Learn Korean from Your Bias
No.256

Korean expression

그럴 거 같은데요

Said by SUGA (BTS)

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What does 그럴 거 같은데요 mean?

그럴 거 같은데요 means "I think that’s probably the case" in Korean.

How it works here

‘-ㄹ 것 같다’ expresses a guess, and ‘-는데요’ makes the statement flow more gently. Here, ‘그럴’ and ‘거 같은’ together express a tentative guess rather than certainty.

Key expression

-ㄹ 것 같다

To cautiously guess that something seems to be the case when it is not certain, or to express it indirectly without making a definite claim.

‘-ㄹ/을 것 같다’ is used for guesses, predictions, and softened expressions. It makes the tone gentler and is less definite than ‘-겠어요’. It can also be used like ‘-는 것 같다’ when making a guess based on the current situation. Verbs, adjectives, and 이다 constructions can naturally occur before it.

When it's used

Use ‘-ㄹ/을 것 같다’ when expressing a possibility gently without making a definite claim.

The line

그냥 그럴 거 같은데요

I guess that’s probably how it is.

This is used when it is difficult to guarantee the exact situation but the speaker wants to state a possibility gently.

Scene from “Run BTS! 2022 Special Episode - Telepathy Part 2” · Channel: BANGTANTV Watch on YouTube

More examples

  1. 비가 곧 올 것 같아요.

    I think it’s going to rain soon.

  2. 이 문제는 생각보다 오래 걸릴 것 같습니다.

    I think this problem will take longer than expected.

Quick check

When would you use this expression?

그럴 거 같은데요

그냥 그럴 거 같은데요

I guess that’s probably how it is.

  • A situation in which someone states it as a definite fact.
  • A situation in which someone avoids answering by saying they do not know at all.
  • A situation in which someone cautiously says that it is probably the case, although they are not certain.
Show the answer

A situation in which someone cautiously says that it is probably the case, although they are not certain.

To cautiously guess that something seems to be the case when it is not certain, or to express it indirectly without making a definite claim. ‘-ㄹ/을 것 같다’ is used for guesses, predictions, and softened expressions. It makes the tone gentler and is less definite than ‘-겠어요’. It can also be used like ‘-는 것 같다’ when making a guess based on the current situation. Verbs, adjectives, and 이다 constructions can naturally occur before it.

Other words in this line

그냥
Just; simply
그렇다
To be so; to be that way

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