Korean word

그럴듯하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationkeureoldeutada

Meaning

  • adjectiveplausible

Example

그의 변명이 그럴듯해요.keu ui pyeon myeong i keu reol deu tae yo

His excuse sounds plausible.

Illustration for 그럴듯하다 (plausible)

More examples

회의에서 그 제안이 그럴듯해 보이지만 자세히 보면 문제가 많다.hoe ui e seo keu che a ni keu reol deu tae po i ji man cha se hi po myeon mun je ga man ta

At the meeting, the proposal looks plausible, but on closer inspection, it has many problems.

Core concept

Something that looks or sounds convincing, even though its truth is not yet known.

Common phrases

  • 그럴듯한 근거keu reol deu tan keun geo

    plausible basis

  • 그럴듯해 보인다keu reol deu tae po in da

    looks plausible

Similar words

그럴싸하다keureolssahada: Having an appearance or style that seems convincingly real.
설득력 있다seoldeungnyeok ittta: Having enough persuasive force to make an idea or explanation seem acceptable.

Definition in Korean

겉모습이나 말투가 설득력 있어 보이지만 실제로 그런지는 알 수 없는 상태를 이르는 형용사.keon mo seu bi na mal tu ga seol deung nyeok i sseo po i ji man sil je ro keu reon ji neun al ssu eom neun sang tae reul i reu neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

그럴듯하다 (geureoldeutada, "seem plausible") combines 그럴 (geureol, "that way") with 듯하다 (deutada, "seem like"), expressing an appearance that is not confirmed as fact.

Usage tips

  • The word can sound cautiously positive or faintly skeptical, so context and tone show whether the speaker accepts a claim or only acknowledges its appearance.

Other meanings

  • credibleadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 그럴듯하게keureoldeutageplausiblyadverb

Word lists with this word