💬 Phrases B1

어쩔 수 없어

eojjeol su eopseo

It can't be helped / What can you do

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What it means

A phrase Koreans use when accepting an unavoidable situation — similar to "c'est la vie" or "what can you do?" in English. Shows acceptance of something beyond your control.

Nuance & when to use

어쩌다 = to end up a certain way, 수 없다 = cannot. Used when resigning to a situation. Polite: 어쩔 수 없어요. Can sound pessimistic or realistically accepting depending on tone.

⚠ Common mistake

Don't confuse this with 못해요 (can't do it). 어쩔 수 없어 implies inevitability, not inability.

Example sentences

비가 오네. 어쩔 수 없어. Biga one. Eojjeol su eopseo. It's raining. Nothing we can do.
늦었지만 어쩔 수 없어. Neujeotjiman eojjeol su eopseo. It's late, but it can't be helped.
규칙이니까 어쩔 수 없어요. Gyukchikiniaa eojjeol su eopseoyo. It's the rule, so there's nothing to do.

See also

어떡해요 할 수 없어요 그냥 해야죠
References Naver Korean Dictionary ↗ 국립국어원 표준국어대사전 ↗
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More B1 lessons

걱정 geokjeong worry / concern -아서/어서 -aseo/eoseo Because / and then (cause/sequence) 어떤 걸로 드릴까요? eotteon georo deulilkkayo Which one would you like? (service phrase)
← 어떤 걸로 드릴까요? 열정 →

FAQ

When is this used?

어쩌다 = to end up a certain way, 수 없다 = cannot. Used when resigning to a situation. Polite: 어쩔 수 없어요. Can sound pessimistic or realistically accepting depending on tone.

What's a common mistake?

Don't confuse this with 못해요 (can't do it). 어쩔 수 없어 implies inevitability, not inability.

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