Tip 1 for “Similar expression” questions?

First translate the underlined part into your own words (because…, pretend…, nearly…, had no choice but…), then find the option with that meaning – don't pick by surface similarity.

Tip 2 for “Similar expression” questions?

Learn the frequent synonym pairs: -는 척하다 = -는 체하다, -ㄹ 듯하다 = -ㄹ 것 같다, -기 십상이다 = -기 쉽다, -기 일쑤이다 = -는 일이 많다, -ㄹ 따름이다 = -ㄹ 뿐이다, -ㄹ 지경이다 = -ㄹ 정도이다.

Tip 3 for “Similar expression” questions?

Beware of look-alike opposites: '-ㄹ 리가 없다' (no way) is the opposite of '-ㄹ 수밖에 없다'; '-ㄹ 뻔하다' (nearly, did not happen) differs from '-고 말다' (did happen).

Tip 4 for “Similar expression” questions?

Plug each option into the underlined slot and reread the sentence: the right one keeps the original meaning, tense and positive/negative nuance.

TOPIK II · Reading · Questions 3–4 · Level 3–4

Similar expression

의미가 비슷한 표현 고르기

TOPIK II Reading Q3–4: choose the expression closest in meaning to the underlined part. It tests your knowledge of intermediate grammar synonyms (e.g. -기 마련이다 ≈ -는 법이다, -ㄹ 수밖에 없다 ≈ -지 않을 수 없다).

Test tips

First translate the underlined part into your own words (because…, pretend…, nearly…, had no choice but…), then find the option with that meaning – don't pick by surface similarity.
Learn the frequent synonym pairs: -는 척하다 = -는 체하다, -ㄹ 듯하다 = -ㄹ 것 같다, -기 십상이다 = -기 쉽다, -기 일쑤이다 = -는 일이 많다, -ㄹ 따름이다 = -ㄹ 뿐이다, -ㄹ 지경이다 = -ㄹ 정도이다.
Beware of look-alike opposites: '-ㄹ 리가 없다' (no way) is the opposite of '-ㄹ 수밖에 없다'; '-ㄹ 뻔하다' (nearly, did not happen) differs from '-고 말다' (did happen).
Plug each option into the underlined slot and reread the sentence: the right one keeps the original meaning, tense and positive/negative nuance.
Use the rest of the sentence as a clue: '밤새 / 한숨도 못 잤다' marks a bad cause, '하마터면' means 'nearly', '반드시' signals a necessary condition.
These items are short – aim for about 30 seconds each to save time for the long passages later.

Signal words and patterns

When you see these in a question, they point to the answer or to a trap.

-는 척하다
-기 마련이다
-기 십상이다
-ㄹ 수밖에 없다
-ㄹ 지경이다
-기 일쑤이다
-는 통에
-ㄹ 따름이다
-기 나름이다
-다가는

Worked examples

밤늦게까지 휴대폰으로 영상을 본 탓에 아침에 늦잠을 자고 말았다.

Translation

<u>Because</u> I watched videos on my phone until late, I ended up oversleeping this morning.

밑줄 친 부분과 의미가 가장 비슷한 것을 고르십시오.

Explanation

Step 1: work out the meaning of the underlined part. '-ㄴ 탓에' gives the cause of a bad result (늦잠을 자고 말았다 – I overslept). Step 2: look for another cause expression. '-았기 때문에' (because) also gives a cause, so '봤기 때문에' is closest. '보는 대신에' (instead of watching) expresses substitution. '보는 김에' (while watching anyway) means using an occasion to do something extra. '보기 위해서' (in order to watch) expresses purpose, not cause.

Words in this question · sign in to save words

밤늦다
휴대폰
영상
늦잠

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27 questions in the bank

5 questions per round, each checked immediately with the explanation, translation and key words.