불가피하다
불가피하다 em 30 segundos
- 불가피하다 means 'inevitable' or 'unavoidable' in a formal context.
- It is used when external circumstances leave no other choice but a specific outcome.
- Commonly found in news reports, business apologies, and academic writing.
- Derived from Hanja: 不 (not) + 可 (possible) + 避 (avoid).
The Korean word 불가피하다 (bulgapihada) is a high-level adjective that translates most accurately to 'inevitable' or 'unavoidable.' It is derived from three distinct Hanja characters: 不 (불 - not), 可 (가 - possible), and 避 (피 - avoid). When combined with the suffix 하다, it literally means 'it is not possible to avoid.' This word is essential for learners who wish to move beyond simple conversational Korean and enter the realms of professional, academic, and journalistic discourse. In English, we might say 'it couldn't be helped' or 'it was bound to happen,' but 불가피하다 carries a weight of formality and logical necessity that those phrases often lack.
- Core Concept
- The word describes a situation where external factors, logic, or fate have converged such that no other outcome is possible. It is rarely used for personal preferences (e.g., 'I inevitably ate the cake') and instead focuses on external constraints (e.g., 'The tax increase was inevitable due to the deficit').
- Situational Nuance
- In Korean society, using 불가피하다 is a way to signal that a decision was not made lightly. It suggests that the speaker or the organization explored all other avenues before concluding that the current path was the only one remaining. This makes it a very common word in public apologies or corporate announcements.
폭설로 인해 비행기 연착이 불가피하다고 합니다.
— Flight Announcement
To understand the depth of this word, one must look at the contexts of governance and law. When a government implements a controversial policy, they often frame it as 불가피한 조치 (an unavoidable measure). This linguistic framing shifts the responsibility from the agency of the decision-maker to the pressure of the circumstances. It is a powerful tool in rhetoric. Furthermore, in the context of history, events are often described as 불가피한 결과 (inevitable results) of previous tensions, suggesting a deterministic view of cause and effect.
전쟁의 참상은 인류 역사에서 불가피한 비극이었을까요?
- Register and Tone
- This word sits firmly in the 'Formal' (격식) register. You will see it in newspapers (신문), news broadcasts (뉴스), and academic papers (논문). Using it in a casual text message to a close friend might sound overly dramatic or even sarcastic, similar to saying 'The postponement of our coffee date is an inevitable consequence of my current fatigue' in English.
In summary, 불가피하다 is about the lack of alternatives. It is the linguistic manifestation of being backed into a corner by facts, physics, or fate. Whether you are discussing climate change, economic shifts, or structural changes in a company, this word provides the necessary weight to describe outcomes that simply cannot be bypassed.
Using 불가피하다 correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role as a descriptive verb (adjective) and its common syntactic patterns. Because it describes a state of affairs, it is almost always used with a noun or a nominalized clause as its subject. The most basic structure is [Noun] + 이/가 + 불가피하다.
예산 삭감이 불가피합니다.
Budget cuts are unavoidable.
When you want to describe a specific action as being inevitable, you use the -는 것이 or -(으)ㅁ이 nominalization patterns. This allows you to turn an entire clause into the subject of the sentence. For example, 'It is inevitable that we change the plan' becomes '계획을 변경하는 것이 불가피하다.'
- Common Grammatical Patterns
- Noun + 이/가 불가피하다: The most direct way to state that a noun (event/state) is unavoidable.
- Noun + 의 불가피성: The noun form 'inevitability of [Noun].' Used often in academic writing.
- 불가피하게 + Verb: The adverbial form, meaning 'unavoidably [doing something].' This is used when an action was forced.
The adverbial form 불가피하게 is particularly useful for explaining your own actions in a formal context. If you had to cancel a meeting because of a family emergency, you would say, '개인적인 사정으로 불가피하게 참석하지 못하게 되었습니다' (Due to personal circumstances, I unavoidably became unable to attend). This sounds much more apologetic and professional than simply saying you couldn't come.
회사는 경영난으로 인해 인원 감축을 불가피하게 결정했습니다.
The company unavoidably decided on a reduction in personnel due to management difficulties.
In complex sentences, 불가피하다 often appears in the middle as a reason. The pattern -이/가 불가피하여 or -이/가 불가피함에 따라 is used to link the inevitability of one thing to a subsequent action. For example: '수리가 불가피하여 휴업합니다' (Closed for business as repairs are unavoidable).
- Tense and Politeness
- In reports, use the plain form: 불가피하다. In presentations, use 불가피합니다. In polite conversation, use 불가피해요. Note that the past tense 불가피했다 is used when reflecting on historical events or past decisions that were forced by then-current circumstances.
You are most likely to encounter 불가피하다 in environments where high-stakes decisions are being communicated. It is a staple of the 'News Korean' vocabulary. If you turn on KBS or MBC news, you will hear it within the first ten minutes, usually regarding government policy, international conflicts, or economic trends.
- 1. The Newsroom
- News anchors use this word to describe the logical conclusion of a crisis. '금리 인상이 불가피할 것으로 보입니다' (An interest rate hike appears to be inevitable). Here, the word provides an air of objective analysis rather than subjective opinion.
- 2. Corporate Announcements
- When a service goes down or a product is recalled, companies use '불가피하게' to apologize. It signals that they didn't want this to happen, but they have no choice. '시스템 점검으로 인해 서비스 중단이 불가피합니다' (Service interruption is unavoidable due to system maintenance).
이번 조치는 국민의 안전을 위해 불가피한 선택이었습니다.
This measure was an unavoidable choice for the safety of the citizens.
In academic settings, such as university lectures or scholarly articles, 불가피하다 is used to describe theoretical outcomes. A sociology professor might discuss how urbanization makes certain social changes 불가피하다. In this context, it functions as a synonym for 'deterministic' or 'structurally required.'
Finally, you will hear it in legal and administrative contexts. In contracts, the 'Force Majeure' clause—which covers events like natural disasters that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract—often uses the term 불가피한 사유 (unavoidable reasons). This legal usage is very strict; if something is deemed '불가피,' it means there was absolutely no way the party could have prevented the event.
- 3. Transportation and Weather
- Public transport announcements frequently use this word during delays. Whether it's a 'signal failure' (신호 고장) or 'heavy rain' (호우), the word 불가피하다 is used to manage passenger expectations by stating that the delay is beyond the operator's control.
While 불가피하다 is a powerful word, its high level of formality makes it prone to misuse by learners who might apply it to casual situations or confuse it with similar-sounding but semantically different words.
- 1. Over-formality in Casual Speech
- The most common mistake is using 불가피하다 with friends or family for trivial things. For example, saying '배가 고파서 밥을 먹는 것이 불가피해' (It is inevitable that I eat because I am hungry) sounds like a robot or a character in a historical drama. In these cases, 어쩔 수 없다 (can't be helped) or ~할 수밖에 없다 (have no choice but to) are much more natural.
- 2. Confusing with '불가능하다' (Impossible)
- Both words start with 불가 (impossible/cannot). However, 불가능하다 means an action cannot be performed (e.g., 'I can't swim'), whereas 불가피하다 means an event cannot be avoided (e.g., 'The storm is coming'). You cannot say '나는 수영이 불가피해' to mean 'I can't swim.'
Wrong: 어제 늦게 자서 오늘 피곤한 게 불가피해요.
Right: 어제 늦게 자서 오늘 피곤한 건 당연해요 (or 어쩔 수 없어요).
Another mistake involves the subject-verb agreement. In English, we often say 'I am inevitable' (like Thanos), but in Korean, a person is rarely the subject of 불가피하다 unless they are being described as an unavoidable force of nature. Usually, the subject is a situation, an event, or a result. Do not say '나는 불가피하다' to mean 'I am unavoidable.'
- 3. Redundancy
- Avoid saying things like '피할 수 없는 불가피한 선택' (An unavoidable inevitable choice). This is redundant because both '피할 수 없는' and '불가피한' mean the same thing. Choose one based on the level of formality you need.
To truly master 불가피하다, you must know how it compares to its synonyms. Korean has several ways to express that something is bound to happen, each with a different 'flavor' or register.
- 불가피하다 vs. 필연적이다 (Pil-yeon-jeok-i-da)
- While both mean 'inevitable,' 필연적이다 is more philosophical and scientific. It suggests a logical chain of cause and effect. If A happens, then B is 필연적. 불가피하다, on the other hand, often implies a sense of 'unfortunate necessity' or 'no other choice' due to circumstances.
- 불가피하다 vs. 어쩔 수 없다 (Eo-jjeol-su-eops-da)
- This is the most important distinction. 어쩔 수 없다 is idiomatic and used in everyday speech. It focuses on the speaker's lack of power. 불가피하다 is formal and focuses on the objective reality of the situation. Use '어쩔 수 없다' when you missed the bus; use '불가피하다' when the bus line is being discontinued due to low ridership.
Comparison Chart:
- 어쩔 수 없다: Casual, personal, emotional.
- 불가피하다: Formal, situational, objective.
- 필연적이다: Academic, logical, philosophical.
- 부득이하다: Formal, specifically used for excuses/apologies (e.g., 'Due to unavoidable circumstances...').
Another useful alternative is 부득이하다 (Bu-deuk-i-ha-da). This word is very close to 불가피하다 but is almost exclusively used when someone is explaining why they had to do something they didn't want to do. It's the 'polite excuse' word. If a store has to raise prices, they will say '부득이하게 가격을 인상하게 되었습니다.' While 불가피하다 could also work here, 부득이하다 sounds slightly more apologetic.
Lastly, consider 당연하다 (Dang-yeon-ha-da). While it means 'natural' or 'of course,' in some contexts, it can overlap with inevitability. If you don't study and fail, the failure is 당연하다 (natural/expected). However, 불가피하다 would be used if the failure was caused by an external event like the test being cancelled, making the lack of a grade inevitable.
How Formal Is It?
Curiosidade
The character 避 (피) also appears in the word '피난' (evacuation/refuge), showing that the root meaning is physically moving away from danger. '불가피' means you simply cannot move away from it.
Guia de pronúncia
- Pronouncing 'bul' like 'bull' in English. It should be a closed 'u' sound.
- Missing the aspiration on 'pi'. It must be a sharp puff of air.
- Treating 'h' too strongly; in fast speech, 'pi-ha' can sound like 'pia'.
Nível de dificuldade
Common in newspapers but requires Hanja knowledge for deep understanding.
Hard to use naturally without sounding overly formal.
Useful for formal apologies or explanations.
Often heard in news broadcasts and announcements.
O que aprender depois
Pré-requisitos
Aprenda a seguir
Avançado
Gramática essencial
-는 것이 불가피하다
계획을 바꾸는 것이 불가피합니다.
-으로 인해 (due to)
폭우로 인해 연기가 불가피합니다.
-게 되다 (come to be)
불가피하게 취소하게 되었습니다.
-어야 하다 (must)
불가피하게 떠나야 했습니다.
-은/는 불가피한 N이다
이것은 불가피한 결과입니다.
Exemplos por nível
비가 와서 취소가 불가피해요.
It's raining, so cancellation is unavoidable.
불가피해요 is the polite present tense.
이것은 불가피한 선택이에요.
This is an unavoidable choice.
불가피한 is the adjective form modifying '선택'.
시간이 없어서 불가피하게 그냥 가요.
I have no time, so I'm unavoidably leaving now.
불가피하게 is an adverb modifying '가요'.
사고 때문에 지연이 불가피해요.
Because of the accident, a delay is inevitable.
Noun + 이/가 불가피하다.
그 일은 불가피했어요.
That matter was unavoidable.
Past tense: 불가피했다.
불가피한 상황이 생겼어요.
An unavoidable situation has occurred.
Common phrase for emergencies.
수리가 불가피해서 문을 닫아요.
Repairs are unavoidable, so we are closing.
-해서 (because) links the reason.
변화는 불가피해요.
Change is inevitable.
Simple subject-adjective structure.
폭설로 인해 휴강이 불가피하게 되었습니다.
Due to heavy snow, class cancellation has become unavoidable.
-게 되다 indicates a change in state or situation.
기차 연착이 불가피하니 양해 바랍니다.
Train delay is inevitable, so please understand.
-니 is a formal way to provide a reason.
불가피한 사정으로 오늘 못 가요.
I can't go today due to unavoidable circumstances.
Standard polite excuse.
가격 인상이 불가피하다는 소식을 들었어요.
I heard news that a price hike is inevitable.
-다는 is used for reporting what was heard.
수술이 불가피하다는 의사의 진단이 있었습니다.
There was a doctor's diagnosis that surgery is unavoidable.
Medical context usage.
전쟁 중에는 피해가 불가피합니다.
During war, damage is inevitable.
General truth statement.
이 계획의 수정은 불가피해 보여요.
A revision of this plan seems inevitable.
-어 보이다 (seems like).
불가피하게 약속을 어기게 되어 죄송합니다.
I am sorry that I unavoidably broke the promise.
Formal apology structure.
환경 보호를 위해 규제는 불가피한 조치입니다.
Regulations are an unavoidable measure for environmental protection.
Topic marker -은/는 used for general concepts.
회사의 경영난으로 인원 감축이 불가피해졌습니다.
Due to management difficulties, staff reduction has become inevitable.
-어지다 indicates a gradual change into a state.
디지털 시대에 변화는 불가피한 흐름입니다.
In the digital age, change is an inevitable trend.
Using '흐름' (flow/trend) with the adjective.
그들은 불가피하게 고향을 떠나야 했습니다.
They unavoidably had to leave their hometown.
-어야 하다 (must) combined with the adverb.
두 나라 사이의 갈등은 불가피해 보입니다.
Conflict between the two countries seems inevitable.
Political context.
이 문제는 전문가의 도움이 불가피합니다.
Expert help is unavoidable for this problem.
Focus on 'need' or 'requirement'.
결과적으로 실패가 불가피했다는 분석이 나왔습니다.
An analysis came out that failure was ultimately inevitable.
Analytical tone.
태풍의 영향으로 비행기 결항이 불가피할 전망입니다.
Flight cancellations are expected to be inevitable due to the typhoon.
-을 전망이다 (is projected/expected to).
정부는 세금 인상이 불가피하다는 입장을 밝혔습니다.
The government stated its position that a tax hike is inevitable.
Formal reporting verb '밝히다'.
기술의 발전은 노동 시장의 개편을 불가피하게 만듭니다.
Technological advancement makes the reorganization of the labor market inevitable.
A + 은/는 + B + 를 + 불가피하게 만든다 (A makes B inevitable).
과거의 잘못에 대한 비판은 불가피한 결과입니다.
Criticism of past mistakes is an inevitable result.
Cause and effect relationship.
우리는 불가피한 사유로 계약을 해지하게 되었습니다.
We have terminated the contract due to unavoidable reasons.
Formal business/legal context.
인구 감소에 따른 학교 통폐합은 불가피한 현실입니다.
The merger and closure of schools due to population decline is an inevitable reality.
-에 따른 (according to/following).
그의 발언은 논란을 불러일으킬 것이 불가피해 보입니다.
It seems inevitable that his remarks will stir up controversy.
-는 것이 불가피하다 (nominalized clause).
자연재해 앞에서는 인간의 무력함이 불가피하게 드러납니다.
In the face of natural disasters, human helplessness is unavoidably revealed.
Adverbial usage with passive verb '드러나다'.
이번 합의는 양측의 양보가 불가피했던 결정이었습니다.
This agreement was a decision where concessions from both sides were inevitable.
Past attributive form '불가피했던'.
자본주의 체제 하에서 주기적인 불황은 불가피한 측면이 있다.
Under the capitalist system, periodic recessions have an inevitable aspect.
Academic '측면이 있다' (has an aspect of).
역사적 흐름 속에서 구체제의 몰락은 불가피한 수순이었다.
In the flow of history, the fall of the old regime was an inevitable step.
수순 (a sequence/step in a process).
윤리적 딜레마 상황에서 불가피한 선택을 내려야 할 때가 있다.
There are times when one must make an unavoidable choice in an ethical dilemma.
Philosophical context.
도시의 무분별한 확장은 환경 파괴를 불가피하게 수반한다.
Indiscriminate urban expansion inevitably entails environmental destruction.
수반하다 (to entail/accompany).
그 정책의 실패는 예견된 불가피성이 있었다는 지적이 제기되었다.
Points were raised that the policy's failure had a foreseen inevitability.
Noun form '불가피성'.
인간 소외 현상은 고도 정보화 사회의 불가피한 그림자이다.
The phenomenon of human alienation is an inevitable shadow of a highly informed society.
Metaphorical usage (shadow).
법원은 피고인의 행위가 정당방위 차원에서 불가피했음을 인정했다.
The court acknowledged that the defendant's actions were unavoidable from the perspective of self-defense.
Legal justification context.
언어의 변화는 사회적 소통을 위한 불가피한 진화 과정이다.
Language change is an inevitable evolutionary process for social communication.
Linguistic analysis.
비극적 주인공의 파멸은 그의 성격적 결함에서 기인한 불가피한 귀결이다.
The tragic hero's ruin is an inevitable consequence resulting from his character flaws.
귀결 (conclusion/consequence).
권력의 집중은 부패라는 불가피한 부산물을 낳기 마련이다.
The concentration of power is bound to produce the inevitable byproduct of corruption.
-기 마련이다 (is bound to happen).
현대 문명은 기술에 대한 의존이라는 불가피한 굴레에 얽매여 있다.
Modern civilization is tied to the inevitable yoke of dependence on technology.
굴레 (yoke/shackles) - metaphorical.
존재의 유한성은 모든 생명체에게 불가피한 실존적 조건이다.
The finiteness of existence is an inevitable existential condition for all living beings.
Existential philosophy.
국가 간의 패권 다툼은 지정학적 위치에 따른 불가피한 숙명처럼 여겨진다.
The struggle for hegemony between nations is seen like an inevitable destiny based on geopolitical location.
숙명 (destiny/fate).
혁명의 과정에서 발생하는 희생은 때로 불가피한 것으로 치부되기도 한다.
Sacrifices occurring in the process of revolution are sometimes dismissed as inevitable.
-로 치부되다 (to be regarded/dismissed as).
진보와 보수의 갈등은 민주주의 사회가 감내해야 할 불가피한 비용이다.
The conflict between progressives and conservatives is an inevitable cost that a democratic society must endure.
감내하다 (to endure/bear).
우주의 팽창과 종말은 물리학적 법칙이 가리키는 불가피한 종착지이다.
The expansion and end of the universe is the inevitable destination pointed to by physical laws.
Scientific determinism.
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
— Unavoidable circumstances. Used as a polite excuse for missing an event.
불가피한 사정으로 참석하지 못했습니다.
— Unavoidable measure. Used by authorities to justify a difficult decision.
안전을 위한 불가피한 조치였습니다.
— An unavoidable choice. Used when there was only one path left.
그것은 저에게 불가피한 선택이었습니다.
— An inevitable result. Used to explain the logical end of a situation.
실패는 불가피한 결과였습니다.
— An inevitable reality. Used to describe a harsh truth that must be accepted.
고령화는 우리가 직면한 불가피한 현실입니다.
— Unavoidable delay. Common in transportation or project management.
기상 악화로 인한 불가피한 지연입니다.
— A necessary evil. Something bad that must be accepted to achieve a goal.
때로는 거짓말이 불가피한 악일 때가 있다.
— Unavoidable sacrifice. Used in historical or tragic contexts.
승리를 위한 불가피한 희생이었습니다.
— Inevitable change. Used for societal or technological shifts.
시대의 흐름에 따른 불가피한 변화입니다.
— Inevitable collision/conflict. Used for physical or ideological clashes.
두 차량의 충돌은 불가피했습니다.
Frequentemente confundido com
Means 'impossible to do' (ability), while 불가피하다 means 'impossible to avoid' (situation).
Very similar, but 부득이하다 is used more specifically for polite excuses or personal actions.
Focuses on logical cause-and-effect, while 불가피하다 focuses on circumstantial pressure.
Expressões idiomáticas
— Fate is unavoidable. Suggests that one cannot escape their destiny.
인간의 운명은 불가피한 것인가?
Literary— To go through the inevitable steps. Used when a process is predictable.
결국 파산이라는 불가피한 수순을 밟게 되었다.
Journalistic— At the crossroads of an unavoidable choice.
회사는 불가피한 선택의 기로에 서 있다.
Formal— The inevitable flow of history.
민주주의는 불가피한 역사의 흐름이다.
Academic— Unavoidable friction. Used for small disagreements in a relationship or organization.
협력 과정에서 불가피한 마찰이 있었다.
Business— An unavoidable gap. Often refers to a time gap or a missing piece.
인사 이동으로 인한 불가피한 공백이 생겼다.
Formal— The inevitable price/cost. Used when a gain requires a loss.
성공에는 불가피한 대가가 따르기 마련이다.
Neutral— Unavoidable alienation. A common theme in modern sociology.
기술 발전은 노년층의 불가피한 소외를 야기한다.
Academic— The inevitable ending. Used for stories or failed projects.
그들의 사랑은 불가피한 결말을 맞이했다.
Literary— An unavoidable limit/limitation.
인간의 지능에는 불가피한 한계가 있다.
AcademicFácil de confundir
Both start with '불가' (impossible).
불가능 is about 'can't do' (ability). 불가피 is about 'can't avoid' (occurrence).
수영은 불가능하지만, 비를 맞는 것은 불가피했다.
Both mean 'no choice'.
어쩔 수 없다 is the spoken, casual version. 불가피하다 is the written, formal version.
친구에겐 '어쩔 수 없었어', 사장님에겐 '불가피했습니다'.
Both suggest a result that must be.
당연하다 means 'it's only right/natural'. 불가피하다 means 'it's forced/unavoidable'.
성공은 당연한 결과지만, 고생은 불가피했다.
Both imply something will happen.
기정사실 is a noun for 'a fact already decided'. 불가피하다 is an adjective for 'unavoidable'.
그의 탈락은 이미 기정사실이며, 교체는 불가피하다.
Sometimes people use '불가피' to sound less '무책임' (irresponsible).
불가피하다 shifts blame to circumstances; 무책임하다 describes a person's character.
그는 무책임하게 떠났지만, 떠나는 것은 불가피했다고 변명했다.
Padrões de frases
N + 이/가 불가피해요.
지연이 불가피해요.
N + 으로 인해 불가피하게 ~했어요.
사고로 인해 불가피하게 늦었어요.
V-는 것이 불가피할 것으로 보입니다.
수정이 불가피할 것으로 보입니다.
불가피한 사유로 인해 ~하게 되었습니다.
불가피한 사유로 인해 휴강하게 되었습니다.
N + 의 불가피성을 강조하다.
개혁의 불가피성을 강조했다.
불가피한 선택의 기로에 서다.
회사는 불가피한 선택의 기로에 섰다.
N + 은/는 ~에 따른 불가피한 귀결이다.
실패는 부주의에 따른 불가피한 귀결이다.
불가피하게 수반되는 N.
성장에는 통증이 불가피하게 수반된다.
Família de palavras
Substantivos
Adjetivos
Relacionado
Como usar
High in formal written Korean; Medium in daily spoken Korean.
-
Using it for personal likes.
→
어쩔 수 없이 좋아해요 (casual).
불가피하다 is for external situations, not personal feelings.
-
Saying '나는 불가피하다'.
→
나에게는 불가피한 선택이었다.
A person is rarely the subject; the situation or choice is.
-
Confusing with 불가능하다.
→
수영이 불가능하다.
Bul-ga-neung is 'can't do'; Bul-ga-pi is 'can't avoid'.
-
Using it with friends for small things.
→
늦어서 미안해 (casual).
It sounds too stiff and robotic in casual speech.
-
Incorrect particle: 지연을 불가피하다.
→
지연이 불가피하다.
It is an adjective, so it needs the subject particle -이/가.
Dicas
Subject Particle
Always use the subject particles -이/가 with the noun that is unavoidable. Example: '지연이 불가피하다'.
Business Etiquette
When apologizing for a business delay, use '불가피하게' to sound professional and logical.
Hanja Connection
Remember the 'Pi' (避) means 'Avoid' (like in 'evacuate'). It helps you remember the meaning.
Essay Booster
Use this word in the conclusion of your essay to show that your argument leads to an inevitable result.
News Trigger
When you hear '불가피', prepare for bad news like a price hike or a cancellation.
Avoid Redundancy
Don't say '피할 수 없는 불가피한'. Just pick one. '불가피한' is stronger.
Tone
Keep your voice steady and formal. This isn't a word for casual excitement.
Headline Reading
In news headlines, the 'hada' is often dropped. Look for just '불가피'.
Passive Voice
Often used with '-게 되다' (to become). Example: '불가피하게 취소하게 되었습니다'.
Face Saving
Use it to explain failures as being caused by the situation, not your own mistakes.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of 'Bul' as 'Bull' (a strong force), 'Ga' as 'Go' (going forward), and 'Pi' as 'Pee' (something you can't avoid doing eventually). A Bull Going to Pee is unavoidable!
Associação visual
Imagine a person standing in a narrow tunnel with a giant boulder rolling toward them. There is no side exit. The situation is '불가피하다'.
Word Web
Desafio
Try to find one news article today in a Korean newspaper like 'The Chosun Ilbo' or 'Hankyoreh' that uses the word '불가피'. You will almost certainly find it in the economics or politics section.
Origem da palavra
Derived from Sino-Korean characters (Hanja).
Significado original: 不 (No/Not) + 可 (Can/Possible) + 避 (Avoid) + 하다 (To do/be). Literal meaning: 'To be in a state where avoiding is not possible.'
Sino-Korean (Hanja-eo)Contexto cultural
Be careful not to use this word to brush off personal responsibilities where you actually had a choice, as it can sound like you are making excuses.
In English, 'inevitable' can sometimes sound positive (e.g., 'Success was inevitable'), but in Korean, '불가피하다' is almost always used for neutral or negative situations like delays, cuts, or conflicts.
Pratique na vida real
Contextos reais
Public Transport
- 열차 지연이 불가피합니다
- 운행 중단이 불가피합니다
- 우회 운행이 불가피합니다
- 시간 변경이 불가피합니다
Business/Economy
- 가격 인상이 불가피합니다
- 구조조정이 불가피합니다
- 예산 삭감이 불가피합니다
- 계약 해지가 불가피합니다
Natural Disasters
- 피해가 불가피합니다
- 대피가 불가피합니다
- 휴교가 불가피합니다
- 복구 지연이 불가피합니다
Personal Formal Excuse
- 불가피한 사정으로
- 불가피하게 참석하지 못해
- 불가피한 선택이었습니다
- 상황이 불가피했습니다
Politics/Law
- 법 개정이 불가피합니다
- 처벌이 불가피합니다
- 충돌이 불가피합니다
- 조사가 불가피합니다
Iniciadores de conversa
"이번 프로젝트 지연이 정말 불가피한 상황이었나요? (Was the delay of this project really an unavoidable situation?)"
"환경 보호를 위해 일회용품 금지는 불가피한 조치라고 생각하세요? (Do you think the ban on disposables is an unavoidable measure for the environment?)"
"인공지능의 발전으로 인한 일자리 감소는 불가피한 흐름일까요? (Is the decrease in jobs due to AI development an inevitable trend?)"
"살면서 가장 불가피했던 선택은 무엇이었나요? (What was the most unavoidable choice you've made in your life?)"
"가끔은 거짓말을 하는 것이 불가피하다고 보시나요? (Do you view that sometimes telling a lie is unavoidable?)"
Temas para diário
최근에 내가 '불가피하게' 내려야 했던 결정에 대해 써보세요. (Write about a decision you 'unavoidably' had to make recently.)
우리 사회에서 변화가 불가피한 부분은 무엇이라고 생각하는지 논하세요. (Discuss what parts of our society you think change is inevitable in.)
만약 모든 것이 불가피한 운명이라면, 인간의 자유 의지는 어떤 의미가 있을까요? (If everything is inevitable fate, what meaning does human free will have?)
뉴스에서 '불가피하다'는 단어를 들었을 때의 느낌을 적어보세요. (Record how you feel when you hear the word '불가피하다' in the news.)
회사가 어려울 때 인원 감축이 정말 불가피한 선택인지 자신의 의견을 쓰세요. (Write your opinion on whether staff reduction is truly an unavoidable choice when a company is in trouble.)
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasUsually no. You wouldn't say 'I inevitably love you' using this word. Use '필연적' or just '어쩔 수 없이' for emotions. 불가피하다 is for external facts.
Only if the situation is very serious or if you are being slightly sarcastic/dramatic. Otherwise, use '어쩔 수 없어'.
The most direct opposite is '피할 수 있다' (can avoid) or '선택적이다' (optional).
Not strictly, but because it implies a lack of choice, it is mostly used for inconvenient or difficult situations like delays, price hikes, or taxes.
You use '불가피성' (bul-ga-pi-seong). Example: '변화의 불가피성' (The inevitability of change).
In headlines, you might just see '불가피' (e.g., '금리 인상 불가피').
Yes, in legal contracts, '불가피한 사유' is the standard term for things like natural disasters.
It is not silent, but it is very weak. It sounds like 'bul-ga-pi-a-da' when spoken quickly.
Yes, '불가피했다' is used to describe why something had to happen in the past.
Yes, it is a very frequent word in TOPIK II (Intermediate/Advanced) reading and writing sections.
Teste-se 200 perguntas
Translate to Korean: 'A delay is unavoidable.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate to Korean: 'This was an unavoidable choice.'
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Write a sentence using '불가피하게'.
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Translate to Korean: 'Due to personal circumstances...'
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Write a sentence about a flight cancellation being inevitable.
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Translate: 'Change is an inevitable trend.'
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Use 불가피하다 to explain why you are late (formal).
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Translate: 'It seems inevitable.'
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Write a formal notice about a price hike.
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Translate: 'Inevitability of history'.
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Translate: 'Unavoidable sacrifice'.
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Write a sentence using '-는 것이 불가피하다'.
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Translate: 'Unavoidable measures for safety'.
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Translate: 'It was unavoidable.' (Past tense, formal)
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Translate: 'Unavoidable reality'.
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Translate: 'Conflict is inevitable.'
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Translate: 'Unavoidably decided'.
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Write about a necessary evil.
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Translate: 'Unavoidable limit'.
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Translate: 'Due to heavy snow...'
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Explain in Korean why a flight might be cancelled using '불가피하다'.
Read this aloud:
Você disse:
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Apologize for missing a meeting formally.
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Give your opinion on AI and jobs using '불가피한 흐름'.
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Talk about a price hike at your favorite cafe.
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Describe a car accident causing a delay.
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Use '불가피하게' to explain why you changed a plan.
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Say 'Change is inevitable' formally.
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Discuss a necessary measure for environment.
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Explain a school closure due to snow.
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Respond to 'Why are you late?' using '불가피한 사정'.
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Ask if a certain decision was unavoidable.
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Describe an inevitable result of not studying.
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Say 'Conflict seems inevitable' in a debate.
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Talk about the inevitability of aging.
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Use '불가피하게' with '-게 되다'.
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Make a sentence with '불가피한 선택'.
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Explain why a store is closing for repairs.
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Say 'It was an unavoidable tragedy'.
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Discuss a budget cut in an office.
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Você disse:
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Say 'I unavoidably broke the promise'.
Read this aloud:
Você disse:
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Listen and transcribe: '폭설로 인해 열차 운행 중단이 불가피합니다.'
What is the speaker announcing? '시스템 점검으로 서비스 일시 중단이 불가피하게 되었습니다.'
Listen: '불가피한 사정으로 오늘 수업은 휴강입니다.' Why is there no class?
Listen: '가격 인상은 불가피한 선택이었습니다.' Was the price hike optional?
Listen: '지연이 불가피하니 양해 바랍니다.' What does the speaker ask for?
Listen: '불가피하게 일정을 변경했습니다.' What changed?
Listen: '수정이 불가피해 보입니다.' What is needed?
Listen: '결과가 불가피했다는 분석입니다.' What is the analysis about?
Listen: '불가피한 피해를 줄여야 합니다.' What should be reduced?
Listen: '변화는 불가피한 흐름입니다.' What is change described as?
Listen: '불가피한 조치였음을 강조했습니다.' What was emphasized?
Listen: '충돌이 불가피했습니다.' What happened?
Listen: '불가피한 선택의 기로에 섰습니다.' Where is the person/company?
Listen: '불가피한 상황이 발생했습니다.' What happened?
Listen: '불가피하게 거절했습니다.' Did they accept?
/ 200 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word '불가피하다' is your primary tool for expressing that a situation is unavoidable due to logic or external pressure. For example, '폭설로 인해 비행기 취소가 불가피하다' (Flight cancellation is inevitable due to heavy snow). It is much more formal than '어쩔 수 없다'.
- 불가피하다 means 'inevitable' or 'unavoidable' in a formal context.
- It is used when external circumstances leave no other choice but a specific outcome.
- Commonly found in news reports, business apologies, and academic writing.
- Derived from Hanja: 不 (not) + 可 (possible) + 避 (avoid).
Subject Particle
Always use the subject particles -이/가 with the noun that is unavoidable. Example: '지연이 불가피하다'.
Business Etiquette
When apologizing for a business delay, use '불가피하게' to sound professional and logical.
Hanja Connection
Remember the 'Pi' (避) means 'Avoid' (like in 'evacuate'). It helps you remember the meaning.
Essay Booster
Use this word in the conclusion of your essay to show that your argument leads to an inevitable result.
Exemplo
폭우로 인해 경기 취소가 불가피했다.
Conteúdo relacionado
Mais palavras de general
몇몇
A2Alguns; alguns poucos.
조금
A1Eu entendo um pouco de coreano. (한국어를 조금 이해해요.)
적게
A1Pouco, em pequena quantidade. Usado para descrever uma ação feita de forma limitada.
약간
A2Um pouco; ligeiramente. Usado para descrever uma pequena quantidade ou um grau leve.
많이
A1Muito. 'Comi muito' (많이 먹었어요). 'Estudei muito' (공부 많이 했어요).
잠시
A2Por um momento; brevemente. 'Por favor, espere um momento.' (잠시만 기다려 주세요.) 'Voltarei em um momento.' (잠시 후에 돌아오겠습니다.)
잠깐
A2For a short time; a moment.
아까
A2Há pouco, mais cedo. Eu o vi há pouco na rua.
대해
A2Significa 'sobre' ou 'a respeito de'. É usado para introduzir o tópico de uma conversa, pensamento ou estudo.
~에 대해서
A2Sobre; a respeito de.