-(으)ㅁ 직하다
looks worth …; seems plausible
Two related things share this shape: a small set of fused adjectives you should learn as words, and a productive pattern meaning “plausible.” The spacing tells them apart.
Build it
Pick a form
When to use it
The fused adjectives are written joined and behave as ordinary words: 먹음직하다 (looks good to eat), 믿음직하다 (dependable), 바람직하다 (desirable). These are a closed set, best learned as vocabulary rather than as grammar.
The productive pattern is written with a space and means “there is reason to think so”: 충분히 있음 직한 일이다 — entirely plausible.
In that use it overlaps closely with -(으)ㄹ 법하다, and either usually fits.
Both uses are formal or literary. 바람직하다 is the exception — it is everyday vocabulary and appears constantly in writing and speech about what ought to be done.
How to attach it
| Situation | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fused adjective | joined | 먹다 → 먹음직하다 |
| Fused adjective | joined | 믿다 → 믿음직하다 |
| Everyday word | 바람직하다 | desirable, advisable |
| Plausible | spaced | 있음 직하다 |
| Before a noun | -(으)ㅁ 직한 | 있음 직한 일 |
| Near-synonym | -(으)ㄹ 법하다 | 있을 법한 일 |
In use
빵이 노릇노릇하게 구워져 먹음직해 보였다.
The bread was baked golden and looked good to eat.
그는 어떤 일이든 맡길 만한 믿음직한 사람이다.
He is a dependable man you could entrust with anything.
환경을 고려한 설계가 바람직합니다.
A design that takes the environment into account is desirable.
충분히 있음 직한 일이라고 생각합니다.
I consider it entirely plausible.
직접 만들었다고 해도 믿음 직한 솜씨였다.
The workmanship was such that you would believe it was handmade.
누구에게나 일어남 직한 실수였어요.
It was the sort of mistake that could happen to anyone.
Compared with
-(으)ㄹ 법하다
In the “plausible” reading the two are close. 법하다 is rather more common in modern writing; -(으)ㅁ 직하다 sounds older.
있을 법한 이야기 / 있음 직한 이야기
-(으)ㄹ 만하다
만하다 rates something as worth doing; the fused 먹음직하다 says it looks worth doing, judged by appearance.
먹을 만해요. (edible enough) / 먹음직해요. (looks appetising)
바람직하다
Worth separating out. It has drifted away from the pattern into ordinary vocabulary meaning “desirable,” and appears constantly in policy and advice.
바람직한 태도 / 바람직하지 않습니다
Watch out
빵이 먹음 직해 보였다.
빵이 먹음직해 보였다.
먹음직하다 is a single fused adjective and is written joined. The space belongs to the “plausible” use.
충분히 있음직한 일이다. — meaning “plausible”
충분히 있음 직한 일이다.
In the plausibility reading, 직하다 is an auxiliary and takes a space.
그 사람은 가음직하다.
그 사람은 믿음직하다.
The fused adjectives are a closed set — 먹음직하다, 믿음직하다, 바람직하다 and a few others. New ones cannot be coined.
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