Inevitable consequence: -기 마련이다

### Overview

Hey there! Ready to dive into a super useful Korean expression? Today, we're tackling -기 마련이다. This pattern is your go-to for talking about things that are bound to happen, things that are inevitable, or simply the natural course of things. Think of it as saying, 'That's just how it is,' or 'It's only natural that...' It implies a general truth or a consequence that's expected. You'll hear native speakers use this all the time to express common sense or unavoidable outcomes. It's a fantastic way to sound more fluent and natural in your conversations. So, let's unpack this neat little grammar point, shall we?

### How This Grammar Works

At its core, -기 마련이다 attaches to a verb or adjective stem. It expresses certainty, like a universal rule. It tells you that something is not just likely, but practically guaranteed. It’s like gravity; what goes up 날아가기 마련이다 (is bound to fly). It’s not about your personal opinion or a one-time event. Instead, it speaks to established patterns or logical conclusions. For example, if you don't study, you're 망하기 마련이다 (bound to fail). It often carries a slightly philosophical or matter-of-fact tone. This pattern is like a little grammar crystal ball, predicting the natural outcome of situations. It’s pretty versatile and can apply to all sorts of situations, from life lessons to daily observations. Ready to see how to build it?

### Formation Pattern

Good news! This pattern is pretty straightforward. You just take the verb or adjective stem and stick -기 마련이다 right onto it. No fuss about 받침 (final consonants) or anything like that. Super simple, right?

1. 1For Verbs (동사) or Adjectives (형용사):

* Take the verb/adjective stem (remove -다).

* Add -기 마련이다.

*Example 1 (Verb):*

* 가다 (to go) → 가 (stem)

* 가기 마련이다 (It's bound to go.)

*Example 2 (Adjective):*

* 어렵다 (to be difficult) → 어렵 (stem)

* 어렵기 마련이다 (It's bound to be difficult.)

*Example 3 (Stem ending in a vowel):*

* 만들다 (to make) → 만들 (stem)

* 만들기 마련이다 (It's bound to be made.)

*Example 4 (Stem ending in a consonant):*

* 읽다 (to read) → 읽 (stem)

* 읽기 마련이다 (It's bound to be read.)

It's consistent and doesn't change based on 받침. You got this!

### When To Use It

Okay, so when do you actually pull out -기 마련이다? Use it when you want to express:

• Inevitable outcomes: Things that are guaranteed to happen under certain conditions. If you plant a seed, it's 자라기 마련이다 (bound to grow). Pretty logical, right?

* 열심히 노력하면 성공하기 마련이다. (If you work hard, you're bound to succeed.)

• General truths or common sense: Universal principles or things everyone knows. Think proverbs or well-known facts. For instance, time 흐르기 마련이다 (is bound to flow). This isn't rocket science, just everyday wisdom.

* 사람은 나이가 들면 변하기 마련이다. (People are bound to change as they get older.)

• Natural tendencies: How things or people typically behave. Like how cats 잠자기 마련이다 (are bound to sleep a lot). It's just their nature!

* 아이들은 장난치기 마련이다. (Children are bound to play tricks.)

• Expected consequences: What naturally follows from an action or situation. If you eat too much cake, you 배탈나기 마련이다 (are bound to get a stomach ache). No surprises there!

* 거짓말은 언젠가 들통나기 마련이다. (Lies are bound to be exposed someday.)

It’s great for explaining observations about life. It helps you sound insightful, like you've seen a thing or two. Go ahead, impress your friends with your Korean wisdom!

### When Not To Use It

While -기 마련이다 is awesome, it's not for every situation. Here are times when it doesn't fit:

• For personal, subjective opinions: If you're just sharing what *you* think, this isn't the one. 이 영화는 재미있기 마련이다 (This movie is bound to be fun) sounds weird. It implies universal agreement. Use ~인 것 같아요 or ~을 것 같아요 instead for your personal take.

• For one-off, specific events: It's about general patterns, not unique instances. Saying 내일 비가 오기 마련이다 (It's bound to rain tomorrow) isn't natural unless it's a known rainy season. You'd typically use 비가 올 것 같아요 for a specific weather prediction.

• When there's a strong element of choice or control: If someone *decides* to do something, it's not 마련이다. 나는 매일 공부하기 마련이다 (I'm bound to study every day) doesn't work if it's your choice. Use 공부하기로 했다 (I decided to study) or 공부해야 한다 (I have to study).

• When expressing obligation or necessity: It's not about what *should* happen, but what *will* naturally happen. 숙제를 하기 마련이다 (I'm bound to do homework) isn't right if it's a duty. Use 숙제를 해야 한다 (I must do homework).

• With negative outcomes you want to avoid: While it *can* describe negative outcomes, it often implies an acceptance. If you want to *prevent* something, ~지 않기 마련이다 isn't suitable. For example, 실패하지 않기 마련이다 (It's bound not to fail) sounds odd. Just say 실패하지 않을 것이다 (It won't fail).

Basically, don't use it when you're talking about individual choices, specific predictions, or just your feelings. It's for the big, undeniable truths!

### Common Mistakes

Even pros trip up sometimes! Here are some common pitfalls with -기 마련이다:

• Using it with nouns: This pattern only attaches to verbs and adjectives. You can't say 학생기 마련이다. If you need to make a noun work, you usually need a verb or adjective form, like 학생이 되기 마련이다 (is bound to become a student).

• Confusing it with simple prediction (-을/ㄹ 것이다): While both predict, -기 마련이다 implies inevitability and natural order. -을/ㄹ 것이다 is a more general future tense or prediction based on current information. Think of it like this: 날씨가 추워질 것이다 (The weather will get cold) vs. 겨울에는 날씨가 추워지기 마련이다 (In winter, the weather is bound to get cold – a general truth).

• Overusing it in casual conversation: While natural, it can sound a bit formal or weighty if used for trivial, personal observations. Reserve it for statements that genuinely reflect a natural consequence or truth.

• Applying it to controllable actions: Remember, it's for things beyond immediate control or choice. Don't use it for things you actively decide to do. 나는 주말에 쉬기 마련이다 (I'm bound to rest on the weekend) isn't correct if it's your plan. It implies an uncontrollable urge to rest, which might be true after a long week, but grammatically, it's off.

Don't worry if you make these mistakes; it's all part of the learning journey! Just keep practicing and paying attention to context.

### Contrast With Similar Patterns

Korean has a few ways to express inevitability or likelihood. Let's compare -기 마련이다 with some close cousins:

• -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (There's no choice but to...): This one emphasizes lack of options. You *have* to do something because other paths are blocked. It's about necessity due to circumstances.

* 배가 고파서 밥을 먹을 수밖에 없었다. (I was hungry, so I had no choice but to eat.)

* 비가 오면 길이 미끄럽기 마련이다. (If it rains, the road is bound to be slippery.) – This is a natural consequence.

* 비가 너무 많이 와서 집에 있을 수밖에 없었다. (It rained too much, so I had no choice but to stay home.) – This is a necessity.

• -(으)ㄴ 법이다 (It's a natural law/rule that...): This is very similar to -기 마련이다. Often, they are interchangeable. However, -(으)ㄴ 법이다 feels slightly more formal or emphasizes a general rule, almost like a proverb. -기 마련이다 feels a bit more conversational and focuses on the *process* leading to the outcome.

* 늦게 자면 피곤하기 마련이다. (If you sleep late, you're bound to be tired.)

* 늦게 자면 피곤한 법이다. (If you sleep late, it's natural to be tired.)

* The nuance is subtle. -기 마련이다 might describe more common, daily occurrences. -은 법이다 can sound a bit more authoritative, like stating a principle. Don't sweat the small differences too much; often, either works!

• -(으)ㄹ 것이다 (Will/Likely to...): This is your basic future tense. It predicts something with varying degrees of certainty. -기 마련이다 is a much stronger statement of inevitability.

* 내일 비가 올 것이다. (It will rain tomorrow.) – A prediction.

* 장마철에는 비가 오기 마련이다. (During the monsoon season, it's bound to rain.) – An inevitable truth.

• -(으)ㄹ 줄 알았다/몰랐다 (I knew/didn't know it would...): This is about expectations or predictions *you had* that turned out to be true or false. It's about *your* knowledge.

* 그가 성공할 줄 알았다. (I knew he would succeed.)

* 열심히 노력하면 성공하기 마련이다. (If you work hard, you're bound to succeed.) – A general truth, not just your personal expectation.

See the subtle differences? Choosing the right one makes you sound like a native speaker who really gets it!

### Quick FAQ