B2 · 中上級 チャプター 16

Inevitability and Close Calls

5 トータルルール
54 例文
5 分
このチャプターのルール クイック練習

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of describing natural outcomes, unavoidable situations, and near-misses in Korean.

  • Identify patterns for natural consequences and habits.
  • Express strong personal or external necessity.
  • Describe events that almost occurred but were avoided.
From inevitable truths to close calls, speak with precision.

学べること

Hey there, awesome Korean learners! In this chapter, we're diving deep into some super useful and cool grammatical structures that will seriously level up your conversations. Imagine wanting to express that something is bound to happen, or unavoidable, or that you

had no choice but to
do something. And the best part? You'll learn how to talk about those almost moments – things that nearly happened but thankfully didn't! These five grammar points – '-기 마련이다' (for outcomes naturally bound to happen), '-지 않을 수 없다' (for situations/emotions completely unavoidable), '-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다' (for when circumstances force your hand), '-기 일쑤이다' (for negative actions that happen often), and '-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다' (for those famous 'close calls') – are your new best friends for expressing precise nuances. For instance, when your friend studies really hard, you can confidently say, 'Of course they'll get good grades, that's just how it is!' (using '-기 마련이다'). Or if you watched a super sad movie and felt heartbroken, how would you say, 'I just couldn't help but cry!'? ('-지 않을 수 없다' is perfect for that!). These aren't just for emotions; they're incredibly practical for daily situations too. Like when you left home late and 'almost missed the bus' (that's '-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다'!) or if you 'always forget your keys' (which you can express with '-기 일쑤이다'). You'll move beyond basic statements, adding depth and authenticity to your Korean. By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to confidently discuss everyday events, probabilities, and even those minor mishaps that nearly occurred, making you sound much more like a native speaker. Ready to jump in?

  • 必然性：「〜するものだ」 (-기 마련이다)
    「ある状況から当然導き出される結果」を表現する時に使います。«기 마련이다» は「〜するものだ」「〜するのが当たり前だ」というニュアンスの魔法の言葉です。
  • 〜せずにはいられない (-지 않을 수 없다)
    「〜しないわけにはいかない」「どうしても〜してしまう」という、避けられない強い感情や論理的な必然性を表す «지 않을 수 없다» は、二重否定で肯定を強調する魔法のフレーズです。
  • 〜するしかない (-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다)
    特定の状況によって「選択肢がない」場合や、論理的に「必然的」な結果を伝えるときに使う表現です。まさに「やむを得ない」という気持ちを表現できますね。
  • ～しがちだ / よく～する (-기 일쑤이다)
    「-기 일쑤이다」は、望ましくない習慣や、ついついやってしまう失敗を表現する時に使います。«자주» (しばしば) や «부정적» (否定的) なニュアンスがポイントです。
  • 間一髪：〜するところだった (-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다)
    「危うく〜するところだった」というヒヤリ・ハットな場面では «-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다» を使いましょう。実際には起きなかったことに対して「あともう少しで」というニュアンスを込めるのがポイントです。

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use -기 마련이다 to comment on universal truths or expected outcomes.

チャプターガイド

Overview

Hey there, awesome Korean learners! Welcome to a truly exciting chapter that will significantly elevate your conversational skills and help you express nuanced ideas with confidence. As you navigate the B2 Korean grammar landscape, mastering expressions of inevitability and those tricky close calls is absolutely essential for sounding more like a native speaker.
This guide is designed to help you conquer these sophisticated structures, adding depth and authenticity to your spoken and written Korean.
In this chapter, we're diving deep into five incredibly useful grammatical patterns: -기 마련이다 (for outcomes naturally bound to happen), -지 않을 수 없다 (for situations or emotions that are completely unavoidable), -ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다 (for when circumstances leave you with no other choice), -기 일쑤이다 (for negative actions that happen frequently), and -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 (for those famous 'almost' or 'nearly happened' moments). These aren't just abstract rules; they're the linguistic tools you'll use daily to describe life's certainties, unexpected turns, and minor mishaps.
Understanding these patterns will allow you to articulate complex thoughts and feelings, moving beyond basic statements to truly engage in meaningful conversations. Whether you're discussing predictable human behavior, expressing overwhelming emotions, explaining unavoidable decisions, or recounting a near miss, these structures are your key to advanced fluency. Get ready to unlock a new level of precision and naturalness in your Korean grammar journey!

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down these powerful Korean grammar structures, giving you the tools to express inevitability and close calls like a pro.
First up is -기 마련이다, which means bound to, destined to, or naturally happens. This pattern expresses a general truth or a natural consequence. It's often used when something is considered an unavoidable outcome given certain conditions.
Example

열심히 공부하면 성적이 오르기 마련이다. (If you study hard, your grades are bound to go up.)

Next, we have -지 않을 수 없다, meaning "can't help but or cannot but." This expresses an unavoidable action or emotion, implying that one has no control over it. It's often used with verbs describing feelings or involuntary actions.
Example

너무 슬픈 영화를 봐서 울지 않을 수 없었어요. (I watched such a sad movie that I couldn't help but cry.)

Then there's -ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다, which translates to
have no choice but to
or can only. This indicates that there is no other alternative or option due to external circumstances or logical necessity.
Example

비가 너무 많이 와서 집에 있을 수밖에 없었어요. (It rained so much that I had no choice but to stay home.)

For frequently occurring negative actions, we use -기 일쑤이다, meaning often, prone to, or "it's common for... to happen." This pattern highlights a repetitive, usually undesirable, action or event.
Example

저는 아침에 늦잠을 자기 일쑤예요. (I often oversleep in the morning.)

Finally, for those heart-stopping moments, we have -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다, meaning almost did, nearly did, or
came close to doing.
This expresses that an action or event almost happened but ultimately did not. It often conveys relief or regret.
Example

버스를 놓칠 뻔했어요. (I almost missed the bus.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 너무 피곤해서 잘 수밖에 없어요. (I'm so tired, I can only sleep.)
✓ Correct: 너무 피곤해서 자지 않을 수 없어요. (I'm so tired, I can't help but sleep.)
*Explanation:* While both express inevitability, -ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다 implies a lack of *other options* (e.g.,
I had no choice but to sleep because I worked all night
). -지 않을 수 없다 expresses an *uncontrollable urge or emotion* (e.g., "I couldn't help but sleep because I was so tired"). Here, the tiredness directly causes the involuntary action of sleeping.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 그는 항상 칭찬을 받기 일쑤예요. (He often receives praise.)
✓ Correct: 그는 항상 칭찬을 받아요. (He always receives praise.)
*Explanation:* -기 일쑤이다 is primarily used for negative or undesirable frequent actions. Receiving praise is generally a positive thing, so using -기 일쑤이다 sounds unnatural or even sarcastic. For positive or neutral frequent actions, simpler adverbs like 항상 (always) or 자주 (often) are more appropriate.

Real Conversations

A

A

와, 이번 시험 정말 어려웠는데, 철수 씨는 또 만점 받았네요. (Wow, this exam was really hard, but Cheolsu got a perfect score again.)
B

B

철수 씨는 항상 열심히 공부하니까, 좋은 성적을 받기 마련이죠. (Cheolsu always studies hard, so it's natural that he gets good grades.)
A

A

어제 영화 봤어요? 저는 정말 감동해서 눈물이 펑펑 났어요. (Did you watch the movie yesterday? I was so moved that tears just flowed.)
B

B

저도요! 너무 감동적이어서 울지 않을 수 없었어요. (Me too! It was so touching that I couldn't help but cry.)
A

A

갑자기 비가 와서 우산도 없었는데 어떻게 집에 왔어요? (It suddenly rained, and I didn't have an umbrella. How did you get home?)
B

B

너무 멀어서 걸어올 수밖에 없었어요. 다 젖었죠. (It was too far, so I had no choice but to walk home. I got all wet.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I choose between -지 않을 수 없다 and -ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다 for no choice?

-지 않을 수 없다 emphasizes an unavoidable *action or emotion* driven by an internal state (e.g., "I couldn't help but laugh

). -ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다 emphasizes a lack of *alternative options* due to external circumstances (e.g.,
I had no choice but to take the bus because my car broke down").

Q

Can -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 be used for positive almost situations?

Generally, -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 implies that something negative or potentially problematic almost happened, and there's a sense of relief that it didn't. While technically possible to say

I almost won the lottery,
it's less common and might imply slight regret. It's predominantly used for negative close calls.

Q

Is -기 일쑤이다 always negative?

Yes, -기 일쑤이다 almost exclusively describes actions or events that are frequent and undesirable, problematic, or annoying. Using it for positive or neutral frequent occurrences would sound very unnatural to native speakers.

Cultural Context

These B2 Korean grammar patterns are deeply embedded in everyday Korean communication, reflecting a cultural emphasis on circumstances and collective experience. -기 마련이다 often highlights shared human nature or common sense, fostering a sense of understanding. Expressions like -지 않을 수 없다 and -ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다 allow speakers to convey empathy or explain actions without sounding defensive, emphasizing external factors.
-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 is frequently used in storytelling to build suspense or share relatable minor mishaps, often eliciting shared laughter or relief. Mastering these structures not only improves your grammatical accuracy but also your ability to connect on a more nuanced, natural level with native speakers.

重要な例文 (8)

1

사람은 누구나 실수를 하기 마련이에요.

人は誰でも間違いを犯すものです。

必然性：「〜するものだ」 (-기 마련이다)
2

시간이 지나면 잊혀지기 마련이야.

時間が経てば、忘れ去られるものだよ。

必然性：「〜するものだ」 (-기 마련이다)
3

그 영화가 너무 슬퍼서 울지 않을 수 없었어요.

その映画がとても悲しくて、泣かずにはいられませんでした。

〜せずにはいられない (-지 않을 수 없다)
4

배가 너무 고파서 야식을 시키지 않을 수 없었어요.

お腹が空きすぎて、夜食を頼まずにはいられませんでした。

〜せずにはいられない (-지 않을 수 없다)
5

I was so hungry, I had no choice but to eat a late-night snack.

お腹が空きすぎて、夜食を食べるしかなかったんだ。

〜するしかない (-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다)
6

The last bus left, so I have no choice but to take a taxi.

終電が行ってしまったので、タクシーに乗るしかありません。

〜するしかない (-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다)
7

휴대폰을 떨어뜨려서 액정이 깨지기 일쑤예요.

スマホを落として画面を割りがちです。

～しがちだ / よく～する (-기 일쑤이다)
8

다이어트 중인데 주말에는 과식하기 일쑤야.

ダイエット中なのに、週末は過食しがちだよ。

～しがちだ / よく～する (-기 일쑤이다)

ヒントとコツ (4)

💡

共感の魔法

相手を励ます時に使うと温かみが出ます。«누구나 처음에는 서툴기 마련이야.»（誰でも最初は下手なものだよ）と言ってあげましょう。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 必然性：「〜するものだ」 (-기 마련이다)
🎯

ドラマチック・ブースター

自分の感情をより深く、少しドラマチックに伝えたい時に使ってみて。歌詞や小説でもよく見かける表現ですよ。例えば «기쁘지 않을 수 없다»（喜ばずにはいられない）のように使います。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 〜せずにはいられない (-지 않을 수 없다)
🎯

Double Negative Trick

これは「〜する以外に方法がない」と考えると、なぜ「〜しなければならない」という肯定的な意味になるのか理解しやすいですよ。「他の道はない！」というイメージです: «공부할 수밖에 없어.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 〜するしかない (-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다)
⚠️

ネガティブな内容限定

成功や良いことには使いません。「賞をもらいがち」と言うと、皮肉っぽく聞こえてしまいます: «시험에서 상을 받기 일쑤예요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ～しがちだ / よく～する (-기 일쑤이다)

重要な語彙 (5)

어쩔 수 없다 cannot be helped 실수하다 to make a mistake 감동적이다 to be touching/moving 계절 season 지각하다 to be late

Real-World Preview

bus

Morning Commute

Review Summary

  • Verb/Adj + -기 마련이다
  • Verb + -지 않을 수 없다
  • Verb + -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다
  • Verb + -기 일쑤이다
  • Verb + -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다

よくある間違い

Use -기 마련이다 for universal laws, not personal annoying habits.

Wrong: 그는 늦기 마련이다 (He is bound to be late - as a habit).
正解: 그는 늦기 일쑤이다 (He is prone to being late).

-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 strictly means the event did NOT happen.

Wrong: 나는 울 뻔했다 (I almost cried - but I did).
正解: 나는 울 뻔했다 (I almost cried - but I didn't).

The negation must be attached to the verb root, not the noun form.

Wrong: 공부하기 않을 수 없다 (I can't help but study).
正解: 공부하지 않을 수 없다 (I can't help but study).

このチャプターのルール (5)

1

必然性：「〜するものだ」 (-기 마련이다)

B2
「ある状況から当然導き出される結果」を表現する時に使います。«기 마련이다» は「〜するものだ」「〜するのが当たり前だ」というニュアンスの魔法の言葉です。
사람은 누구나 실수를 하기 마련이에요.
12 例文
2

〜せずにはいられない (-지 않을 수 없다)

B2
「〜しないわけにはいかない」「どうしても〜してしまう」という、避けられない強い感情や論理的な必然性を表す «지 않을 수 없다» は、二重否定で肯定を強調する魔法のフレーズです。
그 영화가 너무 슬퍼서 울지 않을 수 없었어요.
10 例文
3

〜するしかない (-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다)

B2
特定の状況によって「選択肢がない」場合や、論理的に「必然的」な結果を伝えるときに使う表現です。まさに「やむを得ない」という気持ちを表現できますね。
I was so hungry, I had no choice but to eat a late...
10 例文
4

～しがちだ / よく～する (-기 일쑤이다)

B2
「-기 일쑤이다」は、望ましくない習慣や、ついついやってしまう失敗を表現する時に使います。«자주» (しばしば) や «부정적» (否定的) なニュアンスがポイントです。
휴대폰을 떨어뜨려서 액정이 깨지기 일쑤예요.
12 例文
5

間一髪：〜するところだった (-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다)

B2
「危うく〜するところだった」というヒヤリ・ハットな場面では «-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다» を使いましょう。実際には起きなかったことに対して「あともう少しで」というニュアンスを込めるのがポイントです。
The road was slippery, so I almost fell.
10 例文

Next Steps

You've tackled some complex grammar today! Keep practicing these in your daily conversations, and you'll be speaking with natural flair in no time.

Write a diary entry using all 5 patterns

Continue to: Contrasts and Choices

クイック練習 (10)

次の文の間違いを見つけて直してください： '슬퍼서 울지 수 없어요.'

Find and fix the mistake:

슬퍼서 울지 수 없어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 슬퍼서 울지 않을 수 없어요.
文法パターンの '않을' の部分が抜けています。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 〜せずにはいられない (-지 않을 수 없다)

「잊다」(忘れる) を正しい形にして空欄を埋めてください。

우산을 지하철에 ___ 뻔했어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 잊을
「〜しそうになった」は未来連体形 -(으)ㄹ を使います。잊다 はパッチムがあるので -을 がつきます。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間一髪：〜するところだった (-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다)

「よく誤解してしまいます」という意味になるように、文章を完成させてください。

한국어 발음이 비슷해서 ___ ___ 일쑤예요. (오해하다)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 오해하기
「일쑤예요」の前には動詞の名詞形「기」が必要です。したがって「오해하다」は「오해하기」になります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ～しがちだ / よく～する (-기 일쑤이다)

「買わなきゃいけなかった（買わざるを得なかった）」を正しく表現しているのはどれ？

最も自然な文を選んでください：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 너무 예뻐서 사지 않을 수 없어요.
二重否定の形を作るには、'-지 않을 수 없다' という完全なパターンが必要です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 〜せずにはいられない (-지 않을 수 없다)

次の文章の間違いを直してください： '버스 놓칠 뻔해요.'

Find and fix the mistake:

버스 놓칠 뻔해요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 버스 놓칠 뻔했어요.
「〜するところだった」という過去の出来事を表すので、必ず過去形の「뻔했어요」にします。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間一髪：〜するところだった (-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다)

文法的に正しく、自然な文章を選んでください。

正しい文章を選んでください：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 돈을 많이 벌면 쓰기 마련이에요.
'-기 마련이다' は現在形の語幹に名詞形語尾 '-기' をつけて使用します。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 必然性：「〜するものだ」 (-기 마련이다)

活用ミスを直してください。

Find and fix the mistake:

시간이 없어서 택시를 잡을 수밖에 없었다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 택시를 잡을 수밖에 없었다.
元の文「택시를 잡을 수밖에 없었다」は実は正しかったんですね！「잡다」は「을」を取ります。もし間違いがあるとするなら、「잡는」（現在の連体形）はここでは不適切で、未来・推量を表す「-(으)ㄹ」が必要です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 〜するしかない (-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다)

文章の中の不自然な部分を見つけてください。

彼は定期的にお金を貯金しがちだ（-기 일쑤이다）。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 돈을 낭비하기 일쑤이다.
貯金する（저축하다）のは良いことなので「일쑤이다」は合いません。浪費する（낭비하다）なら完璧にフィットします。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ～しがちだ / よく～する (-기 일쑤이다)

「待つ」(기다리다) を使って文を完成させてください。

버스가 안 와서 ___ ___ ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 기다릴 수밖에 없어요
기다리다は母音で終わる動詞なので、「-ㄹ 수밖에 없다」をつけます。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 〜するしかない (-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다)

文章の間違いを見つけて直してください。

Find and fix the mistake:

처음에는 다 서툴기 마련이고.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 서툴기 마련이야.
文章を終わらせるには '이다' やその活用形が必要です。'서툴기 마련이야' は自然なタメ口の語尾です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 必然性：「〜するものだ」 (-기 마련이다)

Score: /10

よくある質問 (6)

ある状況の結果として、ある事態が起こるのが自然である、または必然であることを表します。例えば「運動すれば疲れるのは当然だ」という時に使います。«운동을 하면 피곤하기 마련이에요.»
動詞や形容詞の語幹にそのまま '-기 마련이다' をつけるだけです。例えば '먹다'（食べる）は «먹기 마련이다» になります。
厳密には違います。どちらも「〜しなければならない」という意味を含みますが、«-지 않을 수 없다» は「他に選択肢がない」「感情が抑えられない」というニュアンスがより強いです。例えば «공부해야 해요»（勉強しなきゃ）は義務ですが、«공부하지 않을 수 없어요»（勉強せずにはいられない）は、試験が明日だからやるしかない！という切迫感があります。
はい、使えます！ «너무 예뻐서 칭찬하지 않을 수 없어요»（とても綺麗で、褒めずにはいられません）のように、状態に対する強い確信や反応を表せます。
いいえ、あまり使いません。「他に選択肢がなかった」という必然性を強調する表現だからです。もし「したい」のであれば、そのまま素直に「〜したい」と言えばいいですよ。「어쩔 수 없이 해야 해요」（仕方なくやらなければならない）というニュアンスが強いです。
「-아야 되다」は一般的な義務や必要性（例: 「会社に行かなければならない」＝ «회사에 가야 돼요»）を表します。一方、「-ㄹ 수밖에 없다」は、他に道がなく「〜するしかない」という、追い詰められた状況のニュアンスを加えます（例: 「車が故障したので、歩くしかない」＝ «차가 고장나서 걸어갈 수밖에 없어요»）。
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