같다

Etymology

First attested in the Myobeopyeonhwagyeong eonhae (妙法蓮華經諺解 / 묘법연화경언해), 1463, as Middle Korean ᄀᆞᆮᄒᆞ다 (kot.hota). Analysable as root ᄀᆞᆮ— (kot-, “to be like”) + ᄒᆞ— (ho-, “to do”) (Modern 하— (ha)) + —다 (da). Compare Japanese 如し (gotoshi, “like; as if”).

Pronunciation

• Audio

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• IPA^(key)[ka̠t̚t͈a̠]
• Phonetic Hangul[갇따]

Adjective

같다 • (gatda) (infinitive 같아, sequential 같으니)

1. (to be) the same

   같은 말을 되풀이하다

   gateun mareul doepurihada

   to say the same thing over and over

   너의 어머니와 같다

   neoui eomeoniwa gatda

   the same as your mother

2. (to be) like or similar (often used with 와 (wa)/과 (gwa))
3. (to be) probably so; (to be) apparently so

   In this sense, it often follows 것 (geot) and is often translated as "it looks like".

   비가 올 것 같다.

   Biga ol geot gatda.

   It looks like it will rain.

   공항까지 지하철을 타면 될 것 같은데 혹시 지하철이 어디 있는지 아세요?

   Gonghangkkaji jihacheoreul tamyeon doel geot gateunde hoksi jihacheori eodi inneunji aseyo?

   I think I can take the subway to the airport. Do you know where the subway is?