-기 마련이다 Meaning: Expressing Inevitable Outcomes
Master the TOPIK II grammar -기 마련이다 to describe natural laws and inevitable results. Learn how it differs from -게 뻔하다 in this guide.
Master the TOPIK II grammar -기 마련이다 to describe natural laws and inevitable results. Learn how it differs from -게 뻔하다 in this guide.
Whether it is the changing of seasons or the consequences of our habits, some things in life are simply bound to happen. In Korean, we use -기 마련이다-gi maryeonida to describe these natural laws and inevitable truths.
The one rule you need
Use -기 마련이다-gi maryeonida when an outcome is naturally expected or certain to happen based on common sense or the laws of nature. It translates to "it is bound to..." or "it is natural that..."
Quick cheat sheet
Expressions in this post
Attach rules
This pattern attaches to the stem of both verbs and adjectives. It does not change based on batchim (final consonants).
가다gada (to go) →가기 마련이다gagi maryeonida — It is bound to go.어렵다eoryeopda (to be hard) →어렵기 마련이다eoryeopgi maryeonida — It is bound to be difficult.시간이 지나면 잊혀지기 마련이다sigani jinamyeon ithyeojigi maryeonida — It is natural to be forgotten as time passes.
Constraints
- Tense: This grammar is almost always used in the present tense because it describes a general truth or a fixed principle. You do not use it in the past tense (
-기 마련이었다-gi maryeonieotda is very rare). - Subject: It is typically used with third-person subjects or general concepts, rather than specific first-person intentions.
- Honorifics: In formal settings, use
-기 마련입니다-gi maryeonipnida.
Minimal pairs
While -기 마련이다-gi maryeonida and -게 뻔하다-ge ppeonhada both deal with certainty, their nuances are very different:
-기 마련이다-gi maryeonida: Neutral or positive. It describes a natural law or a logical consequence. (e.g., "If you work hard, you are bound to succeed.")-게 뻔하다-ge ppeonhada: Negative. It describes a negative prediction based on obvious evidence. (e.g., "If you don't study, it's obvious you'll fail.")
Common mistakes
- Wrong:
겨울이 오면 춥게 뻔해요.gyeouri omyeon chupge ppeonhaeyo. (Using negative prediction for a natural law) - Right:
겨울이 오면 춥기 마련이에요.gyeouri omyeon chupgi maryeonieyo. (Correctly using natural law)
Examples
사람은 누구나 실수하기 마련이다.sarameun nuguna silsuhagi maryeonida. — Everyone is bound to make mistakes.돈을 많이 쓰면 없어지기 마련이에요.doneul manhi sseumyeon eopseojigi maryeonieyo. — If you spend a lot of money, it's bound to run out.
Next steps
Spot the mistake! Choose the correct expression to complete the sentence based on the context of "natural inevitability."
Fill in the blank with one of: -기 마련이다-gi maryeonida, -게 뻔하다-ge ppeonhada
노력하지 않으면 결과가 나쁘( )noryeokhaji anheumyeon gyeolgwaga nappeu( ) (Negative prediction)비가 오면 땅이 젖( )biga omyeon ttai jeot( ) (Natural law)
Answers:
-게 뻔하다-ge ppeonhada-기 마련이다-gi maryeonida
Notes:
- Q1: Since a bad result from lack of effort is a negative prediction based on a specific situation,
-게 뻔하다-ge ppeonhada is more natural. - Q2: Rain wetting the ground is a physical law of nature, making
-기 마련이다-gi maryeonida the perfect fit.
