Example Sentences#

1. 나 노래 잘 못 부르잖아.¹
   You know I’m not good at singing.

   • 못 is an adverb placed before verbs to express inability or insufficient skill, and is commonly translated as ‘cannot’ or ‘poorly’, depending on context.

2. 세상에서 가장 다행스러운 것은 인간의 마음이 모든 것을 연결하지 못하는 능력이라고 생각합니다.²
   I think the most fortunate thing in the world is the human mind’s inability to connect everything.

   • 연결하다 means ‘to connect’.
   • 지 is part of the negation pattern -지 못하다, an expression used to indicate that the state mentioned in the preceding statement cannot be attained.

3. 나조차 나를 용서 못해도³
   Even if I can’t forgive myself.

   • 못하다 means ‘to be unable to do something’ or ‘to do something poorly’, formed from 못 (meaning ‘cannot’ or ‘poorly’) and 하다 (to do).
   • -여도 is a connective ending that acknowledges or assumes the truth of the preceding statement while implying that it does not affect or influence the following statement. It is often translated as ‘even if’ or ‘although.’

4. 비록 그는 새로운 삶을 즐겼지만, 그의 만족은 오래가지 못했습니다.⁴
   Although he enjoyed his new life, his satisfaction did not last long.

   • 오래가다 is a compound verb meaning ‘to last long’, combining 오래 (for a long time) and 가다 (to go).
   • 지 is part of the negation pattern -지 못하다, an expression used to indicate that the state mentioned in the preceding statement cannot be attained.

5. 유나: 그런데 나는 매운 거 잘 못 먹어.⁵
   Yuna: But I can’t handle spicy food well.

   • 못 is an adverb placed before verbs to express inability or insufficient skill, and is commonly translated as ‘cannot’ or ‘poorly’, depending on context.

6. 하린: 너 정말 치맥 없이는 못 사는구나.¹
   Harin: You really can’t live without chicken and beer, can you?

   • 못 is an adverb placed before verbs to express inability or insufficient skill, and is commonly translated as ‘cannot’ or ‘poorly’, depending on context.

7. 하지만 곧, 만족하지 못하는 마음이 그를 괴롭히기 시작했습니다.⁴
   But soon, dissatisfaction began to torment him.

   • 만족하다 means ‘to be satisfied’.
   • 지 is part of the negation pattern -지 못하다, an expression used to indicate that the state mentioned in the preceding statement cannot be attained.

8. 그러나 그의 만족은 오래가지 못했습니다.⁴
   But his satisfaction did not last long.

   • 오래가다 is a compound verb meaning ‘to last long’, combining 오래 (for a long time) and 가다 (to go).
   • 지 is part of the negation pattern -지 못하다, an expression used to indicate that the state mentioned in the preceding statement cannot be attained.