기 마련이다

Overview

-기 마련이다 is a grammatical expression used to convey that a certain action, state, or outcome is natural, inevitable, or bound to happen under specific circumstances or as a general rule. It implies that something is a common occurrence or a predictable consequence.

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Usage

This expression is used when you want to state that something is a natural course of events, a general truth, or an unavoidable outcome. It often reflects an observation about life, human nature, or predictable patterns. It adds a nuance of 'it's just how things are' or 'it's bound to happen sooner or later.' It can be applied to both positive and negative situations, emphasizing the inherent nature or inevitability of an event.

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Conjugation Rules

-기 마련이다 attaches directly to the verb stem.

• Verb Stem + 기 마련이다
  • Example: 가다 (to go) -> 가기 마련이다
  • Example: 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹기 마련이다
  • Example: 공부하다 (to study) -> 공부하기 마련이다

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Knowledge Plus

-기 마련이다 is similar in meaning to -게 되어 있다 (to be destined to, to be set up to) and -을 수밖에 없다 (to have no choice but to), but it specifically highlights the naturalness or inherent inevitability of an event rather than a pre-determined fate or a lack of alternatives. It's often used when expressing common sense or widely accepted truths. For instance, '사람은 늙기 마련이다' (People are bound to get old) expresses a natural biological process.