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. 그리고 안에서는 핸드폰도 못 쓰니까 다들 공연에만 집중했어.²
   And since you couldn’t use your phone inside, everyone just focused on the performance.
   • 못 is an adverb placed before verbs to express inability or insufficient skill, and is commonly translated as ‘cannot’ or ‘poorly’, depending on context.
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.
   • 못하다 is an auxiliary verb used to indicate inability to perform the action or reach the state described in the preceding statement. It is composed of 못 (meaning ‘cannot’ or ‘poorly’) and 하다 (to do).
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
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. 그러나 그의 만족은 오래가지 못했습니다.⁴
   But his satisfaction did not last long.
   • 못하다 is an auxiliary verb used to indicate inability to perform the action or reach the state described in the preceding statement. It is composed of 못 (meaning ‘cannot’ or ‘poorly’) and 하다 (to do).
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.