-기 일쑤이다 vs -기 십상이다

Intermediate · TOPIK II

Both describe negative things. -기 일쑤이다 means 'often ends up…' — a bad pattern that actually keeps happening; -기 십상이다 means 'is very likely to…' — a prediction or warning about a probable outcome.

-기 일쑤이다An expression used to state that the incident mentioned in the preceding statement happens frequently.-기 십상이다An expression used to state that the current situation can easily become the situation mentioned in the preceding statement or there is a high possibility.

Rules of thumb

For something that has been happening repeatedly: -기 일쑤이다 (지각하기 일쑤예요 'He's late all the time').
For warning that something will easily happen if this goes on: -기 십상이다 (무리하면 병나기 십상이에요 'If you overdo it, you'll likely get sick').
-기 십상이다 often follows a condition with -(으)면 or words like 그렇게 'like that'.
Both are only for undesirable results, never positive ones.
Both are somewhat formal and appear often in TOPIK II and written Korean.

Example sentences

-기 일쑤이다
That friend oversleeps and is late all the time.
-기 십상이다
If you push yourself that hard, you're likely to get sick.
-기 일쑤이다
I've been so busy lately that I skip lunch all the time.
-기 십상이다
If you rush, you're bound to make mistakes.
-기 십상이다
If you go around in thin clothes in winter, you'll easily catch a cold.

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