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Reflecting on Human Nature: -기 쉽다 (Advanced Context)

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TL;DR 🦄
  • 🧠 -기 쉽다 [gi swip-da] means “it is easy to…” in basic use, but in advanced writing it often means “is likely/prone to…” when describing tendencies.
  • 🌊 Use it with repeated human patterns: 감정에 휩쓸리기 쉽다 [gam-jeong-e hwip-sseul-li-gi swip-da] = “to be prone to being swept up by emotion.”
  • 🎯 Pair it with 경향 [gyeong-hyang] = “tendency” to sound analytical, not preachy.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Open
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a Korean word or sentence aloud. Type the sentence in, listen once, then say it like you are narrating a thoughtful documentary about humanity. Very scholarly. Very dramatic. 🎬
 

🌈 The Big Picture

-기 쉽다 [gi swip-da] literally means “to be easy to do.” In advanced contexts, it often softens into “to be likely to do,” “to be prone to doing,” or “can easily happen.” It is especially useful when describing repeated patterns in people, society, emotions, memory, or judgment. 🧭
 
The keyword for this lesson is 경향 [gyeong-hyang] = “tendency.” When you write about human nature, -기 쉽다 helps you avoid sounding absolute. Instead of saying “people always do this,” you can say “people are prone to doing this.” Much wiser. Less table-flipping. 🫖
 
This pattern is common in reflective essays, TOPIK-style writing, opinion paragraphs, and formal explanations where you analyze why people behave a certain way. 🧠

🎨 The Core “Prone to / Likely to” Family

The main structure is:
 
동사 어간 + 기 쉽다 = “to be easy to do / likely to do / prone to doing”
 
Here, 동사 means “verb,” 어간 means “stem,” and 기 turns the action into a noun-like idea. Then 쉽다 [swip-da] = “to be easy.” Together, they describe how easily something can happen.
 
Useful lesson words and patterns appear naturally in these examples:
  • 사람은 익숙한 생각에 머물기 쉽다. [sa-ram-eun ik-suk-han saeng-gak-e meo-mul-gi swip-da] — “People are prone to staying in familiar thoughts.” 🧠
    • 사람 = person/people, 익숙한 = familiar, 생각 = thought, 머물다 = to stay.
  • 우리는 감정에 휩쓸리기 쉽다. [u-ri-neun gam-jeong-e hwip-sseul-li-gi swip-da] — “We are prone to being swept up by emotion.” 🌊
    • 우리 = we, 감정 = emotion, 휩쓸리다 = to be swept away/up.
  • 인간은 자기중심적으로 판단하기 쉽다. [in-gan-eun ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-eu-ro pan-dan-ha-gi swip-da] — “Humans are prone to judging egocentrically.” 🪞
    • 인간 = human, 자기중심적으로 = egocentrically, 판단하다 = to judge.
 
A more analytical companion expression:
 
-는 경향이 있다 [neun gyeong-hyang-i it-da] = “to have a tendency to…”
 
Compare:
  • 사람은 편한 선택을 하기 쉽다. [sa-ram-eun pyeon-han seon-taek-eul ha-gi swip-da] — “People are likely to make the comfortable choice.” 🛋️
  • 사람은 편한 선택을 하는 경향이 있다. [sa-ram-eun pyeon-han seon-taek-eul ha-neun gyeong-hyang-i it-da] — “People tend to make the comfortable choice.” 🛋️
 
The first sentence feels more like a warning about how easily it happens. The second sounds more like neutral analysis.

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

1. Human tendency
 
사람은 불편한 진실을 피하기 쉽다. [sa-ram-eun bul-pyeon-han jin-sil-eul pi-ha-gi swip-da] — “People are prone to avoiding uncomfortable truths.” 🧩
  • 불편한 = uncomfortable, 진실 = truth, 피하다 = to avoid.
 
2. Emotional reaction
 
우리는 두려움 때문에 새로운 가능성을 놓치기 쉽다. [u-ri-neun du-ryeo-um ttae-mun-e sae-ro-un ga-neung-seong-eul not-chi-gi swip-da] — “Because of fear, we are likely to miss new possibilities.” 🚪
  • 두려움 = fear, 때문에 = because of, 새로운 = new, 가능성 = possibility, 놓치다 = to miss.
 
3. Social observation
 
사회는 익숙한 질서를 당연하게 여기기 쉽다. [sa-hoe-neun ik-suk-han jil-seo-reul dang-yeon-ha-ge yeo-gi-gi swip-da] — “Society is prone to taking familiar order for granted.” 🏛️
  • 사회 = society, 질서 = order, 당연하게 여기다 = to take for granted.

🧩 General Formation Rule

Use the verb stem + 기 쉽다.
 
  • 잊다 [it-da] = to forget → 잊기 쉽다 [it-gi swip-da] = “to be easy to forget / likely to forget” 🧠
  • 믿다 [mit-da] = to believe → 믿기 쉽다 [mit-gi swip-da] = “to be easy to believe / prone to believe” 📰
  • 합리화하다 [ham-ni-hwa-ha-da] = to rationalize → 합리화하기 쉽다 [ham-ni-hwa-ha-gi swip-da] = “to be prone to rationalize” 🧾
  • 반성하다 [ban-seong-ha-da] = to reflect → 반성하기 쉽다 [ban-seong-ha-gi swip-da] = “to be easy to reflect” or, depending on context, “to be likely to reflect” 🪞
 
For analytical writing, the subject is often broad:
  • 사람은 [sa-ram-eun] = people
  • 우리는 [u-ri-neun] = we
  • 인간은 [in-gan-eun] = humans
  • 사회는 [sa-hoe-neun] = society
 
Use -기 쉽다 when the focus is “this can easily happen.” Use -는 경향이 있다 when the focus is “this is a tendency.”

📚 Cross-check note

The forms -기 쉽다, 쉽다, and 경향 were checked against Korean grammar and dictionary resources from korean.go.kr. ✅

🪞 Synonym Alert

  • -기 쉽다 [gi swip-da] — “likely/prone to”; useful when something can happen easily.
  • -는 경향이 있다 [neun gyeong-hyang-i it-da] — “to have a tendency to”; more neutral and analytical.
  • 자칫 -기 쉽다 [ja-chit gi swip-da] — “one can easily end up…”; often warns about a negative result. 자칫 = “with one wrong move / if not careful.” ⚠️

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 사람은 행복하기 쉽다. → ✅ 사람은 작은 만족을 놓치기 쉽다. (“People are prone to missing small satisfaction.”) — -기 쉽다 sounds more natural with actions or outcomes that can happen easily, not vague states. 🧩
  • ❌ 인간은 항상 이기적이다. → ✅ 인간은 자기 이익을 먼저 생각하기 쉽다. (“Humans are prone to thinking of their own benefit first.”) — Advanced writing often avoids absolute claims. 🪞
  • ❌ 우리는 실수하는 경향이 쉽다. → ✅ 우리는 실수하기 쉽다. or 우리는 실수하는 경향이 있다. — Do not mix the two structures. 🧱
  • ❌ 자칫 성공하기 쉽다. → ✅ 자칫 오해하기 쉽다. — 자칫 usually warns about an unwanted result. 🚧
  • ❌ 편견을 판단하기 쉽다. → ✅ 편견에 따라 판단하기 쉽다. (“to be prone to judging according to bias”) — Use natural particles and collocations. 🧭
🎉 -기 쉽다 is a tiny pattern with big essay energy: it lets you describe human tendencies with nuance, caution, and a little philosophical sparkle. 🧠✨
 

Try this exercise

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the most natural -기 쉽다 form or the matching tendency expression. Say the Korean line aloud, notice the “likely/prone to” meaning, then open the Answer toggle.
 
1. 사람은 익숙한 생각에 머물＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun ik-suk-han saeng-gak-e meo-mul＿＿＿＿]
People are prone to staying in familiar thoughts. 🧠
Answer
기 쉽다 — 머물다 becomes 머물기 쉽다, “to be prone to staying.”
2. 우리는 감정에 휩쓸리＿＿＿＿.
[u-ri-neun gam-jeong-e hwip-sseul-li＿＿＿＿]
We are prone to being swept up by emotion. 🌊
Answer
기 쉽다 — 휩쓸리다 + 기 쉽다 = 휩쓸리기 쉽다.
3. 인간은 자기중심적으로 판단하＿＿＿＿.
[in-gan-eun ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-eu-ro pan-dan-ha＿＿＿＿]
Humans are prone to judging egocentrically. 🪞
Answer
기 쉽다 — 판단하다 becomes 판단하기 쉽다.
4. 사람은 불편한 진실을 피하＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun bul-pyeon-han jin-sil-eul pi-ha＿＿＿＿]
People are prone to avoiding uncomfortable truths. 🧩
Answer
기 쉽다 — 피하다 + 기 쉽다 = 피하기 쉽다.
5. 우리는 두려움 때문에 가능성을 놓치＿＿＿＿.
[u-ri-neun du-ryeo-um ttae-mun-e ga-neung-seong-eul not-chi＿＿＿＿]
Because of fear, we are likely to miss possibilities. 🚪
Answer
기 쉽다 — 놓치다 becomes 놓치기 쉽다.
6. 사회는 익숙한 질서를 당연하게 여기＿＿＿＿.
[sa-hoe-neun ik-suk-han jil-seo-reul dang-yeon-ha-ge yeo-gi＿＿＿＿]
Society is prone to taking familiar order for granted. 🏛️
Answer
기 쉽다 — 당연하게 여기다 becomes 당연하게 여기기 쉽다.
7. 사람은 편한 선택을 하＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun pyeon-han seon-taek-eul ha＿＿＿＿]
People are likely to make the comfortable choice. 🛋️
Answer
기 쉽다 — 하다 becomes 하기 쉽다.
8. 우리는 중요한 사실을 잊＿＿＿＿.
[u-ri-neun jung-yo-han sa-sil-eul it＿＿＿＿]
We are likely to forget important facts. 📌
Answer
기 쉽다 — 잊다 becomes 잊기 쉽다.
9. 사람은 보이는 것을 쉽게 믿＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun bo-i-neun geot-eul swip-ge mit＿＿＿＿]
People are prone to believing what they see easily. 👀
Answer
기 쉽다 — 믿다 becomes 믿기 쉽다.
10. 사람은 자기 이익을 먼저 생각하는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[sa-ram-eun ja-gi i-ik-eul meon-jeo saeng-gak-ha-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
People have a tendency to think of their own benefit first. 🪙
Answer
경향 — -는 경향이 있다 means “to have a tendency to.”
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 사람 → person/people
  • 우리 → we
  • 인간 → human
  • 사회 → society
  • 익숙한 → familiar
  • 생각 → thought
  • 감정 → emotion
  • 자기중심적으로 → egocentrically
  • 불편한 → uncomfortable
  • 진실 → truth
  • 두려움 → fear
  • 가능성 → possibility
  • 질서 → order
  • 선택 → choice
  • 사실 → fact
  • 이익 → benefit
  • 머물다 → to stay
  • 휩쓸리다 → to be swept up
  • 판단하다 → to judge
  • 피하다 → to avoid
  • 놓치다 → to miss
  • 당연하게 여기다 → to take for granted
  • 하다 → to do
  • 잊다 → to forget
  • 믿다 → to believe
  • 경향 → tendency
Tips 💡
  • Verb stem + 기 쉽다 = likely/prone to do.
  • -는 경향이 있다 = has a tendency to do.
  • 자칫 warns about a negative result.
🚀
Want more reps? Visit the Practice Hub when you're ready! Your inner philosopher brought snacks. 🧠🍪
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Reflecting on Human Nature: -기 쉽다
 
Welcome to your -기 쉽다 Practice Hub, where grammar puts on a tiny philosophy scarf. 🧣 You’ll practice describing human tendencies with nuance: what people are likely to do, what society tends to accept, and what we might miss when emotion, habit, or bias takes the wheel. 🧠
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a sentence before repeating it aloud.
 
📝 Instructions: Complete each Korean sentence, read the romanization line, and say the full sentence aloud. Then open the Answer toggle to check the form, meaning, and the nuance.
 

Exercise 1 — Building the Pattern 🧱

A. 사람은 익숙한 생각에 머물＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun ik-suk-han saeng-gak-e meo-mul＿＿＿＿]
People are prone to staying in familiar thoughts. 🧠
Answer
기 쉽다 — 머물기 쉽다 means “to be prone to staying.”
B. 우리는 감정에 휩쓸리＿＿＿＿.
[u-ri-neun gam-jeong-e hwip-sseul-li＿＿＿＿]
We are prone to being swept up by emotion. 🌊
Answer
기 쉽다 — 휩쓸리기 쉽다 describes an emotional tendency.
C. 인간은 자기중심적으로 판단하＿＿＿＿.
[in-gan-eun ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-eu-ro pan-dan-ha＿＿＿＿]
Humans are prone to judging egocentrically. 🪞
Answer
기 쉽다 — 판단하기 쉽다 = “likely/prone to judge.”
D. 사람은 불편한 진실을 피하＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun bul-pyeon-han jin-sil-eul pi-ha＿＿＿＿]
People are prone to avoiding uncomfortable truths. 🧩
Answer
기 쉽다 — 피하기 쉽다 = “likely/prone to avoid.”
E. 우리는 가능성을 놓치＿＿＿＿.
[u-ri-neun ga-neung-seong-eul not-chi＿＿＿＿]
We are likely to miss possibilities. 🚪
Answer
기 쉽다 — 놓치기 쉽다 = “likely to miss.”
F. 사회는 질서를 당연하게 여기＿＿＿＿.
[sa-hoe-neun jil-seo-reul dang-yeon-ha-ge yeo-gi＿＿＿＿]
Society is prone to taking order for granted. 🏛️
Answer
기 쉽다 — 당연하게 여기기 쉽다 = “prone to taking for granted.”
G. 사람은 편한 선택을 하＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun pyeon-han seon-taek-eul ha＿＿＿＿]
People are likely to make the comfortable choice. 🛋️
Answer
기 쉽다 — 하기 쉽다 attaches to 하다.
H. 우리는 사실을 잊＿＿＿＿.
[u-ri-neun sa-sil-eul it＿＿＿＿]
We are likely to forget facts. 📌
Answer
기 쉽다 — 잊기 쉽다 = “likely to forget.”
I. 사람은 보이는 것을 믿＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun bo-i-neun geot-eul mit＿＿＿＿]
People are prone to believing what they see. 👀
Answer
기 쉽다 — 믿기 쉽다 = “prone to believe.”
J. 인간은 실수를 합리화하＿＿＿＿.
[in-gan-eun sil-su-reul ham-ni-hwa-ha＿＿＿＿]
Humans are prone to rationalizing mistakes. 🧾
Answer
기 쉽다 — 합리화하기 쉽다 = “prone to rationalize.”
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 사람 → person/people
  • 우리 → we
  • 인간 → human
  • 사회 → society
  • 생각 → thought
  • 감정 → emotion
  • 진실 → truth
  • 가능성 → possibility
  • 질서 → order
  • 선택 → choice
  • 사실 → fact
  • 실수 → mistake
  • 머물다 → to stay
  • 휩쓸리다 → to be swept up
  • 판단하다 → to judge
  • 피하다 → to avoid
  • 놓치다 → to miss
  • 당연하게 여기다 → to take for granted
  • 하다 → to do
  • 잊다 → to forget
  • 믿다 → to believe
  • 합리화하다 → to rationalize
Tip 💡 Verb stem + 기 쉽다 turns an action into a likely or easy-to-happen tendency.
 

Exercise 2 — Tendencies with 경향 🧭

A. 사람은 편한 선택을 하는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[sa-ram-eun pyeon-han seon-taek-eul ha-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
People have a tendency to make the comfortable choice. 🛋️
Answer
경향 — -는 경향이 있다 = “to have a tendency to.”
B. 인간은 자기 이익을 먼저 생각하는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[in-gan-eun ja-gi i-ik-eul meon-jeo saeng-gak-ha-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
Humans have a tendency to think of their own benefit first. 🪙
Answer
경향 — This sounds analytical rather than accusatory.
C. 사회는 익숙한 질서를 지키는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[sa-hoe-neun ik-suk-han jil-seo-reul ji-ki-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
Society has a tendency to preserve familiar order. 🏛️
Answer
경향 — 지키는 경향이 있다 = “tends to preserve.”
D. 우리는 감정보다 기억을 믿는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[u-ri-neun gam-jeong-bo-da gi-eok-eul mit-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
We have a tendency to trust memory more than emotion. 🧠
Answer
경향 — 믿는 경향이 있다 = “tends to trust.”
E. 사람은 불편한 진실보다 편한 설명을 고르는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[sa-ram-eun bul-pyeon-han jin-sil-bo-da pyeon-han seol-myeong-eul go-reu-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
People have a tendency to choose comfortable explanations over uncomfortable truths. 🧩
Answer
경향 — This frames the idea as a pattern, not an absolute rule.
F. 인간은 두려움 때문에 가능성을 작게 보는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[in-gan-eun du-ryeo-um ttae-mun-e ga-neung-seong-eul jak-ge bo-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
Humans have a tendency to see possibilities as small because of fear. 🚪
Answer
경향 — 보는 경향이 있다 = “tends to see.”
G. 사회는 변화를 늦게 받아들이는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[sa-hoe-neun byeon-hwa-reul neut-ge ba-da-deu-ri-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
Society has a tendency to accept change late. 🐢
Answer
경향 — 받아들이는 경향이 있다 = “tends to accept.”
H. 우리는 작은 만족을 쉽게 놓치는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[u-ri-neun jak-eun man-jok-eul swip-ge not-chi-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
We have a tendency to easily miss small satisfaction. 🌱
Answer
경향 — This is the neutral analysis version of 놓치기 쉽다.
I. 사람은 편견에 따라 판단하는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[sa-ram-eun pyeon-gyeon-e tta-ra pan-dan-ha-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
People have a tendency to judge according to bias. 🧭
Answer
경향 — 판단하는 경향이 있다 = “tends to judge.”
J. 인간은 자신의 실수를 합리화하는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[in-gan-eun ja-sin-ui sil-su-reul ham-ni-hwa-ha-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
Humans have a tendency to rationalize their own mistakes. 🧾
Answer
경향 — 합리화하는 경향이 있다 sounds essay-like and analytical.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 경향 → tendency
  • 사람 → person/people
  • 인간 → human
  • 사회 → society
  • 우리 → we
  • 선택 → choice
  • 이익 → benefit
  • 질서 → order
  • 감정 → emotion
  • 기억 → memory
  • 진실 → truth
  • 설명 → explanation
  • 두려움 → fear
  • 가능성 → possibility
  • 변화 → change
  • 만족 → satisfaction
  • 편견 → bias
  • 실수 → mistake
  • 하다 → to do
  • 생각하다 → to think
  • 지키다 → to preserve/keep
  • 믿다 → to trust/believe
  • 고르다 → to choose
  • 보다 → to see
  • 받아들이다 → to accept
  • 놓치다 → to miss
  • 판단하다 → to judge
  • 합리화하다 → to rationalize
Tip 💡 -는 경향이 있다 is more neutral and essay-like than -기 쉽다.
 

Exercise 3 — Warning Nuance with 자칫 🚧

A. 자칫 감정에 휩쓸리＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit gam-jeong-e hwip-sseul-li＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily be swept up by emotion. 🌊
Answer
기 쉽다 — 자칫 adds a warning tone before a risky outcome.
B. 자칫 불편한 진실을 피하＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit bul-pyeon-han jin-sil-eul pi-ha＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily avoid uncomfortable truths. 🧩
Answer
기 쉽다 — The result is negative, so 자칫 fits well.
C. 자칫 가능성을 놓치＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit ga-neung-seong-eul not-chi＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily miss possibilities. 🚪
Answer
기 쉽다 — 놓치기 쉽다 warns about an easy mistake.
D. 자칫 편견에 따라 판단하＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit pyeon-gyeon-e tta-ra pan-dan-ha＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily judge according to bias. 🧭
Answer
기 쉽다 — This is a natural caution sentence.
E. 자칫 실수를 합리화하＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit sil-su-reul ham-ni-hwa-ha＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily rationalize mistakes. 🧾
Answer
기 쉽다 — 합리화하기 쉽다 works well with human weakness.
F. 자칫 중요한 사실을 잊＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit jung-yo-han sa-sil-eul it＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily forget important facts. 📌
Answer
기 쉽다 — 잊기 쉽다 = “easy to forget.”
G. 자칫 작은 만족을 놓치＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit jak-eun man-jok-eul not-chi＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily miss small satisfaction. 🌱
Answer
기 쉽다 — The warning is about overlooking something valuable.
H. 자칫 보이는 것만 믿＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit bo-i-neun geot-man mit＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily believe only what is visible. 👀
Answer
기 쉽다 — 믿기 쉽다 takes the verb stem 믿-.
I. 자칫 익숙한 질서를 당연하게 여기＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit ik-suk-han jil-seo-reul dang-yeon-ha-ge yeo-gi＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily take familiar order for granted. 🏛️
Answer
기 쉽다 — Long verb phrases can still take 기 쉽다.
J. 자칫 두려움 때문에 변화를 늦게 받아들이＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit du-ryeo-um ttae-mun-e byeon-hwa-reul neut-ge ba-da-deu-ri＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily accept change late because of fear. 🐢
Answer
기 쉽다 — 받아들이기 쉽다 completes the warning sentence.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 자칫 → if not careful / with one wrong move
  • 감정 → emotion
  • 진실 → truth
  • 가능성 → possibility
  • 편견 → bias
  • 실수 → mistake
  • 사실 → fact
  • 만족 → satisfaction
  • 질서 → order
  • 두려움 → fear
  • 변화 → change
  • 휩쓸리다 → to be swept up
  • 피하다 → to avoid
  • 놓치다 → to miss
  • 판단하다 → to judge
  • 합리화하다 → to rationalize
  • 잊다 → to forget
  • 믿다 → to believe
  • 당연하게 여기다 → to take for granted
  • 받아들이다 → to accept
Tip 💡 자칫 -기 쉽다 usually warns about an unwanted result.
 

Exercise 4 — Choosing the Right Tone 🎛️

A. 사람은 작은 만족을 놓치＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun jak-eun man-jok-eul not-chi＿＿＿＿]
People are likely to miss small satisfaction. 🌱
Answer
기 쉽다 — Focus: this can happen easily.
B. 사람은 작은 만족을 놓치는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[sa-ram-eun jak-eun man-jok-eul not-chi-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
People have a tendency to miss small satisfaction. 🌱
Answer
경향 — Focus: this is a general tendency.
C. 인간은 자기 이익을 먼저 생각하＿＿＿＿.
[in-gan-eun ja-gi i-ik-eul meon-jeo saeng-gak-ha＿＿＿＿]
Humans are prone to thinking of their own benefit first. 🪙
Answer
기 쉽다 — Softer than saying humans are always selfish.
D. 인간은 자기 이익을 먼저 생각하는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[in-gan-eun ja-gi i-ik-eul meon-jeo saeng-gak-ha-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
Humans have a tendency to think of their own benefit first. 🪙
Answer
경향 — More neutral and academic.
E. 사회는 변화를 늦게 받아들이＿＿＿＿.
[sa-hoe-neun byeon-hwa-reul neut-ge ba-da-deu-ri＿＿＿＿]
Society is likely to accept change late. 🐢
Answer
기 쉽다 — Focus: this delay can easily happen.
F. 사회는 변화를 늦게 받아들이는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[sa-hoe-neun byeon-hwa-reul neut-ge ba-da-deu-ri-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
Society has a tendency to accept change late. 🐢
Answer
경향 — Focus: the broader pattern.
G. 우리는 기억을 쉽게 믿＿＿＿＿.
[u-ri-neun gi-eok-eul swip-ge mit＿＿＿＿]
We are prone to easily trusting memory. 🧠
Answer
기 쉽다 — 믿기 쉽다 highlights how easily trust happens.
H. 우리는 기억을 쉽게 믿는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[u-ri-neun gi-eok-eul swip-ge mit-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
We have a tendency to easily trust memory. 🧠
Answer
경향 — 믿는 경향이 있다 sounds analytical.
I. 사람은 불편한 설명을 피하＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun bul-pyeon-han seol-myeong-eul pi-ha＿＿＿＿]
People are prone to avoiding uncomfortable explanations. 🧩
Answer
기 쉽다 — Focus: avoidance happens easily.
J. 사람은 불편한 설명을 피하는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[sa-ram-eun bul-pyeon-han seol-myeong-eul pi-ha-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
People have a tendency to avoid uncomfortable explanations. 🧩
Answer
경향 — Focus: repeated tendency.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 사람 → person/people
  • 인간 → human
  • 사회 → society
  • 우리 → we
  • 만족 → satisfaction
  • 이익 → benefit
  • 변화 → change
  • 기억 → memory
  • 설명 → explanation
  • 경향 → tendency
  • 놓치다 → to miss
  • 생각하다 → to think
  • 받아들이다 → to accept
  • 믿다 → to believe
  • 피하다 → to avoid
Tip 💡 Choose -기 쉽다 for “can easily happen”; choose 경향이 있다 for “has a tendency.”
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. 우리는 실수하는 ＿＿＿＿이 쉽다.
[u-ri-neun sil-su-ha-neun ＿＿＿＿-i swip-da]
We have a tendency to make mistakes. 🧯
Answer
❌ This sentence is mixed incorrectly. ✅ 우리는 실수하기 쉽다. or 우리는 실수하는 경향이 있다. — Do not combine 경향이 with 쉽다.
B. 자칫 성공하＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit seong-gong-ha＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily succeed. 🏆
Answer
❌ Awkward. ✅ Use 자칫 오해하기 쉽다 for a warning. 자칫 normally points to an unwanted result, not happy success.
C. 사람은 행복하＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun haeng-bok-ha＿＿＿＿]
People are prone to being happy. 😊
Answer
❌ Too vague. ✅ 사람은 작은 만족을 놓치기 쉽다. -기 쉽다 is more natural with actions or outcomes that can easily happen.
D. 인간은 항상 이기적이다.
[in-gan-eun hang-sang i-gi-jeok-i-da]
Humans are always selfish. 🪞
Answer
❌ Too absolute. ✅ 인간은 자기 이익을 먼저 생각하기 쉽다. Advanced analysis often softens claims with -기 쉽다.
E. 편견을 판단하＿＿＿＿.
[pyeon-gyeon-eul pan-dan-ha＿＿＿＿]
One is prone to judging bias. 🧭
Answer
❌ Unnatural collocation. ✅ 편견에 따라 판단하기 쉽다. Use 에 따라 = “according to.”
F. 사람은 보이는 것을 믿＿＿＿＿.
[sa-ram-eun bo-i-neun geot-eul mit＿＿＿＿]
People are prone to believing what they see. 👀
Answer
기 쉽다 — Correct: 믿기 쉽다.
G. 사회는 익숙한 질서를 당연하게 여기＿＿＿＿.
[sa-hoe-neun ik-suk-han jil-seo-reul dang-yeon-ha-ge yeo-gi＿＿＿＿]
Society is prone to taking familiar order for granted. 🏛️
Answer
기 쉽다 — Correct: 당연하게 여기기 쉽다.
H. 우리는 중요한 사실을 잊는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[u-ri-neun jung-yo-han sa-sil-eul it-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
We have a tendency to forget important facts. 📌
Answer
경향 — Correct: 잊는 경향이 있다.
I. 자칫 감정에 휩쓸리＿＿＿＿.
[ja-chit gam-jeong-e hwip-sseul-li＿＿＿＿]
If not careful, one can easily be swept up by emotion. 🌊
Answer
기 쉽다 — Correct warning pattern: 자칫 휩쓸리기 쉽다.
J. 인간은 자신의 실수를 합리화하는 ＿＿＿＿이 있다.
[in-gan-eun ja-sin-ui sil-su-reul ham-ni-hwa-ha-neun ＿＿＿＿-i it-da]
Humans have a tendency to rationalize their own mistakes. 🧾
Answer
경향 — Correct analytical structure: 합리화하는 경향이 있다.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 우리 → we
  • 사람 → person/people
  • 인간 → human
  • 사회 → society
  • 실수 → mistake
  • 경향 → tendency
  • 자칫 → if not careful
  • 성공 → success
  • 오해 → misunderstanding
  • 만족 → satisfaction
  • 이익 → benefit
  • 편견 → bias
  • 감정 → emotion
  • 질서 → order
  • 사실 → fact
  • 실수하다 → to make a mistake
  • 성공하다 → to succeed
  • 행복하다 → to be happy
  • 생각하다 → to think
  • 판단하다 → to judge
  • 믿다 → to believe
  • 당연하게 여기다 → to take for granted
  • 잊다 → to forget
  • 휩쓸리다 → to be swept up
  • 합리화하다 → to rationalize
Tip 💡 Pitfall patrol: do not mix 경향이 있다 with 쉽다, and use 자칫 mostly for negative warnings.
 
🎉 Excellent work — you can now describe human nature without sounding like a fortune cookie with a megaphone. Use -기 쉽다 for likely outcomes, 경향이 있다 for analytical tendencies, and 자칫 when the grammar gremlin is waving a tiny warning flag. 🚩