🔁

Common Occurrence: -기 일쑤이다

Keywords
일쑤이다
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Intermediate Grammar
🎯
TL;DR 🦄
  • 🔁 -기 일쑤이다 [-gi il-ssu-i-da] means it is common to... / often ends up... / is prone to...
  • ⚠️ It is usually used for negative or undesirable repeated outcomes, like forgetting, being late, making mistakes, or missing something.
  • 🧱 It uses the verb noun form -기 plus 일쑤이다, so the shape is simple: 늦기 일쑤예요, 잊어버리기 일쑤예요, 실수하기 일쑤예요.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets and type 약속을 잊어버리기 일쑤예요, 회의에 늦기 일쑤예요, 실수하기 일쑤예요, and 길을 놓치기 일쑤예요 to hear the repeated “this keeps happening” feeling. 🎧
 

🌈 The Big Picture

일쑤 means something like “a frequent/common occurrence.” So -기 일쑤이다 describes something that happens again and again, often in a troublesome way.
 
Use it when a situation has a repeated pattern:
  • Someone keeps forgetting appointments.
  • A bus keeps arriving late.
  • A person keeps making the same mistake.
  • People keep missing the deadline.
 
Examples:
  • 요즘 너무 바빠서 약속을 잊어버리기 일쑤예요.
      • [yo-jeum neo-mu ba-ppa-seo yak-so-geul i-jeo-beo-ri-gi il-ssu-ye-yo] — These days I’m so busy that I often forget appointments. 📅
      요즘 = these days; 바쁘다 = to be busy; 약속 = appointment/promise; 잊어버리다 = to forget.
  • 아침마다 길이 막혀서 회사에 늦기 일쑤예요.
      • [a-chim-ma-da gi-ri ma-kyeo-seo hoe-sa-e neut-kki il-ssu-ye-yo] — Every morning the road is jammed, so I often end up late to work. 🚗
      아침마다 = every morning; 길이 막히다 = for traffic/roads to be jammed; 회사 = company/workplace; 늦다 = to be late.
  • 급하게 하면 작은 실수를 하기 일쑤예요.
      • [geu-pa-ge ha-myeon ja-geun sil-su-reul ha-gi il-ssu-ye-yo] — If you do it in a rush, it is common to make small mistakes. 📝
      급하게 = hurriedly; 작다 = to be small; 실수하다 = to make a mistake.
 
The feeling is not just “sometimes.” It is “this keeps happening, and it is not ideal.” Tiny chaos pattern detected. 🔍

🎨 The Core -기 일쑤이다 Family

1. Action verb stem + 기 일쑤이다

Attach 기 일쑤이다 directly to an action verb stem.
  • 늦다 [neut-da] — to be late → 늦기 일쑤예요 — it is common to be late
  • 잊어버리다 [i-jeo-beo-ri-da] — to forget → 잊어버리기 일쑤예요 — it is common to forget
  • 실수하다 [sil-su-ha-da] — to make a mistake → 실수하기 일쑤예요 — it is common to make mistakes
  • 놓치다 [no-chi-da] — to miss → 놓치기 일쑤예요 — it is common to miss something
 

2. Negative-pattern contexts

This grammar is strongest with negative repeated outcomes:
  • 약속을 잊어버리기 일쑤예요 — it is common to forget appointments
  • 마감일을 놓치기 일쑤예요 — it is common to miss deadlines
  • 길을 잘못 들기 일쑤예요 — it is common to take the wrong road
  • 작은 실수를 하기 일쑤예요 — it is common to make small mistakes
 

3. Optional particle: -기가 일쑤이다

You may also see 기 followed by the subject particle 가:
  • 늦기 일쑤예요 = common spoken/learner-friendly form
  • 늦기가 일쑤예요 = also possible; slightly more explicitly treats the action as the subject
 
For this lesson, practice the clean form -기 일쑤예요.

🛠️ How It Works in a Sentence

-기 일쑤이다 often appears with cause/context words that explain why the bad pattern keeps happening.
 
Useful context words:
  • 요즘 [yo-jeum] — these days
  • 자주 [ja-ju] — often
  • 급하게 [geu-pa-ge] — hurriedly
  • 바빠서 [ba-ppa-seo] — because one is busy
  • 정신이 없어서 [jeong-si-ni eop-seo-seo] — because one is distracted/overwhelmed
 
Examples:
  • 정신이 없어서 중요한 메시지를 놓치기 일쑤예요.
      • [jeong-si-ni eop-seo-seo jung-yo-han me-si-ji-reul no-chi-gi il-ssu-ye-yo] — Because I’m overwhelmed, I often miss important messages. 📩
      중요하다 = to be important; 메시지 = message.
  • 설명을 제대로 안 읽으면 문제를 잘못 이해하기 일쑤예요.
      • [seol-myeong-eul je-dae-ro an il-geu-myeon mun-je-reul jal-mot i-hae-ha-gi il-ssu-ye-yo] — If you don’t read the explanation properly, it is common to misunderstand the question. 🧩
      설명 = explanation; 제대로 = properly; 잘못 이해하다 = to misunderstand.
  • 잠을 충분히 못 자면 아침에 지각하기 일쑤예요.
      • [ja-meul chung-bun-hi mot ja-myeon a-chi-me ji-ga-ka-gi il-ssu-ye-yo] — If you don’t sleep enough, it is common to be late in the morning. ⏰
      잠 = sleep; 충분히 = enough; 지각하다 = to be late.

🧩 General Formation Rule

Action verbs

Remove 다, then add 기 일쑤예요.
  • 늦다 → 늦기 일쑤예요
  • 잊어버리다 → 잊어버리기 일쑤예요
  • 놓치다 → 놓치기 일쑤예요
  • 실수하다 → 실수하기 일쑤예요
  • 지각하다 → 지각하기 일쑤예요
 

Irregular-friendly note

Because 기 starts with a consonant, many irregular changes do not happen here. Just attach 기 to the stem.
  • 듣다 → 듣기 일쑤예요, not 들기 일쑤예요
  • 걷다 → 걷기 일쑤예요, not 걸기 일쑤예요
  • 춥다 → 춥기 일쑤예요, not 추우기 일쑤예요
 

Polite forms

  • -기 일쑤예요 — polite present
  • -기 일쑤였습니다 — formal past/written style
  • -기 일쑤였다 — plain past/written style
✍️
Spacing note
Write 일쑤 as a separate noun-like word, then attach 예요:
  • ✅ 늦기 일쑤예요
  • ✅ 실수하기 일쑤예요
  • ✅ 놓치기 일쑤예요
  • ❌ 늦기일쑤예요
  • ❌ 실수하기일쑤예요

🚨 Nuance: Usually Negative, Critical, or Cautionary

-기 일쑤이다 usually points to a bad habit, repeated problem, or undesirable result.
 
Compare:
  • 저는 책을 자주 읽어요. — I often read books. Neutral/positive. 📚
  • 저는 책을 읽는 편이에요. — I tend to read books. Soft tendency.
  • 저는 약속을 잊어버리기 일쑤예요. — I often forget appointments. Negative repeated problem. 📅
 
Because of this, avoid using -기 일쑤이다 for happy routines like “I often exercise” or “I often study” unless the context makes it a problem.
 
Natural:
  • 급하게 하면 실수하기 일쑤예요. — If you rush, you often make mistakes.
 
Awkward without a negative context:
  • 운동하기 일쑤예요 — “I often exercise” sounds odd with 일쑤 unless exercise is being framed as a repeated issue.

🔍 -기 일쑤이다 vs Related Grammar

-기 일쑤이다

Repeated negative/common occurrence.
  • 마감일을 놓치기 일쑤예요. — It is common to miss deadlines.
 

자주

Neutral “often.” Can be positive, neutral, or negative.
  • 친구를 자주 만나요. — I often meet friends.
 

-(으)ㄴ/는 편이다

General tendency / on the ... side.
  • 약속에 늦는 편이에요. — I tend to be late to appointments.
 

-기 쉽다

Easy/likely to happen; not necessarily repeated by habit.
  • 급하면 실수하기 쉬워요. — If you rush, it is easy to make mistakes.
 

-기 마련이다

Natural or inevitable general result; broader and more philosophical.
  • 사람은 누구나 실수하기 마련이에요. — Everyone naturally makes mistakes.
 
Use -기 일쑤이다 when the focus is this bad thing happens all the time. 🧯

📚 Cross-check note

This lesson was checked against korean.go.kr, including usage notes that 일쑤이다 is mainly used with negative content and that -기 can also appear with the particle 가 before 일쑤이다. Practical lesson choice: practice -기 일쑤예요 as the main learner-friendly form. ✅

🪞 Synonym Alert

Possible English translations:
  • “often...” → 늦기 일쑤예요. — They are often late.
  • “commonly...” → 실수하기 일쑤예요. — It is common to make mistakes.
  • “is prone to...” → 잊어버리기 일쑤예요. — They are prone to forgetting.
  • “keeps ending up...” → 마감일을 놓치기 일쑤예요. — They keep ending up missing deadlines.
 
Useful companion words:
  • 자주 — often
  • 항상 — always
  • 요즘 — these days
  • 급하게 — hurriedly
  • 정신이 없어서 — because one is overwhelmed/distracted

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 늦는 일쑤예요 → ✅ 늦기 일쑤예요. Use -기.
  • ❌ 실수할 일쑤예요 → ✅ 실수하기 일쑤예요.
  • ❌ 듣기 changing to 들기 here → ✅ 듣기 일쑤예요. 기 starts with a consonant, so ㄷ-irregular does not trigger.
  • ❌ Using -기 일쑤이다 for positive habits → ✅ Use 자주 or -(으)ㄴ/는 편이다 for neutral/positive frequency.
  • ❌ 늦기일쑤예요 → ✅ 늦기 일쑤예요. Keep 일쑤 separate.
 
🎉 Now you can describe repeated troublesome patterns in Korean: 늦기 일쑤예요, 잊어버리기 일쑤예요, 실수하기 일쑤예요. Pattern-of-chaos grammar unlocked. 🔁✨
 

Try this exercise

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct -기 일쑤이다 form. Read the repeated-problem context, say the sentence aloud, then open the Answer toggle.
1. 늦다 → 아침마다 회사에 ＿＿＿＿.
[neut-da → a-chim-ma-da hoe-sa-e ＿＿＿＿]
Every morning, it is common to be late to work. ⏰
Answer
늦기 일쑤예요 — verb stem + 기 일쑤예요.
2. 잊어버리다 → 바쁘면 약속을 ＿＿＿＿.
[i-jeo-beo-ri-da → ba-ppeu-myeon yak-so-geul ＿＿＿＿]
When busy, it is common to forget appointments. 📅
Answer
잊어버리기 일쑤예요.
3. 실수하다 → 급하게 하면 ＿＿＿＿.
[sil-su-ha-da → geu-pa-ge ha-myeon ＿＿＿＿]
If you rush, it is common to make mistakes. 📝
Answer
실수하기 일쑤예요.
4. 놓치다 → 정신이 없으면 메시지를 ＿＿＿＿.
[no-chi-da → jeong-si-ni eop-seu-myeon me-si-ji-reul ＿＿＿＿]
When distracted, it is common to miss messages. 📩
Answer
놓치기 일쑤예요.
5. 지각하다 → 잠을 못 자면 ＿＿＿＿.
[ji-ga-ka-da → ja-meul mot ja-myeon ＿＿＿＿]
If you cannot sleep, it is common to be late. 🚨
Answer
지각하기 일쑤예요.
6. 잘못 이해하다 → 설명을 안 읽으면 ＿＿＿＿.
[jal-mot i-hae-ha-da → seol-myeong-eul an il-geu-myeon ＿＿＿＿]
If you do not read the explanation, it is common to misunderstand. 🧩
Answer
잘못 이해하기 일쑤예요.
7. Choose the natural negative repeated-pattern sentence:
① 운동하기 일쑤예요 / ② 마감일을 놓치기 일쑤예요
Answer
② — 일쑤이다 usually fits negative repeated outcomes.
8. ❌ 늦는 일쑤예요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
늦기 일쑤예요 — use -기.
9. ❌ 듣기가 → 들기가 for this pattern?
Answer
No. Use 듣기 일쑤예요. 기 starts with a consonant, so ㄷ-irregular does not trigger.
10. -기 일쑤이다 is strongest when:
Answer
A negative or troublesome thing happens repeatedly.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 늦다 → to be late
  • 아침마다 → every morning
  • 회사 → company/workplace
  • 잊어버리다 → to forget
  • 바쁘다 → to be busy
  • 약속 → appointment/promise
  • 실수하다 → to make a mistake
  • 급하게 → hurriedly
  • 놓치다 → to miss
  • 정신이 없다 → to be distracted/overwhelmed
  • 메시지 → message
  • 지각하다 → to be late
  • 잠 → sleep
  • 잘못 이해하다 → to misunderstand
  • 설명 → explanation
  • 마감일 → deadline
Tip 💡 The shape is simple: verb stem + 기 일쑤예요.
🚀
Want more reps? The Practice Hub below gives you a full repeated-problem workout. 🔁
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Common Occurrence: -기 일쑤이다
 
Welcome to the repeated-chaos lab. 🔁 You’ll practice describing problems that keep happening: missed messages, late mornings, forgotten appointments, rushed mistakes, and misunderstood instructions. This grammar is your “this keeps happening and it’s not great” tool — very useful, slightly dramatic, and honestly relatable. 🧯
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a sentence aloud.
 
📝 Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct -기 일쑤예요 form. Keep the mood negative or cautionary, and remember that 기 does not trigger many irregular changes.
 

Exercise 1 — Form Builder 🔧

A. 늦다 → 회의에 ＿＿＿＿.
[neut-da → hoe-ui-e ＿＿＿＿]
It is common to be late to meetings. 🕒
Answer
늦기 일쑤예요 — verb stem + 기 일쑤예요.
B. 잊어버리다 → 약속을 ＿＿＿＿.
[i-jeo-beo-ri-da → yak-so-geul ＿＿＿＿]
It is common to forget appointments. 📅
Answer
잊어버리기 일쑤예요.
C. 실수하다 → 급하면 ＿＿＿＿.
[sil-su-ha-da → geu-pa-myeon ＿＿＿＿]
If one rushes, it is common to make mistakes. 📝
Answer
실수하기 일쑤예요.
D. 놓치다 → 중요한 메시지를 ＿＿＿＿.
[no-chi-da → jung-yo-han me-si-ji-reul ＿＿＿＿]
It is common to miss important messages. 📩
Answer
놓치기 일쑤예요.
E. 지각하다 → 아침마다 ＿＿＿＿.
[ji-ga-ka-da → a-chim-ma-da ＿＿＿＿]
It is common to be late every morning. ⏰
Answer
지각하기 일쑤예요.
F. 잘못 이해하다 → 설명을 ＿＿＿＿.
[jal-mot i-hae-ha-da → seol-myeong-eul ＿＿＿＿]
It is common to misunderstand the explanation. 🧩
Answer
잘못 이해하기 일쑤예요.
G. 잘못 듣다 → 이름을 ＿＿＿＿.
[jal-mot deut-da → i-reu-meul ＿＿＿＿]
It is common to mishear names. 👂
Answer
잘못 듣기 일쑤예요 — no ㄷ-irregular change before 기.
H. 잘못 걷다 → 길을 ＿＿＿＿.
[jal-mot geot-da → gi-reul ＿＿＿＿]
It is common to walk the wrong way. 🚶
Answer
잘못 걷기 일쑤예요 — no ㄷ-irregular change before 기.
I. 잘못 쓰다 → 단어를 ＿＿＿＿.
[jal-mot sseu-da → da-neo-reul ＿＿＿＿]
It is common to write words incorrectly. ✍️
Answer
잘못 쓰기 일쑤예요.
J. 빼먹다 → 중요한 부분을 ＿＿＿＿.
[ppae-meok-da → jung-yo-han bu-bu-neul ＿＿＿＿]
It is common to leave out important parts. 🧱
Answer
빼먹기 일쑤예요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 회의 → meeting
  • 급하다 → to be urgent/rushed
  • 중요하다 → to be important
  • 잘못 → wrongly / by mistake
  • 듣다 → to listen/hear
  • 이름 → name
  • 걷다 → to walk
  • 길 → road/path
  • 쓰다 → to write/use
  • 단어 → word
  • 빼먹다 → to omit / leave out
  • 부분 → part
Tip 💡 기 is a noun-maker here: action → repeated occurrence.
 

Exercise 2 — Read the Cause ⚠️

A. 요즘 너무 바빠서 약속을 ＿＿＿＿.
[yo-jeum neo-mu ba-ppa-seo yak-so-geul ＿＿＿＿]
These days I’m so busy that I often forget appointments. 📅
Answer
잊어버리기 일쑤예요.
B. 아침마다 길이 막혀서 회사에 ＿＿＿＿.
[a-chim-ma-da gi-ri ma-kyeo-seo hoe-sa-e ＿＿＿＿]
Every morning the road is jammed, so I often end up late to work. 🚗
Answer
늦기 일쑤예요.
C. 급하게 하면 작은 실수를 ＿＿＿＿.
[geu-pa-ge ha-myeon ja-geun sil-su-reul ＿＿＿＿]
If you do it hurriedly, it is common to make small mistakes. 📝
Answer
하기 일쑤예요 — 실수를 하다 = to make a mistake.
D. 정신이 없어서 중요한 메시지를 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeong-si-ni eop-seo-seo jung-yo-han me-si-ji-reul ＿＿＿＿]
Because I’m overwhelmed, I often miss important messages. 📩
Answer
놓치기 일쑤예요.
E. 설명을 제대로 안 읽으면 문제를 ＿＿＿＿.
[seol-myeong-eul je-dae-ro an il-geu-myeon mun-je-reul ＿＿＿＿]
If you do not read the explanation properly, it is common to misunderstand the question. 🧩
Answer
잘못 이해하기 일쑤예요.
F. 잠을 충분히 못 자면 아침에 ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-meul chung-bun-hi mot ja-myeon a-chi-me ＿＿＿＿]
If you do not sleep enough, it is common to be late in the morning. ⏰
Answer
지각하기 일쑤예요.
G. 소리가 작으면 이름을 ＿＿＿＿.
[so-ri-ga ja-geu-myeon i-reu-meul ＿＿＿＿]
If the sound is quiet, it is common to mishear names. 👂
Answer
잘못 듣기 일쑤예요.
H. 지도를 안 보면 길을 ＿＿＿＿.
[ji-do-reul an bo-myeon gi-reul ＿＿＿＿]
If you do not look at the map, it is common to take the wrong road. 🗺️
Answer
잘못 걷기 일쑤예요.
I. 시간이 부족하면 중요한 부분을 ＿＿＿＿.
[si-ga-ni bu-jo-ka-myeon jung-yo-han bu-bu-neul ＿＿＿＿]
If time is lacking, it is common to leave out important parts. ⏳
Answer
빼먹기 일쑤예요.
J. 마감일이 가까우면 실수하기 ＿＿＿＿.
[ma-gam-i-ri ga-kka-u-myeon sil-su-ha-gi ＿＿＿＿]
When the deadline is close, it is common to make mistakes. 🚨
Answer
일쑤예요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 너무 → too / very
  • 길이 막히다 → for traffic/roads to be jammed
  • 작다 → to be small
  • 제대로 → properly
  • 문제 → problem/question
  • 충분히 → sufficiently/enough
  • 소리 → sound
  • 지도 → map
  • 시간 → time
  • 부족하다 → to be insufficient
  • 가깝다 → to be close
Tip 💡 Cause/context + -기 일쑤예요 makes a natural caution sentence.
 

Exercise 3 — Negative Pattern or Neutral Frequency? 🔍

A. “I often meet friends.”
① 친구를 자주 만나요 / ② 친구를 만나기 일쑤예요
Answer
① — neutral/positive frequency uses 자주.
B. “I often forget appointments.”
① 약속을 잊어버리기 일쑤예요 / ② 약속을 자주 좋아해요
Answer
① — repeated negative outcome.
C. “I tend to be late.”
① 늦는 편이에요 / ② 늦기 마련이에요
Answer
① — -(으)ㄴ/는 편이다 gives a tendency.
D. “It is common to be late.”
① 늦기 일쑤예요 / ② 늦게 좋아해요
Answer
① — repeated negative occurrence.
E. “If you rush, it is easy to make mistakes.”
① 급하면 실수하기 쉬워요 / ② 급하면 실수하기 일쑤예요
Answer
① — -기 쉽다 emphasizes easy/likely; 일쑤 emphasizes repeated occurrence.
F. “If you rush, you often make mistakes.”
① 급하면 실수하기 일쑤예요 / ② 급하면 실수하기 좋아요
Answer
① — repeated troublesome result.
G. “Everyone naturally makes mistakes.”
① 실수하기 마련이에요 / ② 실수하기 일쑤예요
Answer
① — -기 마련이다 expresses a natural/inevitable general truth.
H. “They keep missing deadlines.”
① 마감일을 놓치기 일쑤예요 / ② 마감일을 읽는 편이에요
Answer
① — repeated negative pattern.
I. “They often exercise.”
① 운동을 자주 해요 / ② 운동하기 일쑤예요
Answer
① — ordinary positive habit uses 자주.
J. “They are prone to misunderstanding.”
① 잘못 이해하기 일쑤예요 / ② 잘못 이해하기 좋아요
Answer
① — prone to a repeated problem.
🧭
Decision Box
  • 자주 해요 → often do, neutral
  • 하는 편이에요 → tend to do
  • 하기 쉬워요 → easy/likely to do
  • 하기 마련이에요 → naturally/inevitably happens
  • 하기 일쑤예요 → repeatedly happens, usually bad
Tip 💡 If it sounds like “ugh, this keeps happening,” choose 일쑤.
 

Exercise 4 — Rewrite with -기 일쑤이다 ✍️

A. 자주 늦어요. → ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-ju neu-jeo-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
They are often late. ⏰
Answer
늦기 일쑤예요.
B. 자주 잊어버려요. → ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-ju i-jeo-beo-ryeo-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
They often forget. 📅
Answer
잊어버리기 일쑤예요.
C. 자주 실수해요. → ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-ju sil-su-hae-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
They often make mistakes. 📝
Answer
실수하기 일쑤예요.
D. 자주 메시지를 놓쳐요. → ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-ju me-si-ji-reul no-chyeo-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
They often miss messages. 📩
Answer
메시지를 놓치기 일쑤예요.
E. 자주 지각해요. → ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-ju ji-ga-kae-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
They are often late. 🚨
Answer
지각하기 일쑤예요.
F. 자주 잘못 이해해요. → ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-ju jal-mot i-hae-hae-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
They often misunderstand. 🧩
Answer
잘못 이해하기 일쑤예요.
G. 자주 이름을 잘못 들어요. → ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-ju i-reu-meul jal-mot deu-reo-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
They often mishear names. 👂
Answer
이름을 잘못 듣기 일쑤예요.
H. 자주 길을 잘못 걸어요. → ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-ju gi-reul jal-mot geo-reo-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
They often walk the wrong way. 🚶
Answer
길을 잘못 걷기 일쑤예요.
I. 자주 단어를 잘못 써요. → ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-ju da-neo-reul jal-mot sseo-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
They often write words incorrectly. ✍️
Answer
단어를 잘못 쓰기 일쑤예요.
J. 자주 중요한 부분을 빼먹어요. → ＿＿＿＿.
[ja-ju jung-yo-han bu-bu-neul ppae-meo-geo-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
They often leave out important parts. 🧱
Answer
중요한 부분을 빼먹기 일쑤예요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 자주 → often
  • 늦어요 → is late
  • 잊어버려요 → forgets
  • 실수해요 → makes a mistake
  • 놓쳐요 → misses
  • 지각해요 → is late
  • 이해해요 → understands
  • 들어요 → listens/hears
  • 걸어요 → walks
  • 써요 → writes/uses
  • 빼먹어요 → leaves out
Tip 💡 Rewriting from 자주 to 일쑤 adds a stronger “problem pattern” tone.
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 늦는 일쑤예요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
[neun-neun il-ssu-ye-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Fix the form. ⏰
Answer
늦기 일쑤예요 — use -기.
B. ❌ 실수할 일쑤예요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
[sil-su-hal il-ssu-ye-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Fix the form. 📝
Answer
실수하기 일쑤예요.
C. ❌ 듣기가 들기로 바뀐다 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
[deut-gi-ga deul-gi-ro ba-kkwin-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Fix the irregular idea. 👂
Answer
듣기 일쑤예요 — no ㄷ-irregular change before 기.
D. ❌ 걷기 becomes 걸기 here → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
No. Use 걷기 일쑤예요. 기 starts with a consonant.
E. ❌ 늦기일쑤예요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
[neut-kki-il-ssu-ye-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Fix the spacing. ✍️
Answer
늦기 일쑤예요.
F. ❌ 운동하기 일쑤예요 for “I often exercise” → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
운동을 자주 해요 — positive/neutral habit uses 자주.
G. 마감일을 ＿＿＿＿.
[ma-gam-i-reul ＿＿＿＿]
They often miss deadlines. 🚨
Answer
놓치기 일쑤예요.
H. 중요한 메시지를 ＿＿＿＿.
[jung-yo-han me-si-ji-reul ＿＿＿＿]
They often miss important messages. 📩
Answer
놓치기 일쑤예요.
I. Choose the repeated negative occurrence:
① 책을 자주 읽어요 / ② 마감일을 놓치기 일쑤예요
Answer
② — repeated bad pattern.
J. -기 일쑤이다 is strongest when:
Answer
A repeated negative or undesirable result keeps happening.
📚
Final Check
  • 늦기 일쑤예요 → often late
  • 실수하기 일쑤예요 → often makes mistakes
  • 놓치기 일쑤예요 → often misses
  • 듣기 일쑤예요 → often hears/listens, no irregular change
  • 걷기 일쑤예요 → often walks, no irregular change
  • 운동하다 → to exercise
  • 책 → book
Tip 💡 If the pattern is positive or neutral, use 자주 or -(으)ㄴ/는 편이다 instead.
 
🎉 Common-occurrence grammar mastered! With -기 일쑤이다, you can describe repeated problems naturally: 늦기 일쑤예요, 잊어버리기 일쑤예요, 놓치기 일쑤예요. Repeated chaos, now grammatically organized. 🔁✨