Looks [Adjective]

This pattern, -아/어 보여, is used to express an impression, assumption, or observation based on someone's or something's appearance. It's the direct equivalent of saying "You look..." or "It looks..." in English.

Formation

Attach -아/어 to an adjective stem, followed by 보여(요).

Stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ: Add -아 보여(요).

비싸다 (to be expensive) → 비싸 + 아 보여 → 비싸 보여

좋다 (to be good) → 좋 + 아 보여 → 좋아 보여

Stems ending in other vowels: Add -어 보여(요).

맛있다 (to be delicious) → 맛있 + 어 보여 → 맛있어 보여

어렵다 (ㅂ irregular) → 어려우 + 어 보여 → 어려워 보여

하다 adjectives: Change 하다 to 해 보여(요).

피곤하다 (to be tired) → 피곤해 보여

행복하다 (to be happy) → 행복해 보여

오늘 피곤해 보여. / 엄청 맛있어 보여. / 비싸 보여요.

Both patterns express a guess or assumption, but they rely on different kinds of evidence.

-아/어 보이다 (Visual Evidence)

This pattern is used only for judgments based on what you can see. It's about visual appearance.

(Seeing a dish) 매워 보여요. (It looks spicy.)

(Seeing a friend with their head down) 슬퍼 보여요. (You look sad.)

-는 것 같다 (General Evidence)

This is a broader pattern for guessing. The evidence can be anything—something you heard, smelled, felt, or just a general intuition. It's not limited to sight.

(Smelling spicy food from the kitchen) 매운 것 같아요. (It seems spicy.)

(Hearing a friend's shaky voice on the phone) 슬픈 것 같아요. (It seems you're sad.)

Key takeaway: If your reason for guessing is purely visual, -아/어 보이다 is more specific and natural.

매워 보여요. / 건강해 보여. / 저 옷은 좀 비싼 것 같아요.

Understanding the nuance of this pattern helps you sound more considerate and natural.

Nuance: Softening an Observation

Stating a fact directly can sometimes sound blunt. For example, 너 피곤해 means "You are tired." Using -아/어 보여 softens this into a personal observation: 너 피곤해 보여 ("You look tired").

This makes your statement less of a declaration and more of a caring observation. It acknowledges that you're just sharing your impression, which is why it's so frequently used in conversation.

Common Mistake: Using with Verbs

This pattern is used with adjectives to describe a state or quality. It cannot be directly attached to a verb stem to say someone "looks like they are doing" an action.

Correct (Adjective): 바빠 보여요. (You look busy.)

Incorrect (Verb): 일해 보여요. (X)

Natural (Verb): To describe an action, you need a different pattern like -는 것처럼 보여요. → 일하는 것처럼 보여요. (It looks like you are working.)

나이 들어 보여. / 똑똑해 보여요. / 따뜻해 보여.

The politeness level of this pattern is controlled by the ending of 보이다. The script lines alternate between the casual and polite forms.

Casual Form: -아/어 보여

This is the plain or banmal (반말) form. Use it when speaking to close friends, family members you're familiar with, or people younger than you.

행복해 보여. (You look happy.)

바빠 보여. (You look busy.)

Polite Form: -아/어 보여요

This is the standard polite haeyo-che (해요체) form. Adding -요 makes it appropriate for most daily situations, especially when talking to colleagues, acquaintances, service staff, or anyone older than you. When in doubt, this is the safer form to use.

행복해 보여요. (You look happy.)

바빠 보여요. (You look busy.)

어려 보여. / 어려 보여요. / 슬퍼 보여. / 슬퍼 보여요.