TOPIK II · Level 6

-을/를 불사하고

not shrinking from; even at the cost of

Declares readiness to take a drastic step. 불사하다 means “not to decline” — the thing named is on the table, however serious.

Build it

Pick a drastic step

    희생+-을/를 불사하고

    nounparticle

    When to use it

    The particle follows the usual rule: consonant-final nouns take 을, vowel-final ones 를. The modifier form is 불사한, and 불사하겠다 works as a full predicate.

    It takes nouns naming a grave measure or cost: 희생, 파업, 충돌, 손실, 결별, 전쟁. Something you would normally avoid, and are declaring you will not.

    The tone is one of resolve under pressure, which is why it belongs to negotiations, statements, and news reporting.

    Against -을/를 무릅쓰고: 무릅쓰고 faces a hardship that already exists, while 불사하고 accepts a drastic option that has not yet been taken.

    How to attach it

    SituationFormExample
    Ends in a consonant을 불사하고희생을 불사하고
    Ends in a vowel를 불사하고해고를 불사하고
    Before a noun-을/를 불사한충돌을 불사한 결정
    As a predicate-을/를 불사하겠다파업을 불사하겠다
    Noun must bea grave measure희생, 파업, 충돌
    Existing hardship-을/를 무릅쓰고위험을 무릅쓰고

    In use

    1. 노조는 파업을 불사하겠다는 입장을 밝혔다.

      The union declared it was prepared to strike if necessary.

    2. 희생을 불사하고 원칙을 지키기로 했다.

      They resolved to hold to the principle whatever it cost.

    3. 정면 충돌을 불사한 강경한 결정이었다.

      It was a hard-line decision that risked open confrontation.

    4. 손실을 불사하고 사업을 접기로 했습니다.

      We decided to wind up the business, accepting the loss.

    5. 비용을 불사하고 부품을 직접 만들기로 했다.

      Regardless of cost, they decided to make the parts themselves.

    6. 결별을 불사하겠다는 뜻으로 읽힌다.

      It reads as a willingness to break off relations altogether.

    Compared with

    • -을/를 무릅쓰고

      The pair to keep straight. 무릅쓰고 confronts a hardship already present; 불사하고 accepts a drastic option not yet taken.

      위험을 무릅쓰고 뛰어들었다. (faced the danger)  /  파업을 불사하겠다. (prepared to strike)

    • -는 한이 있더라도

      Both accept a serious consequence. 한이 있더라도 attaches to a clause and is more personal; 불사하고 attaches to a noun and is institutional.

      그만두는 한이 있어도 하겠다. (personal)  /  파업을 불사하겠다. (organisational)

    • -을/를 마다하지 않고

      Close in shape. 마다하지 않고 refuses no effort or trouble, and is admiring; 불사하고 refuses no drastic measure, and is grim.

      수고를 마다하지 않고 도왔다. (spared no trouble)  /  충돌을 불사하고 밀어붙였다. (risked a clash)

    Watch out

    • 약간의 불편을 불사하고 참석했다.

      약간의 불편을 감수하고 참석했다.

      불사하고 is for grave measures. A minor inconvenience takes 감수하다.

    • 충돌을 불사하고 결정이었다.

      충돌을 불사한 결정이었다.

      Modifying a following noun requires 불사한, not 불사하고.

    • 위험을 불사하고 강물에 뛰어들었다.

      위험을 무릅쓰고 강물에 뛰어들었다.

      The danger was already there to be faced. 불사하고 is for a drastic option one chooses to keep open.

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