HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 55 · LESSON 140
V/A-기 마련이다it’s natural that… / is bound to…
-기 마련이다 says something naturally or inevitably happens; it’s a general truth: 누구나 실수하기 마련이에요 (Everyone makes mistakes; that’s natural). It’s often used to comfort someone.
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A situation you already know
Your friend is upset after making a mistake on her first day at work.
Everyone makes mistakes at first; that’s natural. Don’t worry too much.
You’re not talking just about her; you’re stating a general truth to make her feel better.
Build the form
- 실수하다 → 실수하 + 기 마련이다 → 실수하기 마련이에요Complete expression
- 있다 → 있 + 기 마련이다 → 있기 마련이에요Complete expression
- 힘들다 → 힘들 + 기 마련이다 → 힘들기 마련이에요Complete expression
- 변하다 → 변하 + 기 마련이다 → 변하기 마련이에요Complete expression
- 잊어버리다 → 잊어버리 + 기 마련이다 → 잊어버리기 마련이에요Complete expression
- Verb or adjective stem + -기 마련이다: 실수하기, 힘들기, 있기.
- Use it for general truths, not one person’s single event.
- Common with 누구나, 사람은, 원래, 처음에는.
- Often used to comfort: …-기 마련이에요. 걱정하지 마세요.
- Also -게 마련이다 with the same meaning: 실수하게 마련이에요.
- Formal / written: -기 마련이다; spoken: -기 마련이에요.
Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide
- English “That’s just how it is”, “It’s natural to…”, or “… is bound to happen” fit well.
- It sounds wise and calm, like a proverb.
- ✗ 저는 어제 늦게 일어나기 마련이에요 — a single personal event isn’t a general truth.
Six examples in context
As time passes, people naturally forget.
When you start something new, it’s naturally hard at first.
If you work hard, good results are bound to come.
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
Things are bound to break if you use them long enough.
Where there are good times, there are bound to be bad times too.
Compare with related patterns
-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다
돈이 없어서 포기할 수밖에 없었어요.“I had no choice but to give up.” A specific situation with no other option (Lesson 85).
-는 법이다
노력하면 성공하는 법이에요.“If you try, you succeed — that’s the rule.” Very similar; sounds like a principle or law.
-기 쉽다
피곤하면 실수하기 쉬워요.“When tired, you’re likely to make mistakes.” Likelihood, not inevitability (Lesson 135).
| Pattern | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| -기 마련이다 | General truth: naturally happens |
| -는 법이다 | Principle / rule of life |
| -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 | No other choice (specific case) |
| -기 쉽다 | Likely to |
Common mistakes
A single personal event isn’t a general truth.
Use -기 before 마련이다.
마련 is a noun: 마련이에요.
A specific forecast isn’t a general truth.
Mini practice · six questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.
- Fill in the blank외국어를 배울 때는 누구나 처음에 ______. (어렵다)
Check answer
외국어를 배울 때는 누구나 처음에 어렵기 마련이에요.
General truth → -기 마련이에요.
- Fill in the blank오래 같이 살면 ______. 너무 속상해하지 마세요. (싸우다)
Check answer
오래 같이 살면 싸우기 마련이에요.
Comforting with a general truth.
- Choose the natural form저는 지난주에 감기에 (걸렸어요 / 걸리기 마련이에요).
Check answer
걸렸어요
Specific personal event → simple past.
- Choose the natural form봄이 오면 꽃이 (피기 마련이에요 / 필 수밖에 없었어요).
Check answer
피기 마련이에요
Natural law → -기 마련이다.
- Fix the mistake사람은 나이가 들면 변하는 마련이에요.
Check answer
사람은 나이가 들면 변하기 마련이에요.
-기 마련이다.
- Say it in KoreanEveryone feels nervous before an exam; it’s natural.
Check answer
시험 전에는 누구나 긴장하기 마련이에요.
General truth → -기 마련이에요.
Today’s key point
V/A-기 마련이다 = it’s natural / bound to happen (general truth). Great for comforting people. Not for one person’s single event or a specific forecast.
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