Nuance Dictionary / Grammar
셈이다 Sem-ida
To mentally convert an undesirable reality into an acceptable outcome by treating it as practically equivalent to a better scenario.
What does 셈이다 mean?
셈이다 (Sem-ida) means: To mentally convert an undesirable reality into an acceptable outcome by treating it as practically equivalent to a better scenario.
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How it's actually used
- 이 정도면 비싼 값에 잘 산 셈이지.
I jeong-do-myeon bi-ssan gap-e jal san sem-i-ji.
At this rate, you could say I bought it well even at a high price.
💡 Reveals how the term is used to comfort oneself after making an expensive purchase. - 매일 야근했으니 운동한 셈 치자.
Mae-il ya-geun-haet-seu-ni un-don-han sem chi-ja.
I worked overtime every day, so let's just count it as working out.
💡 Shows the playful, self-delusional side of the grammar when paired with '치다'. - 시험은 망쳤지만 인생 공부 한 셈치죠 뭐.
Si-heom-eun mang-hyeot-ji-man in-saeng gong-bu han sem-chi-jyo mwo.
I blew the exam, but hey, let's call it a life lesson.
💡 Demonstrates how natives use the phrase to immediately bounce back from failure.
Related words in Grammar
설렁설렁 seolleong-seolleong격조사 gyeok-jo-sa보조사 bo-jo-sa주제 (화제) ju-je (hwa-je)대비 dae-bi