Without fail: -기(가) 일쑤이다

This grammar is built from a verb. You take the verb stem first. Then you add the suffix -기. This turns the verb into a noun. Next, you can add the particle 가. This 가 is often optional. It just adds a bit of emphasis. Finally, you add the word 일쑤이다. The word 일쑤 literally means a common occurrence. Combined, it means "to be a common thing to do X." It functions like a descriptive verb in a sentence. You can conjugate it into various tenses. For example, 일쑤예요 (present) or 일쑤였어요 (past). It captures those "oops" moments perfectly.

1. 1Identify the verb you want to use.
2. 2Remove the dictionary ending -다 from the verb.
3. 3Attach -기 or -기가 to the remaining stem.
4. 4Follow it with 일쑤이다 and conjugate for politeness.
5. 5Example: 잊어버리다 (to forget) becomes 잊어버리기 일쑤이다.
6. 6Example: 지각하다 (to be late) becomes 지각하기 일쑤이다.
7. 7Example: 넘어지다 (to fall) becomes 넘어지기 일쑤이다.
8. 8It really is that simple to form!

Use this when a negative habit occurs. Use it for frequent mistakes in daily life. Imagine you are ordering food in Korea. You might forget to ask for "no cilantro." You could say you forget it 일쑤예요. Or imagine asking for directions in Seoul. You might get confused by the exits. You would say you get lost 일쑤예요. It is perfect for job interview stories too. You can talk about past mistakes you overcame. It shows you recognize your own frequent slip-ups. Use it when complaining about your own clumsiness. Or use it to describe a recurring annoying situation. It makes your Korean sound very authentic.

Do not use this for positive events. You would not say "I win the lottery 일쑤예요." That sounds very strange to native ears. It is like a grammar traffic light. Green is for negative things, red is for positive. Also, do not use it for one-time events. It must be a repeating pattern or habit. If you fell down once, use 넘어졌어요. If you fall down every week, use 넘어지기 일쑤예요. Avoid using it with adjectives unless they describe a state. Usually, stick to active verbs for the best flow.

Many people use it for good things. This is the number one error. Remember, 일쑤 has a slightly negative "flavor." Another mistake is forgetting the -기 part. You cannot just attach it to the stem. Some learners also try to use it with 안. Instead of 안 하기 일쑤이다, just use a negative verb. For example, use 잊어버리기 instead of 기억 안 하기. Also, don't confuse it with probability. It is about frequency, not just a guess. Even native speakers mess this up sometimes! Just keep the "negative frequency" rule in mind. You will be fine!

How is this different from -곤 하다? That is a great question! -곤 하다 is neutral. You can use it for any habit. "I go to the gym -곤 해요" is fine. But -기 일쑤이다 implies a mistake. Use -기 일쑤이다 when you want to complain. Another similar one is -기 십상이다. That one means "it is easy to..." or "likely to." It is more about a prediction or warning. -기 일쑤이다 is about something that already happens often. It is your established track record of failure. It sounds more personal and self-deprecating.