Korean grammar - In a similar way, as if - 듯(이)

In a similar way, as if - 듯(이)

Pattern: Noun + 듯(이)

The pattern Noun + 듯(이) can be used to express that something appears or acts like something else.

The noun is often formed from a verb in the normal (으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ manner.

In effect we are going from a verb to a noun to an adverb.

-- For example: 죽다 (verb: to be dead) ⇒ 죽은 (adjective: dead) ⇒ 죽은 듯이 (adverb: as if dead)

-- And the adjective can be in its past, present or future form.

The 듯 in this pattern means 'appearance' or 'like'.

Examples:
	그는 생각에 잠긴 듯 창문 밖을 바라봤어요. He stared out of the window as if lost in thought. 잠기다 means 'to be absorbed in' or 'to be submerged'
	그 남자는 죽은 듯이 마루에 누워 있었어요. The man was laying on the floor as though (he) were dead.
	그는 아무것도 이해하지 못한다는 듯이 행동했어요. He acted as though (he) didn’t understand anything.
	그는 문제가 없는 듯이 행동했어요. He acted as if there wasn’t a problem. 행동하다 means 'to behave' or 'to act'
	그는 한번도 저를 만나본 적이 없다는 듯이 저를 쳐다봤어요. He looked at me as if (he) had never met me before.
	아무 일도 없었던 듯이 우리는 계속 걸어갔어요. We continued walking as if nothing had happened.
	괜찮아'라는 듯이 아내가 저를 바라보았어요. (My) wife looked at me as if to say 'it’s okay'. 바라보다 means 'to observe' or 'to look at' or 'to stare'
	그는 당신이 생각하듯이 그렇게 대학자는 아니에요. He is not quite the great scholar you think (he) is.
	시험이 끝나니까 마음이 날아갈 듯이 가벼워요. When the exam is over, (my) heart feels light as if it were flying.
	그는 한국 음식을 한 번도 먹어본 적이 없는 듯이 먹었어요. He ate like (he) had never eaten Korean food before.
	선생님의 말씀에 교실은 쥐 죽은 듯이 조용해졌어요. At the teacher's words, the classroom became as quiet as a mouse.
	그는 마치 실제로 인도에 가 본 듯이 이야기했어요. He talked exactly as if (he) had actually been to India. 마치 means 'exactly (as if)' 실제로 means 'in reality' or 'actually'
	제가 뭘 잘못했다는 듯 언니는 화를 냈어요. (My) sister got angry as if I had done something wrong.
	그 사람은 한 달은 밥을 못 먹은 듯 보여요. It looks like that person has not eaten for at least a month. 보이다 means 'to look like' The contrastive marker 은 on 달 gives the sense of 'at least'.
	그가 걱정스러운 듯 아버지를 힐끗 쳐다보았어요. He glanced at (his) father worriedly. 걱정스럽다 means 'to be anxious' or 'to be worried'
	정말 화났어요?' 미나가 궁금한 듯 물었어요. Are (you) really mad?' Mina asked curiously.
	그가 믿을 수 없다는 듯 고개를 저었어요. (He) shook his head as if he couldn't believe it.
	그는 자신은 잘못이 없다는 듯이 행동했어요. (He) acted as if he had done nothing wrong.
	다 된 듯합니다. It seems like all is done! formal 니다 form
	화가 난 듯이 저를 쳐다봤어요. (He) looked at me like he was angry. The verb 화가 나다 ⇒ the noun 화가 난 + 듯이 (as if being angry) 쳐다보다 means 'to look' or 'to glace'
	중요한 일 하는 듯이 심각해요. It is serious as if (you) are doing important work.
	그는 괜찮다고 한 듯이 고개를 끄덕였어요. He nodded as if to say that (it) was okay. 괜찮다고 한 듯이 - as if to say OK 끄덕이다 means 'to nod'