-듯이

Links two clauses by likeness: 'just as A, so B'. It also forms fixed similes such as 물 쓰듯이 ('like water') and 밥 먹듯이 ('as often as eating').

정도·비교Degree & comparison

Han: The ending -듯이 joins the bare stem (다르-); 다른 듯이 would mean 'as if they were different'.

Examples

그는 월급을 받으면 물 쓰듯이 돈을 써 버린다.As soon as he gets paid, he spends money like water.

앞에서 설명했듯이 이 제도는 내년부터 시행됩니다.As explained earlier, this system will take effect next year.

사람마다 얼굴이 다르듯이 생각하는 방식도 다 달라요.Just as everyone's face is different, so is the way they think.

V/A stem+듯이 (past: -았/었듯이)

short form -듯

다르다 → 다르듯이; 쓰다 → 쓰듯이; 오다 → 오듯이; 말하다 → 말했듯이

It attaches straight to the stem, with no 는/(으)ㄴ: 다르듯이, 오듯이. With a modifier and a space (다른 듯이) it becomes the different pattern -(으)ㄴ/는 듯이, 'as if'.
The first clause states a real, familiar fact or image that the second clause is likened to; -듯이 does not mean 'as if (but not really)'.
-았/었듯이 refers back to something already said or known: 앞에서 말했듯이, 예상했듯이, 여러분도 아시듯이.
Common fixed similes: 물 쓰듯이 (spend lavishly), 밥 먹듯이 (do habitually, e.g. lie), 비 오듯이 (sweat or tears pouring), 손바닥 뒤집듯이 (change one's mind easily).

Wrong: ~~사람마다 얼굴이 다른듯이 생각도 달라요.~~

Right: 사람마다 얼굴이 다르듯이 생각도 달라요.

The ending -듯이 joins the bare stem (다르-); 다른 듯이 would mean 'as if they were different'.

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