Korean Grammar Guide
TOPIK 5 Grammar: The Complete Guide to All 31 Patterns
Date: October 19, 2026
Introduction
TOPIK 5 is advanced Korean: the grammar of editorials, academic writing, and polished speech. The patterns are fewer than TOPIK 3 or 4, but each one is dense — strong concessions that survive any objection, expressions for what naturally must happen, and framing devices that let you suppose, compare, and emphasize with precision.
This guide lists all 31 TOPIK 5 grammar patterns taught on Learn Korean Today, grouped by function in a study-friendly order. Every pattern links to its own lesson with a full explanation and real example sentences from Korean articles.
New to the advanced levels? The TOPIK 4 Grammar guide is the step right below this one. If you are ready, start with Part 1 — the concession set is the signature of TOPIK 5 writing.
This guide lists all 31 TOPIK 5 grammar patterns taught on Learn Korean Today, grouped by function in a study-friendly order. Every pattern links to its own lesson with a full explanation and real example sentences from Korean articles.
New to the advanced levels? The TOPIK 4 Grammar guide is the step right below this one. If you are ready, start with Part 1 — the concession set is the signature of TOPIK 5 writing.
Part 1. Strong Concession and Extremes
Concessions that hold no matter what, and the 'even' family pushed to its limit — even the last one, even the smallest thing.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㅁ에도 불구하고 | despite / in spite of | 어려움에도 불구하고 그는 포기하지 않았어요.Despite the difficulties, he didn't give up. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는들 | even if | 지금 가 본들 이미 늦었어요.Even if you go now, it's already too late. |
| -(으)ㄹ지라도 | no matter how / even if | 어떤 어려움이 있을지라도 포기하지 않겠어요.No matter what difficulties come, I won't give up. |
| -는/은커녕 | let alone / far from | 밥은커녕 물도 못 마셨어요.Let alone a meal, I couldn't even drink water. |
| 마저 | even (the last one) | 마지막 희망마저 사라졌어요.Even the last hope disappeared. |
| 조차 | even | 그는 제 이름조차 기억하지 못했어요.He didn't even remember my name. |
Part 2. Natural Laws and Likelihood
How Korean states that something is simply the way of the world — bound to happen, apt to happen, or pushed past its limit.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄴ/는 법이다 | it is natural that | 세월이 지나면 잊히는 법이에요.As time passes, things are naturally forgotten. |
| -기 십상이다 | be apt to / likely to | 무리하면 다치기 십상이에요.If you overdo it, you're bound to get hurt. |
| -기/게 마련이다 | be bound to / naturally | 처음에는 누구나 실수하기 마련이에요.Everyone is bound to make mistakes at first. |
| -(으)ㄹ 지경이다 | be on the verge of | 웃다가 배가 아플 지경이었어요.I laughed so much I nearly hurt my stomach. |
| -다 못해 | beyond / to the point of | 기다리다 못해 먼저 갔어요.Unable to wait any longer, I left first. |
| -(으)ㄴ 나머지 | as a result of (extreme) | 너무 긴장한 나머지 실수를 했어요.I was so nervous that I made a mistake. |
Part 3. Assumptions and Framing
Devices for arguing and explaining: suppose this is true, count it as that, judge it by this standard.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ㄴ/는다고 치다 | suppose / let's say | 이번에는 제가 샀다고 칩시다.Let's say I treat this time. |
| -는 셈 치다 | consider as / treat as | 이건 공짜로 받은 셈 치세요.Consider this as if you got it for free. |
| 치고(는) | for (considering) | 신입 치고는 일을 아주 잘해요.For a newcomer, he does the job very well. |
| -기 나름이다 | depends on how | 행복은 마음먹기 나름이에요.Happiness depends on your mindset. |
| -만 못하다 | not as good as | 올해 날씨는 작년만 못해요.This year's weather is not as good as last year's. |
Part 4. Reasons and Results — Formal
Formal cause-and-frame patterns for essays and analysis: given this, since that, and the other side of the same coin.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)니만큼 | since / as (reason + degree) | 기대가 크니만큼 실망도 클 수 있어요.Since expectations are high, the disappointment can be big too. |
| -는 통에 | because of (chaotic cause) | 공사하는 통에 길이 너무 시끄러워요.Because of the construction, the street is so noisy. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 이상 | now that / as long as | 시작한 이상 끝까지 해야 해요.Now that we've started, we have to finish. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는가 하면 | while / on the other hand | 어떤 사람은 찬성하는가 하면 어떤 사람은 반대해요.Some people agree, while others disagree. |
Part 5. Emphasis and Exclusives
Spotlight patterns: precisely this one, starting with this one, regardless of which, and not-only-but-also in its formal dress.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -을/를 비롯한 | including (starting with) | 서울을 비롯한 대도시들은 물가가 비싸요.Big cities, including Seoul, are expensive. |
| (이)야말로 | indeed / precisely | 오늘이야말로 시작하기 좋은 날이에요.Today is precisely the day to start. |
| (이)나 -(이)나 할 것 없이 | regardless of (A or B) | 어른이나 아이나 할 것 없이 축제를 즐겼어요.Everyone enjoyed the festival, adults and children alike. |
| -(으)ㄹ 뿐더러 | not only ~ but also | 그는 똑똑할 뿐더러 부지런해요.He is not only smart but also diligent. |
Part 6. Choice, Hesitation, and Timing
Rather-than choices, pointless either way, last-second timing, and the moment of actually trying.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -느니 | rather than | 집에서 쉬느니 산책이라도 하겠어요.Rather than resting at home, I'd at least take a walk. |
| -(으)나 마나 | no use (whether or not) | 지금 가나 마나 이미 끝났을 거예요.It makes no difference whether you go now — it'll already be over. |
| -자니 | when I try to / since | 막상 하자니 자신이 없어요.Now that I actually try to do it, I have no confidence. |
| -(으)려던 참이다 | be just about to | 마침 전화하려던 참이었어요.I was just about to call you. |
| -기가 무섭게 | as soon as | 집에 도착하기가 무섭게 비가 쏟아졌어요.As soon as I got home, the rain poured down. |
| -게끔 | so that / in such a way | 아이들이 다치지 않게끔 조심하세요.Be careful so that the children don't get hurt. |
Common Confusions at TOPIK 5
커녕 vs 마저 vs 조차
All three mean "even," with different geometry. 커녕 contrasts two rungs of a ladder: not even the lower one, let alone the higher (밥은커녕 물도 — "not even water, let alone a meal"). 마저 is the last remaining item of a set, usually disappearing in a negative turn (희망마저 사라졌어요). 조차 marks even the most basic, minimum thing (이름조차 기억 못 해요).
-(으)ㄹ지라도 vs -(으)ㄴ/는들
Both concede strongly. 지라도 states a firm resolve that survives the concession — "no matter what comes, I still will." 는들 is dismissive and often rhetorical — "even if you did, it wouldn't change anything" (가 본들 이미 늦었어요).
법이다 vs 마련이다
Both say something is bound to be. 법이다 states a general law of how the world works — anyone, anytime. 마련이다 describes the natural tendency built into a specific situation or stage — beginners making mistakes, prices rising over time.
How to Study These 31 Patterns
1. Read editorials, not just textbooks. TOPIK 5 patterns live in opinion pieces — the advanced reading lessons on this site are drawn from real articles where these forms do real work.
2. Learn the concession set (Part 1) as a gradient: -아/어도 (TOPIK 3) → -더라도 → 지라도/는들. Examiners reward the stronger, more precise choice.
3. Collect the frames. -(으)ㄴ/는 법이다, -기 십상이다, and -기 마련이다 all express inevitability with different flavors; being able to swap them is a hallmark of TOPIK 5 writing.
4. Mind the register. Many TOPIK 5 patterns sound stiff or literary in casual chat — deploy them in writing and formal speech first.
2. Learn the concession set (Part 1) as a gradient: -아/어도 (TOPIK 3) → -더라도 → 지라도/는들. Examiners reward the stronger, more precise choice.
3. Collect the frames. -(으)ㄴ/는 법이다, -기 십상이다, and -기 마련이다 all express inevitability with different flavors; being able to swap them is a hallmark of TOPIK 5 writing.
4. Mind the register. Many TOPIK 5 patterns sound stiff or literary in casual chat — deploy them in writing and formal speech first.
What to Learn Next
One level remains: the TOPIK 6 Grammar guide covers the final 11 patterns, the most literary in the language. Or review everything in the grammar library by TOPIK level, and revisit the TOPIK 4 Grammar guide whenever a frame here feels unfamiliar.
All 31 patterns above are from the TOPIK 5 grammar list on Learn Korean Today. Each linked lesson includes a full explanation and example sentences from real Korean articles.
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