jabi-을 수밖에 없다
-을 수밖에 없다: No Choice But To
Have no choice but to — ability/possibility noun 수 + limiter 밖에 + 없다, after modifier -(으)ㄹ.
How to form it
| When | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Stem ends in a consonant (not ㄹ) | -을 수밖에 없다 | 먹다 → 먹을 수밖에 없어요 |
| Stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ | -ㄹ 수밖에 없다 | 가다 → 갈 수밖에 없어요 / 만들다 → 만들 수밖에 없어요 |
-을 수밖에 없다 means there is no way other than doing X — I have no choice but to…
It reuses pieces you already know: modifier -(으)ㄹ, bound noun 수 (from -을 수 있다), limiter 밖에, and 없다.
비가 와서 택시 탈 수밖에 없어요.
It was raining, so I had no choice but to take a taxi.
늦게 일어나서 뛰어갈 수밖에 없었어요.
I got up late, so I had no choice but to run.Forms
| Stem | Shape |
|---|---|
| Consonant (not ㄹ) | -을 수밖에 없다 |
| Vowel / ㄹ | -ㄹ 수밖에 없다 |
만들다 → 만들 수밖에 (ㄹ stays, as with -ㄹ 수 있다).
Not -을 수 없다
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 갈 수 없어요 | I cannot go |
| 갈 수밖에 없어요 | I must go — no alternative |
English have to / can’t collapse too easily. Keep the Korean split.
Not noun + 밖에 alone
물밖에 없어요 (only water) is particle 밖에 on a noun.
갈 수밖에 없어요 is 수 + 밖에 + 없다 after a verb modifier. Same 밖에 rule (negative follows); different construction.
vs -아야/어야 되다
-어야 되다 states duty or need. -을 수밖에 없다 paints the corner you are already in — options used up. Overlap in translation; different storytelling.
Practice rule
If you mean impossible, use -을 수 없다. If you mean the only remaining move, use -을 수밖에 없다.
Do not confuse it with
Taught alongside this
In the Sejong course this appears in 밤 10시 이후로는 조용히 할 것 — Sejong Korean 2, Unit 10, on the theme of 학교생활. These come with it:
Words used above
Quick check
No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.
1. What does 갈 수밖에 없어요 mean?
2. How does this differ from 갈 수 없어요?
3. Why is *갈 수밖에 있어요 broken?
Common questions
Is this the same as -아야/어야 되다?
Related in English (*have to*), different Korean job. [[g:eoya-doeda]] is obligation/necessity. -을 수밖에 없다 stresses that other options are gone — often after circumstances force the action.
How is particle 밖에 involved?
Same [[g:bakke]] limiter: 'nothing other than.' Here it attaches after 수, and 없다 supplies the required negative.
Is dictionary -ㄹ밖에 the same thing?
Close in meaning, different label. -ㄹ밖에 is listed as an ending; this lesson teaches the full classroom string -을 수밖에 없다. Do not mix the spellings casually.
Can I use it for adjectives?
Classroom focus is action verbs (갈 수밖에, 할 수밖에). Stay on those until you meet clear adjective examples in input.