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Easy Korean - Level 9, Unit 15: It is easy to... (-기 십상이다)

When an action is highly likely to happen, or it is very easy for a negative consequence to occur if you aren't careful, you use the expression -기 십상이다.

It translates to "It is easy to..." or "It is highly likely that..."

Structure Breakdown

  • -기 = noun form of a verb
  • 십상 (十常) = from '십상팔구' (eight or nine times out of ten). It means highly likely.
  • 이다 = to be

Literally: "Doing [X] happens 8 or 9 times out of 10."

How to Conjugate

Just attach -기 십상이다 directly to the verb stem. No irregular changes are needed!

  • 잊어버리다 -> 잊어버리기 십상이에요 (It is easy to forget)
  • 오해하다 -> 오해하기 십상이에요 (It is highly likely to be misunderstood)
  • 포기하다 -> 포기하기 십상이에요 (It is easy to give up)

Usage Nuance

While -기 쉽다 also means "It is easy to [X]", -기 십상이다 specifically carries the nuance of a warning or an unintended negative consequence. You wouldn't use this for something positive like "It's easy to win!"

  • 준비 운동을 안 하면 다치기 십상이에요. (If you don't do warm-up exercises, it is highly likely you will get hurt.)

Example Sentences

  1. 이름을 안 적으면 잃어버리기 십상입니다. (If you don't write your name down, it is easy to lose it.)

  2. 계획 없이 여행을 가면 고생하기 십상이에요. (If you travel without a plan, it's highly likely you will suffer.)

  3. 그런 말은 오해를 받기 십상이에요. (That kind of wording is easy to be misunderstood.)

  4. 너무 기대하면 실망하기 십상이에요. (If you expect too much, you are highly likely to be disappointed.)