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Easy Korean - Level 6, Unit 10: Have no choice but to... (-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다)

When you are in a situation where there is only one option, or a certain result is inevitable, you can use the structure -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다.

Structure Breakdown

  • -(으)ㄹ 수 = the way / the method / the possibility
  • 밖에 = outside of / other than (learned in Level 3)
  • 없다 = to not exist

Literally: "Other than the possibility to do X, there is nothing." Naturally: "I have no choice but to X" or "It can't be helped, it must be X."

How to Conjugate

This uses the standard future/possibility modifier:

1. Verb/Adjective stem ends in a VOWEL: Add -ㄹ 수밖에 없다 * 가다 (to go) -> 가 + ㄹ 수밖에 없다 = 갈 수밖에 없어요 (I have no choice but to go) * 비싸다 (expensive) -> 비싸 + ㄹ 수밖에 없다 = 비쌀 수밖에 없어요 (It is bound to be expensive / It can't help but be expensive)

2. Verb/Adjective stem ends in a CONSONANT: Add -을 수밖에 없다 * 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹 + 을 수밖에 없다 = 먹을 수밖에 없어요 (I have no choice but to eat it) * 좋다 (good) -> 좋 + 을 수밖에 없다 = 좋을 수밖에 없어요 (It has to be good / It is inevitably good)

3. Verb stem ends in ㄹ: Add -수밖에 없다 * 알다 (to know) -> 알 수밖에 없어요 (They have no choice but to know)

With Adjectives vs Verbs

  • With Action Verbs: "I have no choice but to do this." (e.g., The last bus left, so I have no choice but to take a taxi.)
  • With Adjectives: "It is bound to be..." or "Of course it is..." (e.g., It's a 5-star hotel, so it is bound to be expensive.)

Example Sentences

  1. 지하철이 끊겨서 택시를 탈 수밖에 없었어요. (The subway stopped running, so I had no choice but to take a taxi.)
  2. 매일 연습하니까 노래를 잘 할 수밖에 없어요. (Because he practices every day, he is bound to be good at singing.)
  3. 비가 와서 집에 있을 수밖에 없어요. (Because it's raining, I have no choice but to stay home.)