안녕하세요. 토미입니다.
Let’s have fun learning Korean today!
Today’s grammar is 1) -기 십상이다 “easily to be ~, likely to be ~”, 2) -기/게 마련이다 “it’s inevitable that~, it’s natural that~” and 3) -기는 하지만 “but ~. ”
When you learn these expressions, you can say like
저는 요리 영상을 자주 보기는 하지만 요리는 잘 못해요.
I often watch cooking videos, but I’m not good at cooking.
Wow, now you can say about yourself more precisely.
By learning such an expression, I am sure you can pass TOPIKⅡlevel 4 and become a super master of Korean.
그럼 시작할게요！
–기 십상이다
The first grammar, -기 십상이다 means “easily to be ~, likely to be ~”.
You can use this when a negative event is likely to happen.
Here, I want to introduce a helpful fun fact.
십상 originally comes from a four-character idiom.
Then, can you guess the four-character idiom？
It’s not that common, so it could be hard to guess.
There is an idiom called 십상팔구(十常八九), and each character means “ten”, “always” “eight” and “nine. ”
This means that, if there are ten things in your life, eight to nine things don’t turn out the way you want.
Aaaah, it’s a painful fact, right? And pretty negative.
Therefore, 십상 comes from that four-character idiom, and it has a negative connotation.
About the usage, you mainly apply this grammar with verbs.
And you always attach -기 십상이다 to a stem regardless of a final consonant. Wow, easy breezy!!
Then, let’s read a sample sentence to see what will likely happen.
이렇게 추운 겨울에는 감기에 걸리기 십상이에요.
You would most likely catch a cold in this cold winter.
Here, 걸리다 “to catch (a cold)” is a verb.
And, you add -기 십상이다 to make 걸리기 십상이다 “would most likely catch. ”
Then, let’s read the next sentence to see what kind of result is waiting!
적어 놓지 않으면 잊어버리기 십상이다.
You would easily forget it unless you write it down.
Here, 잊어버리다 “to forget” is a verb.
And, you add -기 십상이다 to make 잊어버리기 십상이다 “would easily forget. ”
The next sentence also has a sad possibility.
일을 열심히 하지 않으면 실패하기 십상입니다.
If you don’t work hard, you are likely to fail.
That’s so true, right?
I should work harder!!
Here, 실패하다 “to fail” is a verb.
And, you add -기 십상이다 to make 실패하기 십상이다 “(you) are likely to fail. ”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
급하게 먹으면 ( ).
If you rush eating, you would easily have an upset stomach.
(1)떨어지기 십상이에요 (2) 체하기 십상이에요
The correct answer is number two.
체하다 means “to have an upset stomach. ”
And you add -기 십상이에요 to make 체하기 십상이에요.
“Easily have an upset stomach.”
Then, let’s read it together as if you were telling someone to eat slowly.
급하게 먹으면 (체하기 십상이에요).
If you rush eating, you would easily have an upset stomach.
Please read it as if you were giving advice to your friend.
Then, let’s see what comes next.
귀찮거나 피곤하면 해야 할 일을 ( ).
If you feel lazy or tired, you are likely to procrastinate with things you have to do.
(1)미루기 십상이에요 (2)미루게 돼요
The correct answer is number one.
미루다 means “to procrastinate. ” Wow!! advanced vocabulary!!
I like it. And, you add -기 십상이에요 to make 미루기 십상이에요 “are likely to procrastinate. ”
Then, let’s read it together, recalling something you procrastinated on before.
귀찮거나 피곤하면 해야 할 일을 (미루기 십상이에요).
Please read it, thinking about how to fix the bad habit.
-기/게 마련이다
The second grammar -기/게 마련이다 means “it’s inevitable that~, it’s natural that~.”
Through this grammar, you can express that something will happen naturally based on people’s beliefs or generally known facts.
마련 literally means “preparation, plan.”
So you can understand that this grammar conveys that you should anticipate the result or common knowledge.
Korean people often use this grammar with (으)면.
They use them together like (으)면 -기/게 마련이다 “If you do~, it is inevitable that~. ”
About the usage, you use verbs and adjectives.
You always attach -기/게 마련이다 regardless of a final consonant.
It’s pretty straightforward.
By the way, there is a similar expression to this grammar, which you learned before.
Do you remember that?
Was it -는 법이다 or something?
That’s right! You’re on a roll! Yes!!
는 법이다 sounds more formal because there is a word 법, which means “rule, law.”
On the other hand, 마련이다 is more colloquial expression.
Then, let’s read a sample sentence!
시간이 지나면 잊게 마련이다.
It’s natural that if time passes, you forget things.
You might want to use this sentence for a friend who just broke up.
Here, 잊다 “to forget” is a verb.
And, you add -게 마련이다 to make 잊게 마련이다 “it is natural that (you) forget. ”
Let’s read the next sentence.
이를 제대로 닦지 않으면 충치가 생기기 마련이에요.
If you don’t brush your teeth well, it’s inevitable that you get cavities.
Of course, brushing is very important for clean teeth.
Here, 생기다 “to get, to occur” is a verb.
And, you add -기 마련이다 to make 생기기 마련이다 “it’s inevitable that (you) get. ”
Are you following me? I hope you do. Let’s read the next sentence.
사람은 나이가 들게 마련이다.
It is most natural that people age.
It is obvious, right?
But I want to be young forever.
Anyway, here, 나이가 들다 “to age” is a verb. And, you add -게 마련이다 to make 들게 마련이다 “it is most natural that (people) age.”
Quiz
Did you get the nuance of -기/게 마련이다?
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes. Which one is the correct answer?
인간은 ( ) 마련이다.
It is inevitable for humans to make mistakes.
（1）실수하기 (2)헤어지게
The correct answer is number one.
실수하다 “to make mistakes” is a verb.
And, you add -기 마련이다 to make 실수하기 마련이다 “it is inevitable to make mistakes. ”
Number two is wrong, because 헤어지다 means “to break up”.
But it is a useful word you might hear often in Korean dramas.
So, please memorize it as well.
Then, let’s read it together as if you finally accepted the sad fact!
인간은 (실수하기) 마련이다.
Please read it, again and again, to sound more natural.
Then, let’s look at the next quiz!
하고 싶은 일은 ( ) 마련이에요.
It is most natural that your desire changes.
(1)변질되기 (2)변하기
The correct answer is number two. 변하다 means “to change.”
And, you add -기 마련이다 to make 변하기 마련이에요 “it is most natural that (your desire) changes. ”
Number one is wrong because 변질되다 means “be deteriorated.”
That’s not what you want to say here.
Then, let’s read it together with a serious tone!
하고 싶은 일은 (변하기) 마련이에요.
Please read it again and again until you can say it smoothly.
-기는 하지만
Finally, yet importantly, we are going to learn -기는 하지만 “but (I think).”
You can use it when you express contrast with an emphasis on a different view or belief.
It’s something like “I understand what you mean, but I think~. ”
This grammar mainly follows verbs and adjectives.
And the usage is pretty simple. For verbs and adjectives, you always attach -기는 하지만, regardless of a final consonant.
Easy as pie, yum yum yum.
And for nouns, you attach -이기는 하지만 regardless of a final consonant.
Then, let’s read a sample sentence, which expresses the contranst.
요리를 배우고 있기는 하지만 잘하지는 못해요.
I’ve been learning how to cook, but I am not good at it.
배우고 있다 means “have been learning. ”
So, you add -기는 하지만 to make 배우고 있기는 하지만 “I have been learning, but~.”
Let’s read the next sentence.
떡볶이는 맵기는 하지만 맛있다.
Tteokbokki is spicy, but it tastes good.
I agree with this sentence.
I love Tteokbokki.
Anyway, 맵다 “to be spicy” is an adjective.
So, you add -기는 하지만 to make 맵기는 하지만 “(it) is spicy, but~. ”
Let’s read the next sentence.
내일은 공휴일이기는 하지만 저는 출근해야 돼요.
Tomorrow is a holiday, but I have to go to work.
Oh no. This is sad.
I hope you can take a rest on holiday.
Here, 공휴일 “holiday” is a noun.
So, you add -이기는 하지만 to make 공휴일이기는 하지만 “it is a holiday, but~. ”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
그 영화는 ( ) 재미있어요.
The movie is scary, but it is interesting.
(1)무섭기는 하지만 (2)무서워 하지만
The correct answer is number one.
무섭다 means “to be scary. ”
So, you add -기는 하지만 to make 무섭기는 하지만 “(it) is scary, but~ .”
By the way, I have a friend who enjoys horror movies.
How about you?
I cannot watch any scary movies.
Anyway, let’s read it together as if you enjoy scary movies like my friend!
그 영화는 ( 무섭기는 하지만 ) 재미있어요.
Please read it again and again until you can say it smoothly.
Then, let’s read the next sentence!
( ) 중국어를 잘 못해요.
I am Chinese, but I don’t speak Chinese well.
(1)중국사람이기는 하지만 (2)중국사람이므로
The correct answer is number one.
중국 사람 means “chinese (people). ”
You add -이기는 하지만 to make 중국 사람이기는 하지만.
Number two is wrong because 중국사람이므로 means “because (I) am Chinese. ”
Then, let’s read it together!
(중국사람이기는 하지만 ) 중국어를 잘 못해요.
Please read it again and again until you can say it naturally!
Homework
Then, I will announce today’s homework!
But before the homework, I will introduce a wise saying.
You can find today’s grammar from the phrases.
어떤 직업이 소명으로 다가오면 그 때는 삶이라는 관점에서 깊은 열정과 통찰이 생겨나기 마련이다.
-데니스 파피티스-
When a job comes as a calling, then deep passion and insight arise naturally from your life.
This is the wise saying from Dennis Paphitis, The founder of cosmetic products, Aesop.
Anyway, did you spot 생겨나기 마련이다?
It is today’s grammar, and it means “arise naturally.”
And my calling is to teach Korean.
This is my life, and I want to support your Korean learning journey from the bottom of my heart.
Then I will call homework. Come on homework!
There are two assignments.
The first one is to make three sentences using today’s grammar.
For the first sentence, please use -기 십상이다 “easily to be ~, likely to be ~.”
And tell me a negative event that is likely to happen.
For example,
바쁘면 전화를 못 받기 십상이다.
If you are busy, it is likely to be difficult to answer phone calls.
For the second sentence, please use -기/게 마련이다 “it’s inevitable that~, it’s natural that~.”
For example,
다치면 아프기 마련이에요.
If you get injured, it inevitably hurts.
It is so obvious, right?
For the third sentence, please use -기는 하지만 “but (I think) ~. ”
For example,
고양이를 좋아하기는 하지만 키우고 싶지는 않아요.
I like cats, but I don’t want to have them.
As a reason, I have already three mischievous sons now, so I am not thinking of having a pet.
Anyway, I am encouraged a lot by your homework comments.
Some of you have been sending messages since they studied the beginner class, so I am so happy to see your improvement!
Thank you guys for coming all the way here.
The second homework is to memorize new words.
Please memorize the forty words from number 1041 to number 1080 on page 14 in the intermediate vocabulary list.
There is a vocabulary quiz of forty words on my website, so just feel free to try it.
The link is in the description box.
That’s it for today. You guys are excellent!!
Very smart students! High five!!
Thank you guys for having this study time together!
Let’s keep learning more things and enrich your lives!
그럼 오늘도 행복 가득, 웃음 가득한 하루 되세요！
한국어 화이팅, 화이팅, 화이팅！！
