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Easy Korean Level 4 - Unit 28: Have no choice but to / -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다

In this lesson, we will learn how to say "I have no choice but to..." or "It is bound to..."

The grammar point is: -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다

  • -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 means "cannot."
  • 밖에 means "outside of" or "other than." So literally, it means "Other than doing this, there is no way." -> "I have no choice but to do this."

Conjugation Rules

  • Verb stems ending in a vowel: Add -ㄹ 수밖에 없다
  • 가다 -> 갈 수밖에 없어요 (I have no choice but to go)
  • 하다 -> 할 수밖에 없어요 (I have no choice but to do it)
  • Verb stems ending in a consonant: Add -을 수밖에 없다
  • 먹다 -> 먹을 수밖에 없어요 (I have no choice but to eat it)
  • 웃다 -> 웃을 수밖에 없어요 (I have no choice but to laugh)
  • Verb stems ending in ㄹ: Add -수밖에 없다
  • 팔다 -> 팔 수밖에 없어요 (I have no choice but to sell it)

Usage

1. No other option

When you are forced to do something because there are no other options. - 지하철이 끊겨서 택시를 탈 수밖에 없었어요. (The subway stopped running, so I had no choice but to take a taxi.) - 너무 비싸서 안 살 수밖에 없어요. (It's too expensive, so I have no choice but not to buy it.)

2. Natural conclusion / Bound to happen

When something is obvious or natural. - 그 식당은 항상 사람이 많아서 기다릴 수밖에 없어요. (That restaurant is always crowded, so you have no choice but to wait / you are bound to wait.) - 매일 연습하니까 한국어를 잘 할 수밖에 없어요. (Since he practices every day, he is bound to be good at Korean.)