No way that...

This pattern is used to express strong denial or disbelief, emphasizing that something is completely impossible or has no reason to be true. It translates to "there's no way that..." or "it's impossible that..."

Meaning & Usage

Meaning: The word 턱 means "reason," "cause," or "grounds." So, 턱이 없다 literally means "there are no grounds for (something to happen)." It's a very strong way to say something is illogical or will not happen.

When to use: Use it when you are absolutely certain about a negative outcome or fact. It's much stronger than simply saying 안 할 거예요 (I won't do it) or 아닐 거예요 (It probably isn't).

Formation

This pattern attaches to the stem of verbs, adjectives, or the noun + 이다 form.

Vowel or ㄹ stem + -ㄹ 턱이 없다

알다 (to know) → 알 턱이 없다

오다 (to come) → 올 턱이 없다

진짜이다 (to be real) → 진짜일 턱이 없다

Consonant stem + -을 턱이 없다

갚다 (to pay back) → 갚을 턱이 없다

찾다 (to find) → 찾을 턱이 없다

있다 (to exist/have) → 있을 턱이 없다

걔가 돈을 갚을 턱이 없어. / 그게 진짜일 턱이 없어. / 쉬울 턱이 없어. / 제가 할 수 있을 턱이 없어요.

This pattern appears in two common forms, both expressing the same core meaning of impossibility but with a slight difference in nuance.

Declarative: -(으)ㄹ 턱이 없다/없어요

This is a direct, strong statement of fact. You are declaring that there is absolutely no possibility.

Example: 비쌀 턱이 없어. (There's no way it's expensive.) - This is a firm declaration.

Rhetorical Question: -(으)ㄹ 턱이 있나(요)?

This form poses a question to which the answer is an obvious "no." It translates to "Is there any way that...?" or "How could it possibly...?" This can feel slightly more conversational or even a bit softer, as if you're inviting the listener to agree with your obvious conclusion.

Example: 맛있을 턱이 있나요? (Is there any way it's delicious? -> Of course not.)

제정신일 턱이 없어. / 그게 사실일 턱이 있나. / 내가 널 싫어할 턱이 있나. / 이 넓은 모래밭에서 찾을 턱이 있나요?

A very common synonym for -(으)ㄹ 턱이 없다 is -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다. Both are used to strongly deny a possibility.

Interchangeability

In most everyday situations, these two patterns are interchangeable. 리(理) also refers to 'reason' or 'logic,' so the literal meaning is very similar.

그 사람이 올 턱이 없어요. ≈ 그 사람이 올 리가 없어요. (There's no way that person will come.)

Subtle Nuance

While often used the same way, there can be a very subtle difference in feeling.

-(으)ㄹ 턱이 없다: Can sometimes feel slightly more emotional, emphatic, or grounded in personal conviction. It's very common in spoken Korean.

-(으)ㄹ 리가 없다: Can feel slightly more focused on logical impossibility. It denies something based on reason or common sense.

For learners, you can treat them as near-perfect synonyms. Choosing one over the other is a matter of subtle personal style.

그 사람이 알 턱이 없어. (≈ 그 사람이 알 리가 없어.) / 그게 공짜일 턱이 있나. (≈ 그게 공짜일 리가 있나.) / 쉬울 턱이 없어요. (≈ 쉬울 리가 없어요.)

The politeness level of this pattern is determined by the ending of the final verb, 없다 or 있다. The core -(으)ㄹ 턱이 part remains the same.

Casual Form (반말)

Ending: -턱이 없어 or -턱이 있나.

Usage: Use with close friends, family, or people younger than you. It conveys a strong, direct sense of disbelief.

Polite Form (해요체)

Ending: -턱이 없어요 or -턱이 있나요?

Usage: This is the standard polite form for most daily conversations with colleagues, acquaintances, or elders. It softens the directness slightly while still being very firm.

Notice how the same sentence can be adjusted for different listeners.

그 사람이 올 턱이 없어. / 그 사람이 올 턱이 없어요. / 성공할 턱이 있나. / 성공할 턱이 있나요? / 내가 모를 턱이 없지. / 제가 모를 턱이 없죠.