Expression of the Week
Yeon-ae: | 이제 됐어, 안 배울래. I’m through. I don’t want to learn anymore. |
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Jin-gook: | 에이, 벌써 포기하게? Giving up already? |
Yeon-ae: | 좀 쉬자. Let’s take a break. |
Jin-gook: | 그러지 말고, 한 번 더 해보자. Don’t give up. Let’s try one more time. |
Yeon-ae: | 못 하겠어. I can’t do it. |
못 하겠어 (I can’t do it)
못하다 – an auxiliary verb used to indicate that and action in the preceding statement was completed or that one does not have the ability to do it.
Casual – 못 하겠어
Polite – 못 하겠습니다
>> [못 하겠어] means “I can’t do it” but often has the nuance that the person will no longer continue or will quit.
Ex) 이제 더 이상 못하겠어 = I can’t do it anymore (I quit).
>>[못하다] in the adjective form can also mean “at least”
Ex) 운동장에는 못해도 10명이 넘는 아이들이 놀고 있었다.
=There were at least 10 kids playing in the playground.