(으)ㄴ/는 법이다

Overview

The grammatical pattern (으)ㄴ/는 법이다 is used to express that something is a natural consequence, a general truth, or an inevitable outcome. It conveys a strong sense of certainty, often based on common sense, experience, or a universal principle.

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Usage

This expression is used to state that a particular event or situation is bound to happen, is natural, or is the way things are. It often implies a logical conclusion or a predictable result given certain circumstances. It can be used to express a general truth, a common phenomenon, or a personal conviction about what is inevitable. It's stronger than just saying something "will happen" and carries a nuance of "it's only natural that..." or "it's always the case that...".

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Conjugation Rules

This pattern attaches to verb and adjective stems, as well as nouns.

• Verbs (Present Tense):

  • Attach -는 법이다 to the verb stem.
  • Example: 하다 (to do) -> 하는 법이다 (is bound to do)
  • Example: 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹는 법이다 (is bound to eat)

• Adjectives (Present Tense):

  • If the adjective stem ends in a consonant, attach -은 법이다.
  • Example: 좋다 (to be good) -> 좋은 법이다 (is bound to be good)
  • If the adjective stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ, attach -ㄴ 법이다.
  • Example: 예쁘다 (to be pretty) -> 예쁜 법이다 (is bound to be pretty)
  • Example: 길다 (to be long) -> 긴 법이다 (is bound to be long)

• Verbs/Adjectives (Past Tense):

  • Attach -(으)ㄴ 법이다 to the past tense stem (V/A-았/었-). This form is less common, as the inevitability usually refers to a general truth or future outcome. When used, it emphasizes that something was bound to happen.
  • Example: 했다 (did) -> 한 법이다 (was bound to do)

• Nouns:

  • Attach -인 법이다 to nouns.
  • Example: 학생이다 (to be a student) -> 학생인 법이다 (is bound to be a student)

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Knowledge Plus

• (으)ㄴ/는 법이다 is similar in meaning to -기 마련이다 (which also expresses inevitability or natural tendency) but often carries a slightly stronger sense of logical necessity or a universal rule. While both express inevitability, (으)ㄴ/는 법이다 can feel more like stating a fundamental principle or a 'law' of nature/life.
• It's frequently used in proverbs or to express wisdom gained from experience, highlighting a truth that is widely accepted or observed.
• While it expresses inevitability, it's not about fate in a mystical sense, but rather about predictable outcomes based on observable patterns or common sense.
• The noun 법 literally means "law" or "way," so the expression literally means "it is the law/way that..."
• It can sometimes be used to express a mild warning or a piece of advice, implying that if you do X, Y is bound to happen.