-을 법하다Korean expression · TOPIK 5

-eul beophada

TOPIK 5 5급 Expressions 표현

An expression used to judge that the situation mentioned in the preceding statement is likely to happen.

형태Forms

-을 법하다-ㄹ 법하다

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

An expression used to judge that the situation mentioned in the preceding statement is likely to happen.

앞에 오는 말이 나타내는 상황과 같을 가능성이 있다고 판단함을 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant other than ㄹ or the past -었-.

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사와 형용사 또는 ‘-었-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

이것저것 물어 대는 아들이 귀찮을 법한데도 아내는 항상 친절하게 대답해 준다.

Even though it would be annoying to have a son who asks about this and that, my wife always answers him kindly.

내 실수로 일을 망쳐 원망도 했을 법한데 지수는 오히려 나를 위로해 주었다.

She could have blamed me for ruining things with my mistake, but Jisu comforted me instead.

이곳의 소나무들은 족히 삼백 년은 넘었을 법하다.

These pine trees here must be at least three hundred years old.

대화In conversation

승규는 여행을 갔다 오더니 하루 종일 잠만 자네.

Seunggyu came back from his trip and has been sleeping all day.

깨우지 마. 사흘 동안이나 내내 걸어 다녔으니 피곤했을 법하지.

Don't wake him. He walked around for three whole days, so he must be exhausted.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other expressions you will meet alongside this one.

-게 마련이다 -ge maryeonida -기 마련이다 An expression used to indicate that it is natural for something to occur or become a certain state. TOPIK 5 -게 생겼다 -ge saengyeotta An expression used to indicate that someone is facing the situation expressed by the preceding statement. TOPIK 5 -기 나름이다 -gi nareumida -을 나름이다 An expression used to indicate that something depends on how the act mentioned in the preceding statement is done. TOPIK 5 -기가 바쁘게 -giga bappeuge An expression used to indicate that something happens as soon as the act mentioned in the preceding statement is completed. TOPIK 5 -기가 쉽다 -giga swipda An expression used to state that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is likely to occur. TOPIK 5 -기만 하다 -giman hada An expression used to state that one does only one act without doing anything else. TOPIK 5

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -을 법하다 mean in Korean?

-을 법하다 is a expression introduced at 5급 (TOPIK 5). An expression used to judge that the situation mentioned in the preceding statement is likely to happen.

When do you use -을 법하다?

Attaches after verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant other than ㄹ or the past -었-. The other shape is -ㄹ 법하다 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -을 법하다 and -ㄹ 법하다?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same expression, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -을 법하다?

5급 — TOPIK 5, advanced. It is one of 56 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.