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Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 is often translated as “can be regarded as…,” “can be seen as…,” or “can be considered….” It is used when existing information, phenomena, or surrounding context make a particular interpretation reasonable. For example, 「이번 변화는 새로운 시작이라고 볼 수 있습니다」 means that, given the circumstances surrounding this change, it is reasonable to understand it as “a new beginning.”

When forming actual sentences, you also need to look at what comes before 「볼 수 있다」. With a noun plus 「이다」, the form becomes 「(이)라고 볼 수 있다」. Adjectives take 「-다고 볼 수 있다」, while present-tense verbs take 「-ㄴ/는다고 볼 수 있다」. In other words, when you see a Chinese expression such as “can be considered” or “can be regarded as,” you cannot simply attach 「-다고」 in every case. The final form depends on the structure of the original clause that comes before it.

What Does Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 Mean? The Key Idea Is “It Can Be Viewed as…”

The key meaning of 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 is that, based on the information currently available, something can be understood as a particular state or result. Here, 「보다」 does not mean “to see” with your eyes. It means “to view,” “to regard,” or “to judge.” Combined with 「-(으)ㄹ 수 있다」, it produces the sense of “it can be viewed this way” or “it can be judged this way.”

For that reason, 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 normally has some basis for the judgment. The preceding context may discuss data, changes over time, a person’s behavior, or the content of a work, and then conclude that “given these circumstances, this interpretation is possible.” This differs from Korean 「것 같다」, which simply expresses an impression or inference. 「것 같다」 can be used based only on the speaker’s current feeling, whereas 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 more often follows information that provides a reason for the interpretation.

Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 Conjugation Rules: How Do Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs Connect?

The form before 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 is not always literally 「-다고」. You first change the original sentence into an indirect quotation, then add 「볼 수 있다」. A noun with 「이다」 uses 「(이)라고」, an adjective uses 「-다고」, and a present-tense verb uses 「-ㄴ/는다고」 depending on its ending. If the original sentence is in the past tense, the 「-았/었-」 remains before 「-다고」.

For example, 「전환점이다」 becomes 「전환점이라고 볼 수 있다」, 「비슷하다」 becomes 「비슷하다고 볼 수 있다」, 「사용하다」 becomes 「사용한다고 볼 수 있다」, and 「늘었다」 becomes 「늘었다고 볼 수 있다」. The first thing to check, therefore, is what kind of original sentence appears before 「볼 수 있다」.

What Comes Before	Connection Pattern	Example	Note
Noun + 이다 (with batchim)	N＋이라고 볼 수 있다	전환점이라고 볼 수 있다	「전환점이다」→「전환점이라고」
Noun + 이다 (without batchim)	N＋라고 볼 수 있다	신호라고 볼 수 있다	「신호이다」→「신호라고」
Adjective	A＋다고 볼 수 있다	비슷하다고 볼 수 있다	Do not use 「-ㄴ/는다고」
있다／없다	있다고／없다고 볼 수 있다	차이가 있다고 볼 수 있다	Follows the same pattern as adjectives
Present-tense verb	V＋ㄴ/는다고 볼 수 있다	사용한다고 볼 수 있다	Choose 「-ㄴ다고／-는다고」 according to the verb stem
Past tense	-았/었다고 볼 수 있다	늘었다고 볼 수 있다	Keep the past tense, then add 「-다고」

「-다고 볼 수 있다」 Connection ①｜Nouns Use 「(이)라고 볼 수 있다」

With nouns, the 「이다」 stage cannot really be skipped. Noun sentences such as 「전환점이다」「문제이다」「결과이다」 must first be changed into indirect quotation forms, producing forms such as 「전환점이라고」「문제라고」「결과라고」. A noun with batchim takes 「이라고」, while one without batchim takes 「라고」.

For example, 「전환점」 has batchim, so it becomes 「전환점이라고 볼 수 있다」. 「신호」 does not have batchim, so it becomes 「신호라고 볼 수 있다」. Just because the overall construction is commonly called 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 does not mean you can write 「전환점다고 볼 수 있다」 by attaching 「-다고」 directly to a noun.

• Example: 그 장면은 이야기의 전환점이라고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: geu jang-myeon-eun i-ya-gi-ui jeon-hwan-jeo-mi-ra-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: That scene can be regarded as a turning point in the story.
  「전환점」 has batchim. The original sentence 「전환점이다」 changes to the quoted form 「전환점이라고」 before 「볼 수 있다」 is added.
• Example: 이 결과는 긍정적인 신호라고 볼 수 있어요.
  Romanization: i gyeol-gwa-neun geung-jeong-jeo-gin sin-ho-ra-go bol su i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: This result can be regarded as a positive sign.
  「신호」 does not have batchim, so 「신호라고」 is used. Here, the result is interpreted as a positive sign after considering what the result shows.
• Example: 이번 변화는 새로운 시작이라고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: i-beon byeon-hwa-neun sae-ro-un si-ja-gi-ra-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: This change can be regarded as a new beginning.
  「시작」 has batchim, so 「시작이라고」 is used. This type of 「N+(이)라고 볼 수 있다」 is often used to classify or characterize an event, result, or scene.

「-다고 볼 수 있다」 Connection ②｜Adjectives Use 「-다고」, and 「있다／없다」 Follow the Same Pattern

Present-tense adjectives take 「-다고 볼 수 있다」. Unlike verbs, they do not change to 「-ㄴ/는다고」. Therefore, 「비슷하다」 becomes 「비슷하다고 볼 수 있다」, 「높다」 becomes 「높다고 볼 수 있다」, and 「중요하다」 becomes 「중요하다고 볼 수 있다」.

「있다」 and 「없다」 also use 「-다고」 in this type of indirect quotation, which is why you see forms such as 「차이가 있다고 볼 수 있다」 and 「문제가 없다고 볼 수 있다」. If the adjective is negative, as in 「높지 않다」, it likewise becomes 「높지 않다고 볼 수 있다」.

• Example: 두 방법의 효과는 비슷하다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: du bang-beo-bui hyo-gwa-neun bi-seut-ha-da-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The effects of the two methods can be considered similar.
  「비슷하다」 is an adjective, so it takes 「비슷하다고」 directly. It cannot be written using the verb pattern as 「비슷한다고」.
• Example: 현재 위험은 높지 않다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: hyeon-jae wi-heo-meun nop-ji an-ta-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The current risk can be considered not very high.
  The original sentence is 「위험이 높지 않다」. Here, 「않다」 forms a negative statement together with the adjective 「높다」, so the resulting form is 「않다고 볼 수 있다」.
• Example: 두 결과 사이에는 큰 차이가 없다고 볼 수 있어요.
  Romanization: du gyeol-gwa sa-i-e-neun keun cha-i-ga eop-da-go bol su i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: It can be considered that there is no major difference between the two results.
  「없다」 becomes 「없다고」, giving 「차이가 없다고 볼 수 있다」. If it were changed to 「있다」, the same pattern would produce 「차이가 있다고 볼 수 있다」.

「-다고 볼 수 있다」 Connection ③｜Present-Tense Verbs Use 「-ㄴ/는다고」, Past Tense Uses 「-았/었다고」

With present-tense verbs, you cannot simply add 「-다고」 directly to the dictionary form. Verbs without batchim, or whose stems end in 「ㄹ」, generally take 「-ㄴ다고」, while other verbs with batchim take 「-는다고」. For example, 「가다」 becomes 「간다고」, 「사용하다」 becomes 「사용한다고」, and 「먹다」 becomes 「먹는다고」.

If the judgment concerns something that has already happened, first put the verb into the past tense and then add 「-다고」. The past form 「늘었다」 of 「늘다」 therefore becomes 「늘었다고 볼 수 있다」, while 「바뀌었다」 becomes 「바뀌었다고 볼 수 있다」. At this point, you no longer need to choose between 「-ㄴ다고」 and 「-는다고」 because 「-다고」 is attached directly after 「-았/었-」.

• Example: 사람들이 이 기능을 더 자주 사용한다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: sa-ram-deu-ri i gi-neung-eul deo ja-ju sa-yong-han-da-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: It can be considered that people use this feature more frequently.
  「사용하다」 is a present-tense verb, so its quotation form is 「사용한다고」. Here, the judgment is based on currently observed usage patterns.
• Example: 소비자들이 가격을 중요하게 생각한다고 볼 수 있어요.
  Romanization: so-bi-ja-deu-ri ga-gyeo-geul jung-yo-ha-ge saeng-gak-han-da-go bol su i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: It can be considered that consumers place importance on price.
  「생각하다」 is also a verb, so the form is 「생각한다고 볼 수 있다」. The word 「중요하게」 merely modifies 「생각하다」 and does not affect the final verb connection.
• Example: 최근 몇 년 사이 이용자가 이전보다 늘었다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: choe-geun myeot nyeon sa-i i-yong-ja-ga i-jeon-bo-da neu-reot-da-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: It can be considered that the number of users has increased compared with before over the past few years.
  Because 「늘다」 refers here to an increase that has already occurred, it is first changed to the past form 「늘었다」 and then followed by 「-고 볼 수 있다」, producing 「늘었다고 볼 수 있다」.

When deciding how to connect the form in practice, it can help to temporarily remove 「볼 수 있다」 and restore the preceding content to a complete sentence. In 「이 결과는 신호이다」, 「신호이다」 becomes 「신호라고」. In 「효과가 비슷하다」, 「비슷하다」 becomes 「비슷하다고」. 「사람들이 사용하다」 must be changed into the present-tense verb quotation 「사용한다고」. Handling the indirect quotation first and then adding 「볼 수 있다」 is less error-prone than memorizing the whole construction as a single fixed form.

Three Common Uses of Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」: Classification, State Judgment, and Interpretation of Results

「-다고 볼 수 있다」 Usage ①｜Viewing Something as Having a Particular Role or Characteristic

A noun often appears before the construction. In this usage, an event, result, or scene is “viewed as” having a certain role. Rather than directly declaring “A is B,” the sentence indicates that, given the current context, interpreting A as B is reasonable.

• Example: 이번 변화는 새로운 시작이라고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: i-beon byeon-hwa-neun sae-ro-un si-ja-gi-ra-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: This change can be regarded as a new beginning.
  The overall change is interpreted as “a new beginning” based on what has changed before and after it.
• Example: 이 결과는 긍정적인 신호라고 볼 수 있어요.
  Romanization: i gyeol-gwa-neun geung-jeong-jeo-gin sin-ho-ra-go bol su i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: This result can be regarded as a positive sign.
  「신호」 has no batchim, so 「신호라고」 is used.
• Example: 그 장면은 이야기의 전환점이라고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: geu jang-myeon-eun i-ya-gi-ui jeon-hwan-jeo-mi-ra-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: That scene can be regarded as a turning point in the story.
  「전환점」 has batchim, so it takes 「이라고 볼 수 있다」.

「-다고 볼 수 있다」 Usage ②｜Making a Judgment About a Quality or Degree

When an adjective comes before the expression, 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 often means that, under the current conditions, something can be considered to have a particular quality or degree. The focus is on the basis for the judgment rather than on intuition alone.

• Example: 두 방법의 효과는 비슷하다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: du bang-beo-bui hyo-gwa-neun bi-seut-ha-da-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The effects of the two methods can be considered similar.
  「비슷하다」 is an adjective, so it becomes 「비슷하다고」.
• Example: 현재 위험은 높지 않다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: hyeon-jae wi-heo-meun nop-ji an-ta-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The current risk can be considered not very high.
  「높지 않다」 forms a negative statement before taking 「-다고 볼 수 있다」.
• Example: 이 문제는 단순하지 않다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: i mun-je-neun dan-sun-ha-ji an-ta-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: This issue can be considered not simple.
  It works well after an explanation of the reasons, when presenting a judgment that can currently be supported.

「-다고 볼 수 있다」 Usage ③｜Interpreting a Result From Changes or Behavior

When a verb comes before the construction, forms such as 「-ㄴ/는다고」 and 「-았/었다고」 are used according to tense. This usage often appears when explaining trends, behavior, or changes in data.

• Example: 소비 방식이 빠르게 변하고 있다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: so-bi bang-si-gi ppa-reu-ge byeon-ha-go it-da-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: It can be considered that consumption patterns are changing rapidly.
  「변하고 있다」 first forms a complete statement and then changes to the quotation form 「변하고 있다고」.
• Example: 이용자가 이전보다 늘었다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: i-yong-ja-ga i-jeon-bo-da neu-reot-da-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: It can be considered that the number of users has increased compared with before.
  「늘었다」 is in the past tense, so the past-tense quotation form is used.
• Example: 사람들이 이 기능을 더 자주 사용한다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: sa-ram-deu-ri i gi-neung-eul deo ja-ju sa-yong-han-da-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: It can be considered that people use this feature more often.
  The present-tense indirect quotation of 「사용하다」 is 「사용한다고」.

How Do 「-다고 볼 수 있다」, 「-다고/라고 할 수 있다」, and 「것 같다」 Differ?

「-다고 볼 수 있다」, 「-다고/라고 할 수 있다」, and 「것 같다」 may all sometimes be translated into Chinese as expressions equivalent to “can be considered…,” “can be said to be…,” or “seems…,” but what the speaker is doing with each construction is slightly different. 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 generally interprets information, conditions, or phenomena that have already been presented. 「-다고/라고 할 수 있다」 is closer to summarizing the preceding content as a particular description, classification, or evaluation. 「것 같다」 has a wider range of uses and can come from observation, but it can also simply express a current feeling, opinion, or judgment that is not yet fully certain.

For that reason, even with the same idea of “this can be considered a positive change,” the focus changes depending on the Korean construction. 「볼 수 있다」 focuses more on how the matter can be viewed. 「할 수 있다」 is closer to whether describing or classifying it in that way is valid. 「것 같다」 leaves more room for the sense that “this is how it seems to me right now.”

Comparison	「-다고 볼 수 있다」	「-다고/라고 할 수 있다」	「것 같다」
Basic meaning	can be regarded as… / can be viewed as…	can be said to be… / can be called…	seems… / appears… / I think…
Main function	Presents an interpretation based on information or circumstances	Organizes the content into a description, classification, or evaluation	Expresses a current inference, feeling, or opinion
Basis for judgment	Often related to preceding data, conditions, changes, or observations	May have supporting grounds, but the focus is usually on how the conclusion is summarized	Does not necessarily require clear external evidence
General feel	“Given the current situation, it can be understood this way”	“Describing or characterizing it this way is valid”	“At the moment, it looks or feels this way”
Degree of reservation	Reserved, but still presents a clear interpretation	Reserved, but an evaluation or conclusion has usually already been formed	Leaves more room for uncertainty and may simply express a subjective opinion
Common situations	Reports, data analysis, commentary, interpretation of causes	Definitions, classifications, summaries, evaluations, explanations	Everyday speculation, opinions, feelings, uncertain judgments
Common Chinese translations	可以視為、可以看作、可以認為	可以說是、可以稱為、可以認為	好像、似乎、覺得
Example	이 결과는 긍정적인 신호라고 볼 수 있습니다.	이 결과는 긍정적인 신호라고 할 수 있습니다.	이 결과는 긍정적인 신호인 것 같아요.
Nuance of the example	Interprets the current result as a positive sign	Treats “positive sign” as a valid way to characterize the current result	Currently feels that the result seems to be a positive sign

▌「-다고 볼 수 있다」 vs. 「-다고/라고 할 수 있다」｜How to Interpret It vs. How to Summarize It

「-다고 볼 수 있다」 and 「-다고/라고 할 수 있다」 often appear in similar situations, and in many sentences replacing one with the other will not suddenly make the sentence unnatural. The difference becomes easier to see if you look at the focus of the sentence. In 「볼 수 있다」, 「보다」 carries the meaning of “to view” or “to understand,” so it often conveys the idea that “based on the information currently available, this can be interpreted this way.” By contrast, 「할 수 있다」 organizes something into a valid description, almost as if assigning the preceding matter a category, evaluation, or label.

For example, suppose a system has undergone a major change. Saying 「새로운 전환점이라고 볼 수 있습니다」 focuses on understanding the change as a new turning point. Saying 「새로운 전환점이라고 할 수 있습니다」 is closer to saying that it is reasonable to call it “a new turning point.” The conclusions are very similar, but the perspectives differ slightly.

• Example:  이번 변화는 새로운 전환점이라고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: i-beon byeon-hwa-neun sae-ro-un jeon-hwan-jeo-mi-ra-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: This change can be regarded as a new turning point.
  If the preceding context has already discussed the system, data, or changes over time, 「볼 수 있다」 naturally follows by turning that information into an interpretation.
• Example:  이번 변화는 새로운 전환점이라고 할 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: i-beon byeon-hwa-neun sae-ro-un jeon-hwan-jeo-mi-ra-go hal su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: This change can be said to be a new turning point.
  This is closer to saying that “a new turning point” is an appropriate description of the change, with the focus on whether that description is valid.

▌「-다고 볼 수 있다」 vs. 「것 같다」｜A Directed Interpretation vs. a Current Inference or Feeling

The biggest difference between 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 and 「것 같다」 is how far the sentence goes in committing to a judgment. With 「-다고 볼 수 있다」, the speaker usually already has a particular interpretive direction in mind, although the statement is not presented as an absolute assertion. 「것 같다」 can preserve more uncertainty and does not necessarily require a full analysis beforehand. It can be used simply because something currently appears to be a certain way.

For example, if user numbers have increased over a quarter and the preceding context has already organized the relevant statistics, 「이용자가 늘었다고 볼 수 있습니다」 sounds like an analysis based on those data. By contrast, 「이용자가 늘어난 것 같아요」 simply means that users seem to have increased. The speaker may have evidence, but it does not need to be explicitly presented.

• Example:  최근 자료를 보면 이용자가 이전보다 늘었다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: choe-geun ja-ryo-reul bo-myeon i-yong-ja-ga i-jeon-bo-da neu-reot-da-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Looking at the recent data, it can be considered that the number of users has increased compared with before.
  The phrase 「최근 자료를 보면」 directly provides the basis for the judgment, and 「볼 수 있다」 then explains how those data can be interpreted.
• Example:  요즘 이용자가 좀 늘어난 것 같아요.
  Romanization: yo-jeum i-yong-ja-ga jom neu-reo-nan geot ga-ta-yo.
  Translation: It seems like the number of users has increased a little recently.
  This sentence simply expresses the speaker’s current impression and does not require proof of the size of the increase or an explicit explanation of the basis for the judgment.

▌「-다고/라고 할 수 있다」 vs. 「것 같다」｜A Valid Description vs. a Judgment That Still Leaves Room

「-다고/라고 할 수 있다」 often appears after the speaker has already organized the relevant information and is ready to give something a particular description. Although the ending still contains 「할 수 있다」 and is therefore less direct than simply saying 「A는 B다」, it usually implies that there is sufficient reason for the classification or evaluation to stand. 「것 같다」, by contrast, can remain at the level of a more personal judgment and does not need to go as far as saying that the description is already valid.

For example, after evaluating a plan, saying 「현실적인 방법이라고 할 수 있습니다」 means that under the current conditions, calling it “a realistic method” is reasonable. Changing it to 「현실적인 방법인 것 같아요」 sounds more like “at the moment, I think this method is probably realistic,” leaving more room for the speaker to change their mind later.

• Example:  현재 조건에서는 가장 현실적인 방법이라고 할 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: hyeon-jae jo-geon-e-seo-neun ga-jang hyeon-sil-jeo-gin bang-beo-bi-ra-go hal su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Under the current conditions, this can be said to be the most realistic method.
  The current conditions have already been organized into an evaluation, and the description “the most realistic method” is treated as valid.
• Example:  지금은 이 방법이 가장 현실적인 것 같아요.
  Romanization: ji-geu-meun i bang-beo-bi ga-jang hyeon-sil-jeo-gin geot ga-ta-yo.
  Translation: Right now, this method seems to be the most realistic.
  「것 같다」 leaves the statement as a current judgment rather than presenting “the most realistic” as a fully established conclusion.

▌Nuance Differences Between the Three Constructions When Talking About “a New Beginning”

Suppose a company has just completed an organizational restructuring and its working methods, division of responsibilities, and future direction have all changed. All three constructions can be used to talk about “a new beginning,” but they handle the situation differently. 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 presents an interpretation after looking at these changes. 「-다고/라고 할 수 있다」 treats “a new beginning” as a valid summary of the situation. 「것 같다」 simply expresses the current feeling that the change seems like a new beginning.

• Example:  이번 변화는 새로운 시작이라고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: i-beon byeon-hwa-neun sae-ro-un si-ja-gi-ra-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: This change can be regarded as a new beginning.
  Based on the preceding adjustments and changes, the speaker interprets the current situation as “a new beginning,” with the emphasis on how the situation is viewed.
• Example:  이번 변화는 새로운 시작이라고 할 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: i-beon byeon-hwa-neun sae-ro-un si-ja-gi-ra-go hal su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: This change can be said to be a new beginning.
  “A new beginning” is treated as a summary or evaluation of the whole situation, with the sense that describing it that way is valid.
• Example:  이번 변화는 새로운 시작인 것 같아요.
  Romanization: i-beon byeon-hwa-neun sae-ro-un si-ja-gin geot ga-ta-yo.
  Translation: This change seems like a new beginning.
  This sentence leaves more room for the speaker’s current feeling and judgment. It does not require the preceding context to contain a completed analysis, nor does it present “a new beginning” as an already established conclusion.

How Is 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 Used in Korean Conversations and Explanations? Three Common Situations

「-다고 볼 수 있다」 works well when some information has already been presented and you then want to say, “given these circumstances, this is how it can be understood.” It is not used as readily as 「것 같다」 simply to state a personal feeling. The speaker will usually have some content that can serve as the basis for the judgment before offering an interpretation they consider reasonable. The construction can be used when looking at workplace data, comparing two plans, or discussing relationships between characters in a drama.

The connection before it also changes depending on the original clause. A noun with 「이다」 takes 「N+(이)라고 볼 수 있다」, an adjective takes 「A-다고 볼 수 있다」, and a present-tense verb takes 「V-ㄴ/는다고 볼 수 있다」. If the preceding content refers to something that has already happened, 「-았/었다고 볼 수 있다」 is used. In practice, restoring the clause before 「볼 수 있다」 to its original sentence form usually makes the required connection easier to identify.

▌Situation ①｜Comparing Two Methods and Judging That There Is Little Difference in Effect

A：두 방법의 결과가 거의 비슷하네요.
　　du bang-beo-bui gyeol-gwa-ga geo-ui bi-seut-ha-ne-yo.
　　The results of the two methods are almost the same.

B：네, 효과에는 큰 차이가 없다고 볼 수 있어요.
　　ne, hyo-gwa-e-neun keun cha-i-ga eop-da-go bol su i-sseo-yo.
　　Yes, it can be considered that there is no major difference in their effects.

📌 Grammar Point: 「차이가 없다고 볼 수 있어요」 expresses a judgment made after comparing the results of the two methods. It does not simply mean “it kind of feels like they are similar.” The comparison comes first, and on that basis the interpretation “there is no major difference” is considered valid. 「없다」 directly takes the quotation form 「없다고」, producing 「차이가 없다고 볼 수 있다」.

▌Situation ②｜Observing Ordering Methods and Judging That Usage Habits Are Changing

A：요즘은 카운터보다 키오스크로 주문하는 사람이 더 많네요.
　　yo-jeu-meun ka-un-teo-bo-da ki-o-seu-keu-ro ju-mun-ha-neun sa-ra-mi deo man-ne-yo.
　　These days, more people order from kiosks than at the counter.

B：주문 방식이 점점 바뀌고 있다고 볼 수 있어요.
　　ju-mun bang-si-gi jeom-jeom ba-kkwi-go it-da-go bol su i-sseo-yo.
　　It can be considered that ordering methods are gradually changing.

📌 Grammar Point: 「바뀌고 있다고 볼 수 있어요」 interprets the currently observed usage situation as evidence that “ordering methods are changing.” The preceding 「바뀌고 있다」 already means “is changing.” When changed into a quotation form, it becomes 「바뀌고 있다고」, followed by 「볼 수 있다」. Sentences like this are often used after observing a behavior or trend to explain how the change can currently be interpreted.

▌Situation ③｜Discussing a Drama and Judging That a Scene Is a Turning Point in a Relationship

A：이 장면 이후에 두 사람의 관계가 완전히 달라졌네요.
　　i jang-myeon i-hu-e du sa-ra-mui gwan-gye-ga wan-jeon-hi dal-la-jyeot-ne-yo.
　　After this scene, the relationship between the two completely changed.

B：이 장면을 두 사람 관계의 전환점이라고 볼 수 있어요.
　　i jang-myeo-neul du sa-ram gwan-gye-ui jeon-hwan-jeo-mi-ra-go bol su i-sseo-yo.
　　This scene can be regarded as a turning point in their relationship.

📌 Grammar Point: 「전환점이라고 볼 수 있어요」 presents an interpretation of the scene after considering what happens before and after it. Because 「전환점」 is a noun with batchim, it combines with 「이다」 to form the quotation pattern 「이라고」, giving 「전환점이라고 볼 수 있다」. This usage is common in commentary on films, dramas, novels, or events. It does not declare that “this is definitely the one and only turning point,” but instead says that, based on the content currently available, interpreting it as a turning point is reasonable.

Usage Notes:

1. 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 often follows information that can serve as a basis for judgment, but the reason does not have to be stated directly in the same sentence every time. You can say 「최근 자료를 보면 이용자가 늘었다고 볼 수 있습니다」 and put “the recent data” directly in the sentence. You can also discuss the data first and then add a separate sentence, 「이용자가 늘었다고 볼 수 있습니다」. Both are natural. The only difference is where the basis for the judgment is placed.
2. What actually changes in 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 is the quotation form that comes before it. With a noun, you get 「전환점이라고 볼 수 있다」. With an adjective, you get 「비슷하다고 볼 수 있다」. A present-tense verb may take the form 「사용한다고 볼 수 있다」, while a completed change may appear as 「늘었다고 볼 수 있다」. In other words, not every sentence simply takes 「-다고」. You must first look at how the original sentence is constructed, then add 「볼 수 있다」.
3. If you are simply not sure and currently feel that something is probably the case, 「것 같다」 is usually more natural. For example, if you merely notice that there seem to be more customers in a store, you can say 「요즘 손님이 많아진 것 같아요」, meaning “It seems like there are more customers these days.” If you have already compared visitor numbers or other data and then say 「손님이 늘었다고 볼 수 있어요」, it sounds more like a judgment based on existing information. 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 does not mean the speaker is 100% certain, but the speaker normally already has an interpretation that they believe can reasonably stand.

How Should Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 Be Understood in Comparison With Japanese 「〜と考えられる」?

Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 and Japanese 「〜と考えられる」 can both express the idea that “based on the information currently available, this judgment can be made.” Both expressions are often used in data analysis, explanations of phenomena, commentary on works, and other contexts where the speaker explains how something can be interpreted. For example, after examining data over a certain period, you might conclude that the number of users has increased, or after looking at the surrounding plot, you might understand a particular scene as a turning point in a story. In both languages, these judgments can be expressed without making them completely absolute.

However, 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 and 「〜と考えられる」 are not one-to-one equivalents at the structural level. In Korean, the clause must first be changed into an indirect quotation according to whether it contains a noun, adjective, verb, or particular tense, and then 「볼 수 있다」 is added. In Japanese, the preceding content is followed by 「と考えられる」. Japanese 「考えられる」 itself carries the meaning that, after considering information or conditions, something can reasonably be judged a certain way. For this reason, it overlaps considerably in nuance with 「-다고 볼 수 있다」.

◆ Similar Grammar: 「〜と考えられる」

Japanese 「〜と考えられる」 is often used to organize currently available data, conditions, or observations into a judgment. In Chinese, it can be translated as “can be considered…,” “can be regarded as…,” or “can be inferred….” In this respect, it is quite similar to Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」. Neither expression simply describes an immediate feeling. Instead, each presents something as a currently reasonable interpretation.

For example, after a system is adjusted and both working methods and organizational responsibilities change significantly, the adjustment can be interpreted as “a new beginning.” Likewise, if data show that the number of users of a particular service has increased, you can judge that there are more users than before. In sentences like these, both Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 and Japanese 「〜と考えられる」 are natural.

The Japanese connection pattern itself is simpler than the Korean one. Verbs and い-adjectives normally connect directly to 「と考えられる」 in the plain form. With nouns and な-adjectives, 「だと考えられる」 is common, while the more formal 「であると考えられる」 also appears in written contexts. Korean, by contrast, requires you to decide whether the preceding form should be 「(이)라고」「-다고」「-ㄴ/는다고」, or 「-았/었다고」. This is where the main structural difference between the two languages lies.

• Example:  이번 변화는 새로운 시작이라고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: i-beon byeon-hwa-neun sae-ro-un si-ja-gi-ra-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: This change can be regarded as a new beginning.
  In Japanese, you can say 「今回の変化は新たな始まりだと考えられます」.
  Kana: こんかいの へんかは あらたな はじまりだと かんがえられます。In Korean, 「새로운 시작이다」 changes into the noun quotation form 「새로운 시작이라고」 before 「볼 수 있다」 is added. Japanese uses 「新たな始まりだ＋と考えられる」. Both sentences interpret the situation as “a new beginning” based on known changes before and after it.
• Example:  이 결과는 긍정적인 신호라고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: i gyeol-gwa-neun geung-jeong-jeo-gin sin-ho-ra-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: This result can be regarded as a positive sign.
  In Japanese, you can say 「この結果は良い兆候だと考えられます」.
  Kana: この けっかは よい ちょうこうだと かんがえられます。Neither sentence directly defines the result as a positive sign. Instead, based on the result currently available, it treats that interpretation as reasonable. Korean uses 「신호라고 볼 수 있다」, while Japanese connects 「良い兆候だ」 to 「と考えられる」.
• Example:  최근 자료를 보면 이용자가 이전보다 늘었다고 볼 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: choe-geun ja-ryo-reul bo-myeon i-yong-ja-ga i-jeon-bo-da neu-reot-da-go bol su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Looking at the recent data, it can be considered that the number of users has increased compared with before.
  In Japanese, you can say 「最近のデータを見ると、利用者は以前より増えたと考えられます」.
  Kana: さいきんの データを みると、りようしゃは いぜんより ふえたと かんがえられます。The preceding phrase already presents “the recent data” as the basis for judgment before concluding that the number of users has increased. In Korean, the past-tense form 「늘었다」 becomes 「늘었다고 볼 수 있다」. In Japanese, 「増えた」 connects directly to 「と考えられる」.

◆ Differences From Japanese 「〜と考えられる」:

The closest similarity between Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 and Japanese 「〜と考えられる」 is that both can avoid presenting a judgment as an absolutely established fact. For example, 「이 장면은 전환점이다」 directly states that “this scene is a turning point.” When changed to 「전환점이라고 볼 수 있다」, the meaning becomes that, based on the current content, the scene can be regarded as a turning point. Likewise, changing the Japanese 「この場面は転換点だ」 to 「転換点だと考えられる」 leaves similar room for judgment.

The two languages differ more clearly in their connection patterns. Korean places an indirect quotation before 「볼 수 있다」, so forms such as 「전환점이라고」「비슷하다고」「사용한다고」「늘었다고」 change according to the original sentence type. Japanese 「〜と考えられる」 instead adds the quotation particle 「と」 after the content of the judgment, as in 「転換点だと考えられる」「似ていると考えられる」「増えたと考えられる」. Both may be rendered in Chinese as “can be considered,” but their actual grammatical structures cannot be converted word for word.

The nuances should not be treated as completely identical either. The 「보다」 in Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 carries a sense of how something is “viewed,” which makes the construction natural when commenting on, classifying, or interpreting a phenomenon. Japanese 「〜と考えられる」 is especially common when presenting a judgment after analysis. The two overlap strongly when discussing data, causes, phenomena, or changes over time, but an actual translation still needs to consider whether the sentence is interpreting a situation or expressing some other type of inference.

In addition, Japanese 「考えられる」 is not limited to this single function. For example, 「考えられる原因」 can mean “a possible cause” or “a cause that can be thought of,” and this type of usage does not necessarily correspond directly to Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」. When comparing Korean and Japanese, rather than automatically replacing every occurrence of 「考えられる」 with 「볼 수 있다」, it is more accurate to first check whether the sentence is making a judgment based on existing information. That is the area where the two expressions overlap in the way discussed in this article.

When you encounter Korean 「-다고 볼 수 있다」, first look at what kind of sentence originally comes before it. Nouns require handling 「이다」, adjectives take 「-다고」, and verbs change according to tense into forms such as 「-ㄴ/는다고」 or 「-았/었다고」. Understanding this step is more useful than simply memorizing a Chinese translation such as “can be regarded as.”

If the preceding context has just discussed data, changes, a person’s behavior, or the content of a work, it is natural to use 「-다고 볼 수 있다」 afterward to present an interpretation. If you simply want to say that something “seems to be the case,” 「것 같다」 is more common. When summarizing something into a description, 「-다고/라고 할 수 있다」 also appears frequently. In actual sentences, restoring the original clause and then determining whether the speaker is interpreting, summarizing, or speculating is more accurate than judging only from the Chinese translation.

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