Expression dictionary — full article
States & Progress · It is common for...; often; frequently; tends to; prone to
The grammatical expression -기 일쑤이다 is used to describe an action or event that happens very frequently, to the point of being a regular occurrence or a common habit. Crucially, it always carries a negative connotation, indicating that the frequent occurrence is undesirable, problematic, or leads to unfavorable outcomes. It emphasizes the repetitive nature of a negative pattern.
You use -기 일쑤이다 when you want to highlight the regularity of a negative event or behavior. It's stronger than simply saying 'often' (자주) because it implies that the frequency itself is a problem or that the event is almost inevitable given certain circumstances. It can describe a person's bad habit, a recurring problem in a system, or a common negative outcome of a situation. For example, if someone is always late, or if a machine frequently breaks down, this expression is suitable. It's often used to express frustration or resignation about a persistent issue.
-기 일쑤이다 attaches directly to the verb stem (동사 어간) without any specific consonant/vowel distinction.
Verb Stem + -기 일쑤이다
Examples:
While similar to expressions like -는 경향이 있다 (tends to) or -곤 하다 (often does), -기 일쑤이다 specifically focuses on negative or undesirable frequent occurrences. -는 경향이 있다 can be neutral or even positive, and -곤 하다 can also describe neutral or positive habits. Therefore, it's important to remember the inherent negative nuance of -기 일쑤이다 when choosing the appropriate expression. It's often used in more informal or conversational contexts to express a complaint or observation about a recurring problem.