-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다
(eu)l subakke eopda
Grammar · 1 sense
No Choice But To
Examples
너무 빨리 운전해서, 차 손잡이를 꽉 잡을 수밖에 없었다.
They were driving so fast I had no choice but to grip the car handle tightly.
금연법이 시행되면 PC방을 닫을 수밖에 없다.
If the law comes into effect, I will have no other option but to shut down the shop
When you'd hear it
This pattern is common in everyday speech and writing when explaining a reluctant decision or unavoidable result. It appears in dramas, conversations about difficult choices, and workplace explanations, and it is not especially formal.
What learners get wrong
Unlike -아/어야 하다, which states that something is required, -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 emphasizes that there are no realistic alternatives. It often carries a resigned or regretful tone.
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