Jump to:
Usage 1: A Guess or Assumption
~나 싶다
~니 싶다
~ㄴ/은가 싶다
~ㄴ/은/는/ㄹ/을 지 싶다
Vocabulary
Nouns:
폭풍 = strong wind storm
Common Usages:
폭풍의 시대 = an era of turmoil
폭풍이 몰아치다 = for a storm to rage
Examples:
폭풍이 몰아치며 나무가 쓰러졌어요
= Trees fell as the storm raged
하늘이 너무 검어서 폭풍이 올까 싶어요
= The sky is so dark that I wonder if a storm is coming
폭풍이 심해서 배가 전복할 것 같아요
= The ship will probably capsize because of the strong winds
폭우 = heavy rain
Common Usages:
폭우가 쏟아지다 = for torrential rain to pour down
폭우가 내리다 = for heavy rain to fall
Examples:
폭우로 인해 도로가 침수되었어요
= The road was flooded due to heavy rain
하늘이 이렇게 검으니 곧 폭우가 쏟아질까 싶어요
= Since the sky is this black, I wonder if a heavy rainstorm is coming soon
갑자기 예상치 못한 양의 폭우가 쏟아지자 천장에서 물이 새기 시작했어요
=All of a sudden a rainstorm of unexpected amount came down, and water started leaking from the roof
촉감 = feel of an object
Common Usages:
촉감 놀이 = sensory play (for young children)
Examples:
이 천의 촉감이 부드럽고 좋아요
= The texture of this fabric is soft and nice
지폐의 촉감이 이상해서 혹시 위조된 돈이 아닐까 싶어요
= The texture of the bill feels strange, so I wonder if it’s counterfeit
의무 = obligation/duty
Common Usages:
의무를 다하다 = to fulfill one’s duty
Examples:
의사는 환자의 생명을 구할 의무가 있어요
= A doctor has the duty to save a patient’s life
그 사람은 자신의 의무를 소홀히 했기 때문에 문제가 발생했어요
= That person neglected his duties, which caused problems
이렇게 늦게까지 회사에 남아 있어야 할 의무가 있나 싶어요
= I wonder if I really have an obligation to stay this late at work
위조 = counterfeit
Common Usages:
위조 지폐 = counterfeit bill
학력 위조 = academic fraud
Examples:
그 지폐는 위조된 것으로 밝혀졌어요
= That bill turned out to be counterfeit
회장은 서명을 위조했다는 혐의로 기소되었어요
= The president was charged with forgery of signatures
지폐의 촉감이 이상해서 혹시 위조된 돈이 아닐까 싶어요
= The texture of the bill feels strange, so I wonder if it’s counterfeit
저렴한 가격을 보니 위조 상품이니 싶어 의심스러워요
= Looking at the cheap price, I suspect it might be counterfeit
전단지 = flyer
Common Usages:
전단지 알바 = flyer-distributing part-time job
전단지를 나눠 주다 = to hand out flyers
Examples:
전단지를 길거리에서 나눠주고 있었어요
= They were handing out flyers on the street
길에서 주운 전단지가 광고인가 싶었는데 자세히 보니 경고문이었어요
= I thought the flyer I picked up on the street was an advertisement, but upon closer look, it was a warning notice
전람회 = exhibition
Examples:
전람회에서 다양한 예술 작품을 볼 수 있었어요
= I was able to see various artworks at the exhibition
전람회에서 본 그림이 진짜일까 싶어서 자세히 살펴보았어요
= I examined the painting at the exhibition closely, wondering if it was real
전람회에 사람이 너무 없어서 제대로 열린 게 맞나 싶었어요
= There were so few people at the exhibition that I wondered if it was really being held properly
광대뼈 = cheekbone
Common Usages:
광대뼈가 튀어나오다 = for one’s cheekbones to stick out
Examples:
여자의 광대뼈가 도드라져 보여요
= The girl’s cheekbones look very prominent
광대뼈가 아픈 걸 보니 어젯밤에 장난치다가 다친 걸까 싶어요
= Since my cheekbone hurts, I wonder if I got hurt while playing around last night
얼굴을 만져보니 광대뼈가 더 튀어나온 것 같아서 살이 빠졌나 싶어요
= Touching my face, my cheekbones seem more prominent, so I wonder if I’ve lost weight
경고문 = warning sign
Examples:
공사장에 경고문이 붙어 있었어요
= A warning sign was posted at the construction site
길에서 주운 전단지가 광고인가 싶었는데 자세히 보니 경고문이었어요
= I thought the flyer I picked up on the street was an advertisement, but upon closer look, it was a warning notice
Verbs:
경유하다 = to layover (airplane travel)
Common Usages:
경유지 = stopover point
경유시간 = layover time
Examples:
우리는 도쿄를 경유해 미국으로 갔어요
= We went to the US via a layover in Tokyo
비행기가 경유하는 동안 공항에서 밤낮없이 기다려야 할까 싶어요
= Since the plane has a layover, I wonder if I’ll have to wait at the airport day and night
제출한 서류가 승인된 건가 싶어서 이메일을 확인했어요
= I checked my email, wondering if my submitted documents had been approved
너무 빨리 승인이 나서 절차가 제대로 진행된 건지 싶어요
= The approval came so quickly that I wonder if the process was done properly
승인하다 = to approve
Examples:
시에서는 새 정책을 승인했어요
= The city approved the new policy
승인 요청이 아직 안 된 것을 보니 뭔가 문제가 생긴 걸까 싶어요
= Since the approval request hasn’t gone through yet, I wonder if there’s a problem
배포하다 = to distribute
Examples:
학교는 공지사항을 모두에게 배포했어요
= The school distributed the announcement to everyone
이 전단지가 합법적으로 배포된 것인지 싶어요
= I wonder if this flyer was distributed legally
낯가리다 = to be shy, to be embarrassed
Examples:
그 아이는 모르는 사람 주변에서도 낯가리지 않고 방긋 웃었어요
= That child smiled brightly even around strangers without being shy
처음 본 사람들 앞에서 수줍어하는 것을 보니 낯가리는 성격인가 싶어요
= Seeing how shy they are in front of new people, I wonder if they have a reserved personality
도드라지다 = to protrude
Examples:
상처 부위가 도드라져 보여요
= The wound area is protruding noticeably
광대뼈가 너무 도드라져 보여서 화장으로 가릴까 싶어요
= Since my cheekbones look too prominent, I think I’ll cover them with makeup
Adjectives:
검다 = to be black
Common Usages:
피부가 검다 = for skin to be dark
Examples:
밤하늘이 검게 물들어 있었어요
= The night sky was painted black
검은 색 검이 그의 옆에 걸려 있었어요
= A black sword hung by his side
검은 정장을 입을까 싶었지만 너무 더울 것 같아서 그냥 밝은 색을 골랐어요
= I thought about wearing a black suit, but I figured it’d be too hot, so I chose a lighter color
수줍다 = to be shy
Examples:
여자는 수줍은 미소를 지었어요
= The girl gave a shy smile
수줍은 성격이지만 용기를 내서 발표해 볼까 싶어요
= Even though I’m shy, I think I’ll muster up the courage to give the presentation
처음 본 사람들 앞에서 수줍어하는 것을 보니 낯가리는 성격인가 싶어요
= Seeing how shy they are in front of new people, I wonder if they have a reserved personality
바삭하다 = to be crispy
Examples:
이 튀김은 바삭바삭 맛있어요
= This fried food is crispy and delicious
처음 만든 튀김이 바삭할지 싶어 긴장돼요
= I’m nervous, wondering if the fried food I made for the first time will be crispy
용맹스럽다 = to be brave
Examples:
그 용사는 용맹스럽게 적과 싸웠어요
= The warrior fought the enemy bravely
이 소설의 주인공이 정말 용맹스러운가 싶어서 읽어 보기로 했어요
= I wondered if the protagonist in this novel was truly brave, so I decided to read it
Adverbs and Other Words:
오래 = a long time
Common Usages:
오래 걸리다 = to take a long time
~에서 오래 살다 = to live (somewhere) for a long time
Examples:
오래 기다린 만큼 보람이 컸어요
= It was rewarding after waiting for such a long time
자물쇠를 여는 데 시간이 왜 이렇게 오래 걸려요?
= Why is it taking so long to open the lock?
식빵을 상온에 오래 두었더니 곰팡이가 피어서 먹을 수가 없어요
= I left the bread out in room temperature for a while, and then mold grew on it, so I couldn’t eat it
제주도에서 오래 살아서 이제 말을 할 때 저도 모르게 제주도사투리로 말을 하게 돼요
= I lived in Jeju for a long time, so when I speak, I don’t even know it but I end up speaking with a Jeju accent
오래 입은 바지의 고무줄이 느슨해져서 자꾸 바지가 내려가요
= The band in the pants that I wore for a long time is loose so my pants keep falling down
밤낮없이 = night and day
Examples:
밤낮없이 공부해서 시험에 합격했어요
= I studied day and night and passed the exam
밤낮없이 일하는 게 건강에 괜찮은지 싶어요
= I wonder if working day and night is okay for my health
비행기가 경유하는 동안 공항에서 밤낮없이 기다려야 할까 싶어요
= Since the plane has a layover, I wonder if I’ll have to wait at the airport day and night
Introduction
In this lesson, you will continue to learn about 싶다. In this lesson, you will learn two more uses that follow a similar form after indications of doubt or question. Let’s get started.
Usage 1: A Guess or Assumption
In addition to the two uses of 싶다 that you learned in Lesson 171 and Lesson 172, there are two more that take a similar form – both which require the use of a grammatical principle that indicates speculation. In the first usage I will describe, 싶다 is used to indicate the speaker’s guess or assumption. One common way that you can do this is by using ~ㄹ/을까, which was introduced in Lesson 63. For example:
하늘이 너무 검어서 폭풍이 올까 싶어요
= The sky is so dark that I wonder if a storm is coming
Here, you can see that the speaker is not actually sure if a storm is coming or not. 싶다 in this sense is usually translated to “I wonder if…” or something to that effect. Below are many more examples:
하늘이 이렇게 검으니 곧 폭우가 쏟아질까 싶어요
= Since the sky is this black, I wonder if a heavy rainstorm is coming soon
이 튀김이 너무 바삭한 것을 보니 오래 튀긴 걸까 싶어요
= Since this fried food is so crispy, I wonder if it was fried for too long
지폐의 촉감이 이상해서 혹시 위조된 돈이 아닐까 싶어요
= The texture of the bill feels strange, so I wonder if it’s counterfeit
광대뼈가 아픈 걸 보니 어젯밤에 장난치다가 다친 걸까 싶어요
= Since my cheekbone hurts, I wonder if I got hurt while playing around last night
승인 요청이 아직 안 된 것을 보니 뭔가 문제가 생긴 걸까 싶어요
= Since the approval request hasn’t gone through yet, I wonder if there’s a problem
비행기가 경유하는 동안 공항에서 밤낮없이 기다려야 할까 싶어요
= Since the plane has a layover, I wonder if I’ll have to wait at the airport day and night
Of course, you can use 싶다 in another location in the sentence other than the final word. For example, ~아/어서 is often added to 싶다 to indicate that something as a result of the speculation. For example:
전람회에서 본 그림이 진짜일까 싶어서 자세히 살펴보았어요
= I examined the painting at the exhibition closely, wondering if it was real
~ㄹ/을까 is often used before 싶다 as you have seen in the sentences so far. However, there are other grammatical principles that can indicate speculation. In Lesson 21 you learned about ~나, ~니 and ~ㄴ/은가 as ways to ask questions. These can also be placed before 싶다 to create a similar meaning as described above. For example:
~나 싶다
이렇게 늦게까지 회사에 남아 있어야 할 의무가 있나 싶어요
= I wonder if I really have an obligation to stay this late at work
전람회에 사람이 너무 없어서 제대로 열린 게 맞나 싶었어요
= There were so few people at the exhibition that I wondered if it was really being held properly
얼굴을 만져보니 광대뼈가 더 튀어나온 것 같아서 살이 빠졌나 싶어요
= Touching my face, my cheekbones seem more prominent, so I wonder if I’ve lost weight
—–
~니 싶다
저렴한 가격을 보니 위조 상품이니 싶어 의심스러워요
= Looking at the cheap price, I suspect it might be counterfeit
길에서 주운 전단지가 광고인가 싶었는데 자세히 보니 경고문이었어요
= I thought the flyer I picked up on the street was an advertisement, but upon closer look, it was a warning notice
—–
~ㄴ/은가 싶다
제출한 서류가 승인된 건가 싶어서 이메일을 확인했어요
= I checked my email, wondering if my submitted documents had been approved
친구가 갑자기 조용하길래 저한테 장난칠 계획인가 싶었어요
= My friend suddenly got quiet, so I wondered if they were planning to prank me
이 소설의 주인공이 정말 용맹스러운가 싶어서 읽어 보기로 했어요
= I wondered if the protagonist in this novel was truly brave, so I decided to read it
처음 본 사람들 앞에서 수줍어하는 것을 보니 낯가리는 성격인가 싶어요
= Seeing how shy they are in front of new people, I wonder if they have a reserved personality
Furthermore, in Lesson 26, you saw how ~ㄴ/은/는/ㄹ/을 지 can be used to indicate speculation in a sentence.
~ㄴ/은/는/ㄹ/을 지 싶다
처음 만든 튀김이 바삭할지 싶어 긴장돼요
= I’m nervous, wondering if the fried food I made for the first time will be crispy
밤낮없이 일하는 게 건강에 괜찮은지 싶어요
= I wonder if working day and night is okay for my health
이 전단지가 합법적으로 배포된 것인지 싶어요
= I wonder if this flyer was distributed legally
너무 빨리 승인이 나서 절차가 제대로 진행된 건지 싶어요
= The approval came so quickly that I wonder if the process was done properly
Usage 2: Intention
There is one final usage for 싶다. This usage, just like the previous one, requires the use of a grammatical principle that indicates speculation. Also as above, it is common to use ~ㄹ/을까. However, in this usage, the speaker is indicating their intention to do an action. For example:
의무를 다 했으니 이제 퇴근할까 싶어요
= Since I’ve fulfilled my duty, I think I’ll go home now
The use of 싶다 and the speculative grammatical principle gives a bit of nuance to these sentences. The intention isn’t very strong. The speaker is thinking about it, but hasn’t quite made up their mind yet. Below are many more examples:
위조 서류에 대한 신고를 경찰서에 할까 싶어요
= I’m thinking about reporting the counterfeit documents to the police
수줍은 성격이지만 용기를 내서 발표해 볼까 싶어요
= Even though I’m shy, I think I’ll muster up the courage to give the presentation
주말에 전람회에 갈까 싶었는데 너무 바빠서 포기했어요
= I was thinking about going to the exhibition this weekend, but I was too busy, so I gave up
광대뼈가 너무 도드라져 보여서 화장으로 가릴까 싶어요
= Since my cheekbones look too prominent, I think I’ll cover them with makeup
검은 정장을 입을까 싶었지만 너무 더울 것 같아서 그냥 밝은 색을 골랐어요
= I thought about wearing a black suit, but I figured it’d be too hot, so I chose a lighter color
That’s it for this lesson!