나 보다 vs 것 같다

Both 나 보다 and 것 같다 express guesses or assumptions, but they have different nuances.

나 보다 indicates a guess based on evidence you've observed. You're inferring from what you see, hear, or notice:

것 같다 is more general - it can express guesses, opinions, or uncertainty with or without direct evidence:

Key differences:

• 나 보다 - You observed something that led to your conclusion

• 것 같다 - General opinion, softer statement, or politeness hedge

것 같다 is also commonly used to soften statements and sound less direct, even when you're fairly certain. This makes it extremely common in everyday Korean.