers from preparations that the person will probably leave next. All three may be translated similarly as “it looks like” in English, but what actually changes in Korean is the time of the inferred event.

Adjectives, however, do not all take 「-는」 in the same way as present-tense verbs. Ordinary adjectives use 「-(으)ㄴ 모양이다」, as in 「바쁜 모양이다」 and 「조용한 모양이다」. 「있다」 and 「없다」, along with adjectives ending in them, use forms such as 「있는／없는」, as in 「맛있는 모양이다」 and 「재미없는 모양이다」.

How to use 「모양이다」 for the present, past, and future: choosing the form by time

「모양이다」 is not limited to saying that something “seems” to be happening in front of you. You can also infer something in the past from a result you can see now, or predict what will happen next from preparations that are already underway. Identifying the time first and then choosing the appropriate adnominal form is much easier than trying to memorize all the forms at once.

Usage ①｜Inferring something that is happening now from the situation in front of you

For an action that is currently in progress, 「V-는 모양이다」 is commonly used. Expressions such as 「-걸 보니」 and 「-는 걸 보니」, meaning roughly “seeing that…” or “judging by…,” often appear before it to introduce the clue, but the basis for the inference does not have to be stated explicitly in every sentence. It can be omitted when the context already makes it clear.

• Example:  사람들이 밖에서 기다리는 걸 보니 아직 준비하는 모양이에요.
  Romanization: sa-ram-deu-ri bak-kke-seo gi-da-ri-neun geol bo-ni a-jik jun-bi-ha-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Seeing everyone waiting outside, it looks like they are still getting ready inside.
  The people waiting outside are the basis for the inference, and the speaker concludes that the shop or venue is still preparing.
• Example:  계속 기침하는 걸 보니 감기에 걸린 모양이에요.
  Romanization: gye-sok gi-chim-ha-neun geol bo-ni gam-gi-e geol-lin mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Seeing how the person keeps coughing, it looks like they have a cold.
  The coughing is the external clue, while 「걸린」 indicates that the state of having caught a cold has already come about.
• Example:  가게 앞에 사람이 많은 걸 보니 음식이 맛있는 모양이에요.
  Romanization: ga-ge a-pe sa-ram-i ma-neun geol bo-ni eum-sik-i ma-sit-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Seeing so many people outside the shop, it looks like the food is good.
  This is not an evaluation made after eating the food. Instead, the speaker infers from the crowd that the restaurant’s food may be popular.

Usage ②｜Inferring something that has already happened from the result

Completed actions commonly use 「V-(으)ㄴ 모양이다」. These sentences are much like seeing a trace left behind and reasoning backward about what must have happened earlier. Resulting states such as 「길이 젖어 있다」, 「불이 꺼져 있다」, and 「사람이 없다」 therefore often serve as clues.

• Example:  길이 젖어 있는 걸 보니 밤에 비가 온 모양이에요.
  Romanization: gi-ri jeo-jeo it-neun geol bo-ni ba-me bi-ga on mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Seeing that the road is wet, it looks like it rained last night.
  What the speaker can see now is the wet road, while the inferred event is the rain that already occurred earlier.
• Example:  불이 다 꺼진 걸 보니 벌써 문을 닫은 모양이에요.
  Romanization: bu-ri da kkeo-jin geol bo-ni beol-sseo mu-neul da-deun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: All the lights are off, so it looks like they have already closed.
  The lights being off is the situation that can currently be confirmed, while 「닫은 모양이다」 infers that the act of closing has already been completed.
• Example:  책상 위에 커피가 없는 걸 보니 이미 다 마신 모양이에요.
  Romanization: chaek-sang wi-e keo-pi-ga eom-neun geol bo-ni i-mi da ma-sin mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: The coffee on the desk is gone, so it looks like it has already been finished.
  The missing coffee is the result, and that result is used to infer the earlier action.

Usage ③｜Inferring what will happen next from preparations or signs

For future inferences, use 「V-(으)ㄹ 모양이다」. In these cases, some preparation, change, or direction of development is usually already visible. Rather than merely predicting that something “might happen,” the speaker judges from the current signs that events are likely to move in that direction.

• Example:  하늘이 많이 어두워졌어요. 곧 비가 올 모양이에요.
  Romanization: ha-neu-ri ma-ni eo-du-wo-jyeo-sseo-yo. got bi-ga ol mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: The sky has gotten very dark.
  It looks like it’s going to rain soon.
  The darkening sky is the basis for the inference, and 「올 모양이다」 places the judgment on rain that may occur next.
• Example:  직원들이 의자를 정리하는 걸 보니 곧 문을 닫을 모양이에요.
  Romanization: ji-gwon-deu-ri ui-ja-reul jeong-ni-ha-neun geol bo-ni got mu-neul da-deul mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Seeing the staff put away the chairs, it looks like they are about to close.
  Putting away the seating is a sign that business is about to end, so the future form is used.
• Example:  짐을 다 싸 놓은 걸 보니 내일 출발할 모양이에요.
  Romanization: ji-meul da ssa no-eun geol bo-ni nae-il chul-bal-hal mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Seeing that all the luggage is packed, it looks like they are leaving tomorrow.
  The luggage has already been packed, leading the speaker to infer a plan to leave the following day.

What is the difference between 「모양이다」, 「것 같다」, 「-나 보다」, and 「듯하다」?

「모양이다」, 「것 같다」, 「-나 보다」, and 「듯하다」 can all turn a statement into something like “it seems,” “it looks like,” or “apparently.” The real difference lies in what the speaker bases the judgment on and how they choose to present that judgment. 「모양이다」 often develops an inference from something already seen, heard, or known. 「것 같다」 has the broadest range: it can be used when there are concrete clues, but it can also express a personal feeling, opinion, or uncertain thought. 「-나 보다」 likewise often involves situational clues and is especially well suited to expressing a reaction that arises after noticing something in conversation. 「듯하다」 also expresses inference, but sentences with it are often more concise and are frequently used to state an observation-based judgment in a somewhat more restrained way.

Comparison	「모양이다」	「것 같다」	「-나 보다」	「듯하다」
Basic meaning	It looks like… / Apparently…	It seems… / I think…	It looks like… / Apparently…	It seems… / Apparently…
Typical basis for the inference	Visible signs, information heard, known circumstances	Clues, personal feelings, impressions, or opinions	Something seen, heard, or just noticed	Observation, judgment, or the overall situation
Are clear external clues required?	There is usually some identifiable basis for the judgment	Not necessarily	There is usually some basis for the judgment	The clue does not necessarily have to be stated
Feel when speaking	Organizes the current situation into an inference	Broadly expresses that something seems to be the case	Reacts to or notices something in the immediate situation	States the inference more concisely
Use in conversation	Can be used	Very common	Very common	Can be used, and also common in narrative writing
Personal opinion / subjective feeling	Usually not its main use	Very common	Not well suited to directly stating one’s own clearly known inner feelings or intentions	Can express a more reserved judgment
Common situations	Inferring a popular restaurant from a crowd, inferring that a shop has closed from the lights being off, inferring what will happen next from preparations	Opinions, feelings, predictions, uncertain judgments	Guessing a cause or result immediately after noticing a situation	Narrative, analysis, inferences after observation
Common English rendering	It looks like… / Apparently…	It seems… / I think…	It looks like… / Apparently… / I guess…	It seems… / Apparently…
Example	밖에 비가 오는 모양이에요.	밖에 비가 오는 것 같아요.	밖에 비가 오나 봐요.	밖에 비가 오는 듯해요.
Nuance of the example	Infers from the current situation that it is raining outside	Feels that it is probably raining outside without necessarily emphasizing the basis	Reacts to some sign and concludes that it must be raining outside	States more concisely that it seems to be raining outside

▌「모양이다」 vs 「것 같다」｜Inferring from the situation vs a broader range of use

Both 「모양이다」 and 「것 같다」 can be based on actual clues, so the two cannot simply be divided into “with evidence” and “without evidence.” The difference is closer to what is foregrounded when the inference is made. 「모양이다」 often suggests that some situation has already appeared and that the speaker reaches a conclusion after observing those signs. 「것 같다」 is broader and can naturally be used even without such clear external clues, including for personal feelings, opinions, or uncertain predictions.

For example, if you see people coming indoors with wet umbrellas, 「밖에 비가 오는 모양이에요」 gives a stronger sense of “judging from the current situation.” 「밖에 비가 오는 것 같아요」 is also perfectly possible, but the sentence simply expresses that it seems to be raining outside without specifically directing the listener’s attention to the basis of the inference.

• Example: 사람들이 젖은 우산을 들고 들어오는 걸 보니 밖에 비가 오는 모양이에요.
  Romanization: sa-ram-deu-ri jeo-jeun u-sa-neul deul-go deu-reo-o-neun geol bo-ni ba-kke bi-ga o-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Seeing everyone come in with wet umbrellas, it looks like it’s raining outside.
  The preceding situation, “everyone is coming in with wet umbrellas,” is the source of the judgment, and 「모양이다」 links the observed situation to the inference that follows.
• Example: 오늘 오후에는 비가 올 것 같아요.
  Romanization: o-neul o-hu-e-neun bi-ga ol geot ga-ta-yo.
  Translation: I think it might rain this afternoon.
  This sentence simply expresses a current prediction. There is no need to first explain “what I saw that made me think this,” so 「것 같다」 is very natural here.

▌「모양이다」 vs 「-나 보다」｜Both rely on clues, but the sense of reaction is different

「모양이다」 and 「-나 보다」 are actually quite close, and both are commonly used to infer something from what has been seen, heard, or otherwise known. It is not appropriate to divide them rigidly into “formal” and “spoken” forms, because both can appear in real conversation. A more noticeable difference is that 「-나 보다」 often appears together with an immediate reaction to something the speaker has just noticed, giving a sense of “Oh, I guess that’s what’s going on.” 「모양이다」 is more like calmly stating an inference after looking at the situation as it stands.

For example, if you walk into a building and notice that everyone’s umbrella is wet, 「밖에 비가 오나 봐요」 sounds like a natural reaction to what you have just noticed. 「밖에 비가 오는 모양이에요」 sounds more like a judgment based on those signs. Neither sentence means that the speaker has personally confirmed that it is actually raining outside, so both still retain an element of inference.

• Example: 사람들이 우산을 들고 들어오는 걸 보니 밖에 비가 오는 모양이에요.
  Romanization: sa-ram-deu-ri u-sa-neul deul-go deu-reo-o-neun geol bo-ni ba-kke bi-ga o-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: Seeing everyone come in carrying umbrellas, it looks like it’s raining outside.
  This sentence takes “everyone is coming in carrying umbrellas” as the material for the judgment and then reaches the conclusion that it is raining outside. The tone is more like stating the result of an observation.
• Example: 어? 다들 우산이 젖었네요. 밖에 비가 오나 봐요.
  Romanization: eo? da-deul u-sa-ni jeo-jeot-ne-yo. ba-kke bi-ga o-na bwa-yo.
  Translation: Oh?
  Everyone’s umbrellas are wet. I guess it’s raining outside.
  The sentence first presents something the speaker has just noticed, and 「-나 보다」 then expresses the inference that has just arisen from it. This is very natural in everyday conversation.

▌「모양이다」 vs 「듯하다」｜Reaching a conclusion from signs vs stating an inference concisely

Both 「모양이다」 and 「듯하다」 can show that the speaker does not regard something as a completely confirmed fact. 「모양이다」 often connects the inference closely to the preceding situation, as though the speaker sees a result, sign, or circumstance and then judges what is probably happening. 「듯하다」 can state a piece of content directly as an inference without necessarily emphasizing exactly which clue led to it.

「듯하다」 also commonly appears in narration, analysis, or relatively restrained expressions. For example, writing 「회의는 이미 끝난 듯하다」 means that the meeting seems to have already ended. If the preceding context specifically says that the meeting-room lights are off and everyone has left, followed by 「끝난 모양이다」, the sense of reasoning backward from the present situation to the result becomes more apparent.

• Example: 회의실 불이 꺼져 있고 사람도 없는 걸 보니 회의가 끝난 모양이에요.
  Romanization: hoe-ui-sil bu-ri kkeo-jyeo it-go sa-ram-do eom-neun geol bo-ni hoe-ui-ga kkeun-nan mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: The meeting-room lights are off and no one is there, so it looks like the meeting has already ended.
  The sentence uses the lights being off and the absence of people as the basis for the inference, then reasons backward that the meeting has probably already ended.
• Example: 회의는 이미 끝난 듯해요.
  Romanization: hoe-ui-neun i-mi kkeun-nan deu-tae-yo.
  Translation: The meeting seems to have already ended.
  The sentence directly presents “the meeting has already ended” as the current inference without needing to separately explain the source of the judgment within that sentence.

▌「것 같다」 vs 「-나 보다」｜A general “I think / it seems” vs a new judgment based on the situation

「것 같다」 covers a much wider range of situations than 「-나 보다」. You can use 「것 같다」 when you personally think one thing is better, when you guess that it may rain tomorrow, or when you feel that something may be wrong with your health. 「-나 보다」 is more likely to appear when the speaker sees or hears something and then infers another fact from that external information.

For this reason, 「-나 보다」 is not very suitable for directly stating an intention or inner feeling that you yourself clearly know. For example, if you feel unwell, you can say 「감기에 걸린 것 같아요」 to mean that you think you may have a cold. If you see a coworker coughing continuously and say 「감기에 걸렸나 봐요」, however, you are inferring from the other person’s behavior that they may have a cold.

• Example: 저는 감기에 걸린 것 같아요.
  Romanization: jeo-neun gam-gi-e geol-lin geot ga-ta-yo.
  Translation: I think I have a cold.
  The speaker is describing their own current assessment of their physical condition, and 「것 같다」 is very natural for this kind of personal feeling.
• Example: 민수 씨가 계속 기침을 하네요. 감기에 걸렸나 봐요.
  Romanization: min-su ssi-ga gye-sok gi-chi-meul ha-ne-yo. gam-gi-e geol-lyeot-na bwa-yo.
  Translation: Minsu keeps coughing.
  It looks like he has a cold.
  The speaker does not know Minsu’s actual diagnosis. They simply see him coughing continuously and infer that he may have a cold.

▌「것 같다」 vs 「듯하다」｜Everyday feelings and judgments vs a more restrained statement of inference

Both 「것 같다」 and 「듯하다」 can express a judgment that is not completely certain, and in many situations they really can be interchanged. 「것 같다」 has a very broad range in everyday conversation, covering everything from subjective feelings and personal opinions to inferences based on a situation. 「듯하다」 also means “it seems” or “apparently,” but its sentences are often more condensed and are frequently used to state a judgment reached through observation or analysis.

Accordingly, saying 「문제가 생각보다 어려운 것 같아요」 feels much like an everyday statement such as “I feel like the problem is harder than I expected.” Saying 「문제가 예상보다 어려운 듯합니다」 does not completely change the content, but the sentence sounds more like an organized judgment based on the result currently being observed. This is a usage tendency, not a rule that 「듯하다」 can only appear in writing.

• Example: 이 문제는 생각보다 어려운 것 같아요.
  Romanization: i mun-je-neun saeng-gak-bo-da eo-ryeo-un geot ga-ta-yo.
  Translation: This problem seems harder than I expected.
  「것 같다」 works very naturally for directly expressing a personal impression that arose after working on the problem, and it also fits ordinary conversation.
• Example: 이 문제는 예상보다 어려운 듯해요.
  Romanization: i mun-je-neun ye-sang-bo-da eo-ryeo-un deu-tae-yo.
  Translation: This problem seems more difficult than expected.
  This is likewise a judgment, but 「듯하다」 makes the sentence somewhat more concise and creates slightly more distance between the speaker and the judgment.

▌「-나 보다」 vs 「듯하다」｜An immediate inference after seeing something vs a calmer statement of judgment

Both 「-나 보다」 and 「듯하다」 can be used to say “it looks like that’s the case” based on the current situation, but the two patterns feel somewhat different in actual conversation. 「-나 보다」 is well suited to immediately voicing a guess after noticing a new situation, so it often follows reactions such as “Oh?” or “Why is everyone…?” 「듯하다」 more easily removes that immediate reaction and leaves only the content of the judgment: “As things stand, this is probably the case.”

For example, if you see many people suddenly looking out the window, you can say 「밖에 무슨 일이 있나 봐요」 on the spot, which feels like you have noticed something unusual and started guessing the reason. Saying 「밖에서 무슨 일이 생긴 듯해요」 sounds more like stating the conclusion reached after observing the situation.

• Example: 사람들이 다 밖을 보고 있네요. 밖에 무슨 일이 있나 봐요.
  Romanization: sa-ram-deu-ri da ba-kkeul bo-go it-ne-yo. ba-kke mu-seun i-ri in-na bwa-yo.
  Translation: Everyone is looking outside.
  I guess something is happening out there.
  The speaker has just noticed everyone’s reaction and then uses 「-나 보다」 to express the inference that arose on the spot.
• Example: 사람들이 모두 창밖을 보고 있는 걸 보면 밖에서 무슨 일이 생긴 듯해요.
  Romanization: sa-ram-deu-ri mo-du chang-ba-kkeul bo-go in-neun geol bo-myeon ba-kke-seo mu-seun i-ri saeng-gin deu-tae-yo.
  Translation: Seeing everyone looking out the window, it seems that something has happened outside.
  This sentence is also based on observation, but 「듯하다」 makes the tone more even and places the focus on the final judgment.

▌The same “it’s raining outside” situation: how the four patterns differ in nuance

Suppose you are indoors and have not gone outside to check the weather directly, but you notice that everyone coming in has a wet umbrella. All four patterns can express the idea that “it seems to be raining outside.” The difference lies in how the speaker handles the inference. 「모양이다」 treats signs such as wet umbrellas as evidence for the judgment. 「것 같다」 simply says broadly that the speaker currently thinks it is raining outside. 「-나 보다」 is especially natural as an immediate reaction when the speaker has just noticed the wet umbrellas. 「듯하다」 states the inference more concisely.

• Example: 밖에 비가 오는 모양이에요.
  Romanization: ba-kke bi-ga o-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: It looks like it’s raining outside.
  If wet umbrellas, people soaked by the rain, or other signs have already been noticed, using 「모양이다」 naturally conveys the sense of “judging from the current situation.”
• Example: 밖에 비가 오는 것 같아요.
  Romanization: ba-kke bi-ga o-neun geot ga-ta-yo.
  Translation: It seems to be raining outside.
  This pattern has the broadest range. The judgment may come from visible signs, or it may simply be an impression formed after hearing the sound of rain. There is no need to specifically emphasize the basis of the judgment.
• Example: 밖에 비가 오나 봐요.
  Romanization: ba-kke bi-ga o-na bwa-yo.
  Translation: I guess it’s raining outside.
  This works especially well at the moment you see everyone coming in with wet umbrellas, as a natural inference made from newly noticed circumstances.
• Example: 밖에 비가 오는 듯해요.
  Romanization: ba-kke bi-ga o-neun deu-tae-yo.
  Translation: It seems to be raining outside.
  This still preserves the sense that the situation has not been completely confirmed, but rather than directly expressing an immediate reaction, it sounds more like a calm statement of the judgment reached so far.

How is 「모양이다」 used in everyday Korean conversation? Three common situations

「모양이다」 is well suited to everyday conversation when you want to say, “Judging from the situation right now, this is probably what’s going on.” The speaker usually has not confirmed the answer directly. Instead, they first see, hear, or know something and then use those clues to infer what has happened. If you arrive at a café and discover that all the lights are off, you might guess that it is closed for the day. If a hotel lobby suddenly fills with people carrying luggage, you might infer that a group of guests has already arrived. If people start lining up at a boarding gate, you can also infer from the situation that boarding may be about to begin. In actual use, the form before 「모양이다」 changes with the time being inferred: 「V-는 모양이다」 for an action happening now, 「V-(으)ㄴ 모양이다」 for something already completed, and 「V-(으)ㄹ 모양이다」 for something expected to happen next based on current signs.

▌Situation ①｜The café lights are all off, so you infer that it is closed today

A：어? 카페 문이 닫혀 있고 불도 다 꺼져 있네요.
　　eo? ka-pe mu-ni da-chyeo it-go bul-do da kkeo-jyeo in-ne-yo.
　　Oh? The café door is closed, and all the lights are off too.

B：오늘은 쉬는 모양이에요.
　　o-neu-reun swi-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
　　It looks like they’re closed today.

📌 Grammar Point: 「쉬는 모양이에요」 is an inference made after seeing that the door is closed and the lights are off. It does not mean the speaker has already seen the shop’s holiday notice and knows for certain that it is closed that day. Here, 「쉬다」 describes the current state of “being closed / not operating,” so 「쉬는 모양이다」 is used. In everyday conversation, the situation used as the basis for 「모양이다」 often appears before the expression. In this dialogue, “the door is closed” and “all the lights are off” are the reasons the speaker thinks the café is closed today.

▌Situation ②｜The hotel lobby suddenly becomes crowded, so you infer that a group of guests has arrived

A：로비에 갑자기 사람이 많아졌네요. 짐도 정말 많아요.
　　ro-bi-e gap-ja-gi sa-ra-mi ma-na-jyeot-ne-yo. jim-do jeong-mal ma-na-yo.
　　The lobby suddenly got really crowded. There’s a lot of luggage too.

B：단체 손님이 도착한 모양이에요.
　　dan-che son-ni-mi do-cha-kan mo-yang-i-e-yo.
　　It looks like a group of guests has arrived.

📌 Grammar Point: 「도착한 모양이에요」 does not describe the action of arriving as it is happening. Instead, after seeing the sudden appearance of many people and pieces of luggage in the lobby, the speaker reasons backward that “the group of guests must already have arrived.” Because the inferred event 「도착하다」 has already been completed, 「V-(으)ㄴ 모양이다」 is used, producing 「도착한 모양이다」. This usage often appears when a result is already visible and the speaker infers what happened earlier from that result—for example, seeing a completely wet floor and guessing that it rained a little while ago, or seeing that all the food on the table is gone and guessing that everyone has already eaten.

▌Situation ③｜A line forms at the boarding gate, so you infer that boarding is about to begin

A：사람들이 갑자기 줄을 서기 시작했네요.
　　sa-ram-deu-ri gap-ja-gi ju-reul seo-gi si-ja-kaet-ne-yo.
　　People suddenly started lining up.

B：곧 탑승을 시작할 모양이에요.
　　got tap-seung-eul si-ja-kal mo-yang-i-e-yo.
　　It looks like boarding is about to start.

📌 Grammar Point: 「시작할 모양이에요」 uses the fact that people have started lining up as a clue to infer that boarding will probably begin next. Boarding has not yet started at the moment of speaking, so 「V-(으)ㄹ 모양이다」 is used to express a judgment about something likely to happen afterward based on signs that are already visible. Sentences like this often appear with 「곧」 or 「이제」. For example, if you see staff beginning to put away tables and chairs, you might infer that the shop is 「곧 문을 닫을 모양이에요」. If you see people gradually entering a meeting room, you might likewise infer that the meeting is 「곧 시작할 모양이에요」.

Additional usage notes:

1. 「모양이다」 is generally not a baseless guess. There is usually already some situation that can be used as the basis for the judgment. In everyday conversation, it often appears with 「걸 보니」 to state the reason for the inference directly. For example, 「사람들이 우산을 쓰고 다니는 걸 보니 비가 오는 모양이에요」 means that the speaker sees everyone carrying umbrellas and therefore infers that it is raining outside. As in the dialogues above, another sentence can first describe the situation and then be followed by 「모양이에요」. The clue and the inference do not have to be packed into the same sentence every time.
2. Even with the same 「모양이다」, the form that comes before it tells you what time the inference refers to. 「사람들이 안에서 기다리는 모양이에요」 means the speaker thinks people are waiting inside now. 「사람들이 벌써 들어간 모양이에요」 infers from the current situation that everyone has already gone inside. 「사람들이 곧 들어갈 모양이에요」 means they will probably go inside soon. All three may be rendered with “it looks like” in English, but Korean marks the time difference directly through 「-는／-(으)ㄴ／-(으)ㄹ」.
3. 「모양이다」 expresses inference, so there is no need to use it if the situation has already been personally confirmed. For example, if you have already seen a notice reading 「오늘 휴무」 at the entrance to a café, you can simply say 「오늘은 쉬어요」 because the fact that the café is closed that day has already been confirmed. If you have only seen that the door is not open and the lights are off, without knowing the actual reason, 「오늘은 쉬는 모양이에요」 is appropriate. In everyday use, first consider whether the speaker’s information is “already confirmed” or “inferred from the current situation,” because the tone differs between the two.

How does Korean 「모양이다」 compare with Japanese 「〜ようだ／らしい」?

Korean 「모양이다」 and Japanese 「〜ようだ」 and 「〜らしい」 can all be translated into Chinese as “看來,” “好像,” or “似乎,” so they can easily look like the same set of grammar patterns once translated. In actual use, however, the three expressions do not rely on exactly the same kinds of information. 「모양이다」 often expresses an inference based on something currently seen, heard, or already known. The inferential use of Japanese 「〜ようだ」 also often makes a judgment based on visible signs, observations, or information at hand, so many sentences with 「모양이다」 are quite close to 「〜ようだ」. 「〜らしい」 can also express inference, but it very often appears when the information has not been personally confirmed and instead comes from something another person said, a report, or some other indirect source.

For this reason, neither 「모양이다＝〜ようだ」 nor 「모양이다＝〜らしい」 can be fixed as a one-to-one translation. If you see that a shop door is closed and all the lights are off and infer from the scene that “it seems to be closed today,” Japanese 「〜ようだ」 is usually very natural. If you heard a staff member say that the shop was unexpectedly closed today and later pass that information on, 「〜らしい」 is more likely to appear. Korean may use an inferential expression in both situations, but 「모양이다」 itself tends to make the listener look for “what current circumstances led the speaker to this judgment.”

◆ Similar grammar: 「〜ようだ」

One use of Japanese 「〜ようだ」 is to make an inference based on the information currently available, and in this respect it is quite close to Korean 「모양이다」. For example, you might see that the lights in a shop are off and the door is closed and infer that it is not open today, or see that no one remains in a meeting room and infer that the meeting has probably ended. In both languages, the judgment can proceed from the situation visible in front of you.

However, 「〜ようだ」 has a broader range than Korean 「모양이다」. In addition to inference, Japanese can use 「〜ようだ」 for simile and similarity. For example, 「雪のように白い」 means “white like snow,” which has no direct connection with the inferential Korean 「모양이다」. When comparing Korean and Japanese, you therefore need to first determine whether 「〜ようだ」 is actually expressing an inference rather than replacing every instance of 「ようだ」 with 「모양이다」.

• Example: 오늘은 카페가 쉬는 모양이에요.
  Romanization: o-neu-reun ka-pe-ga swi-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: It looks like the café is closed today.
  In Japanese, you can say 「今日はカフェが休みのようです」.
• Example: 회의가 벌써 끝난 모양이에요.
  Romanization: hoe-ui-ga beol-sseo kkeun-nan mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: It looks like the meeting has already ended.
  In Japanese, you can say 「会議はもう終わったようです」.
• Example: 곧 비가 올 모양이에요.
  Romanization: got bi-ga ol mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: It looks like it’s going to rain soon.
  In Japanese, you can say 「もうすぐ雨が降るようです」.

◆ Similar grammar: 「〜らしい」

Japanese 「〜らしい」 can also mean things such as “it seems,” “I hear,” or “apparently,” so some sentences with 「모양이다」 can also be translated using 「〜らしい」. However, 「〜らしい」 very often carries the sense of information obtained indirectly—for example, hearing something from another person, learning it from a report, or reaching a judgment by combining information that was not personally confirmed. In Chinese, both situations may still be translated as “好像,” but this is not exactly the same as simply inferring from something visible in front of you.

For example, if you are in a hotel lobby and directly see many people suddenly arrive with luggage, then infer that a group of guests seems to have arrived, Japanese 「〜ようだ」 is easy to understand in that context. If a front-desk employee tells you that a tour group has just arrived and you later mention it to someone traveling with you, 「〜らしい」 fits the indirect-information context better.

• Example: 단체 손님이 도착한 모양이에요.
  Romanization: dan-che son-ni-mi do-cha-kan mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: It looks like a group of guests has arrived.
  If the judgment is based on the crowd in front of you, Japanese can use 「団体客が到着したようです」.
• Example: 단체 손님이 도착한 모양이에요.
  Romanization: dan-che son-ni-mi do-cha-kan mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: It looks like a group of guests has arrived.
  If the information came from hotel staff, Japanese may instead use 「団体客が到着したらしいです」.
• Example: 민수 씨가 회사를 그만둔 모양이에요.
  Romanization: min-su ssi-ga hoe-sa-reul geu-man-dun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: It looks like Minsu has left the company.
  Depending on the source of the information, Japanese can use either 「ミンスさんは会社を辞めたようです」 or 「ミンスさんは会社を辞めたらしいです」.

◆ Difference between Japanese 「〜ようだ」 and Korean 「모양이다」:

Korean 「모양이다」 and the inferential use of Japanese 「〜ようだ」 overlap considerably. Both can be used to say that something “seems to be the case” based on some phenomenon or currently available information. They are especially easy to match in situations where you reason backward from a result, judge what is currently happening from the present situation, or predict what will happen next based on current signs.

However, the two grammar patterns do not have the same range of use. Japanese 「〜ようだ」 can express not only inference but also simile and similarity. For example, 「子どものように笑う」 means “to laugh like a child,” and this use of “like…” cannot be directly matched with Korean 「모양이다」. Conversely, when Korean 「모양이다」 appears, it usually deals with an inference the speaker has reached from the current situation, so there is no need to bring in the other meanings of Japanese 「ようだ」.

• Example: 밖에 비가 오는 모양이에요.
  Romanization: ba-kke bi-ga o-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: It looks like it’s raining outside.
  In Japanese, you can say 「外は雨が降っているようです」.
• Example: 그 아이는 천사처럼 웃어요.
  Romanization: geu a-i-neun cheon-sa-cheo-reom u-seo-yo.
  Translation: That child smiles like an angel.
  In Japanese, you can say 「その子は天使のように笑います」.

◆ Difference between Japanese 「〜らしい」 and Korean 「모양이다」:

Both Japanese 「〜らしい」 and Korean 「모양이다」 can make a sentence less than a direct assertion, but Japanese 「〜らしい」 very often appears with indirect information. When information comes from a friend, coworker, news report, shop employee, or another source and you then say something like “I hear that’s the case,” 「〜らしい」 is natural. Korean 「모양이다」 more readily leads the listener to look at the surrounding context for “what circumstances made the speaker reach that judgment.”

Japanese 「らしい」 also has a use meaning that someone or something has the typical qualities associated with a category. For example, 「春らしい天気」 means “spring-like weather,” and 「子どもらしい」 can mean “childlike” or “typical of a child.” This meaning of 「らしい」 is not inferential and cannot be translated as Korean 「모양이다」.

• Example: 지수가 오늘 안 오는 모양이에요.
  Romanization: ji-su-ga o-neul an o-neun mo-yang-i-e-yo.
  Translation: It looks like Jisoo isn’t coming today.
  If the meeting has been underway for quite a while and Jisoo still has not appeared, Japanese can use 「ジスさんは今日は来ないようです」.
• Example: 지수가 오늘 안 온대요.
  Romanization: ji-su-ga o-neul an on-dae-yo.
  Translation: I heard Jisoo isn’t coming today.
  In Japanese, you can say 「ジスさんは今日は来ないらしいです」.

◆ Difference from Japanese 「〜ようだ／らしい」:

Korean 「모양이다」 is easiest to understand alongside the inferential use of Japanese 「〜ようだ」 because both frequently make judgments from what the speaker currently sees, hears, or otherwise knows. Seeing that all the lights are off and guessing the shop is closed today, seeing a lobby full of luggage and inferring that a group of guests has arrived, or seeing people begin to line up and guessing that boarding is about to start are all situations where 「모양이다」 and 「〜ようだ」 can convey a sense of “judging from the current situation, this is probably the case.”

「〜らしい」 and 「모양이다」 also overlap, but they cannot simply be treated as the same grammar pattern. 「〜らしい」 often deals with indirectly obtained information, so if the source is something another person said, something heard from someone else, or information learned elsewhere, Japanese naturally uses 「〜らしい」. Korean may use an inferential form in such situations, but it may also use hearsay patterns such as 「-다고 하다」 or 「-대요」. In addition, when 「〜らしい」 means “having the typical qualities of something,” as in 「春らしい」 or 「学生らしい」, it does not correspond to 「모양이다」.

When comparing Korean and Japanese in actual use, first look at how the information was obtained. If the speaker is making an inference from visible signs or the current situation, 「모양이다」 and the inferential 「〜ようだ」 are usually relatively close. If the speaker receives information from someone else and then says that it is apparently the case, Japanese 「〜らしい」 appears more often, while Korean depends on whether the sentence is making an inference or reporting hearsay. Rather than memorizing 「모양이다＝ようだ／らしい」 as a fixed equivalence, distinguishing “judgment from the situation in front of you” from “information learned indirectly” comes closer to how the two languages actually differ in use.

There are two things to check when deciding how to use Korean 「모양이다」. First, look for a clue in the sentence that leads to the inference. Then determine when the inferred event takes place. Use 「V-는 모양이다」 for an action happening right now, 「V-(으)ㄴ 모양이다」 when you see a result and infer something that has already happened, and 「V-(으)ㄹ 모양이다」 when you judge from the current situation that something is likely to happen next.

Compared with other patterns meaning “it seems” or “it looks like,” 「모양이다」 often appears in contexts where some clues have already been revealed. There is a long line, so you infer that the food must be good. The road is wet, so you infer that it rained during the night. The staff start putting away chairs, so you infer that the shop is about to close. Asking first, “What situation did this inference come from?” usually makes the distinction clearer than simply memorizing an English translation.

「것 같다」 covers a broader range of situations, while 「-나 보다」 is also frequently used in everyday conversation to make an inference in response to something happening in front of you. When you encounter these patterns, there is no need to rush to find one unique English translation for every sentence. First look at what clues the speaker has and whether the event takes place now, happened earlier, or is expected to happen next. The differences will then be easier to see.

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