What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 그런 것 같아요 literally translates to "It seems like that kind of thing," where 그런 means "such" or "that kind of", 것 means "thing" or "fact" and 같아요 means "seems like" or "is the same as."
Which one should you use?
While 맞아요 is used to express certain agreement (meaning "That's right" or "Correct"), 그런 것 같아요 is used when your agreement is more hesitant or tentative.
How does it change in a sentence?
To adjust the level of formality, you can change the ending: dropping -요 results in the informal 그런 것 같아, while replacing 같아요 with 같습니다 results in the formal 그런 것 같습니다. Regarding the formal expression 그렇겠죠, it is composed of 그렇 (meaning "like that" or "so"), 겠 (indicating supposition or conjecture) and 죠 (a sentence-ending particle used to seek agreement or confirmation).
How do you pronounce it?
geureon geot gatayo
Did you know?
- Korean speakers frequently use 그런 것 같아요 even when they are certain of a fact to avoid sounding too blunt or arrogant.
- The grammar used in 그런 것 같아요 is so common that some linguists note a tendency in modern Korean to avoid direct statements entirely by ending most opinions with this 'seeming' construction.
- The word 것 (thing) used in this phrase has a history stretching back to the 15th century, appearing in the ancient text Seokbo sangjeol.
Examples in context
- 네, 그렇겠죠.Yes, I guess so.
- 그런 것 같아요.geureon geot gatayo.I guess so.
- 그 사람이 맞나? 그런 것 같아요.geusaramari matna? geureon geot gatayo.Is that him? I guess so.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Jieun are talking about whether a movie has ended.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo영화가 벌써 끝난 것 같아요?yeonghwaga beolsseo kkeutnan geot gatayo?Do you think the movie is already over?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 그런 것 같아요.ne, geureon geot gatayo.Yes, I guess so.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은 씨도 그렇게 생각해요?jieun ssido geureoke saenggakhaeyo?Do you think so too, Jieun?
- 지은 Ji-eun맞아요. 이제 나가요.majayo. ije nagayo.That's right. Let's go out now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 것, 그런, CC BY-SA 4.0.
