KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -지 못하다
Korean Grammar “-지 못하다”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 2)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 보지 못하다 | boji motada |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽지 못하다 | ikji motada |
| 하다 | to do | 하지 못하다 | haji motada |
| 살다 | to live | 살지 못하다 | salji motada |
What changes
- This ending attaches directly to the stem. Nothing changes, whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
Explanation
한자를 몰라서 이 책을 읽지 못해요.
“-지 못하다” expresses inability, “cannot ~,” because of ability or circumstances, and means the same as “못 읽어요.” It attaches directly to a verb stem. The sentence means “I don’t know Chinese characters, so I can’t read this book.” For choosing not to do something, use “-지 않다.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 한자를 몰라서 이 책을 읽지 못해요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 한자를 | ||
| 한 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ | han |
| 자 | ㅈ+ㅏ | ja |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 몰라서 | ||
| 몰 | ㅁ+ㅗ+ㄹ | mol |
| 라 | ㄹ+ㅏ | la |
| 서 | ㅅ+ㅓ | seo |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | i |
| 책을 | ||
| 책 | ㅊ+ㅐ+ㄱ | [채] chae |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [글] geul |
| 읽지 | ||
| 읽 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㄺ | [익] ik |
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | [찌] ji |
| 못해요 | ||
| 못 | ㅁ+ㅗ+ㅅ | [모] mo |
| 해 | ㅎ+ㅐ | [태] tae |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 책을 → [채글]
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 읽지 → [익찌]
- Aspiration: ㅎ next to ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ or ㅈ blends with it into ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ or ㅊ. 못해 → [모태]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 읽다 | verb | to read | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 한자를 몰라서 이 책을 읽____ 못해요.
Show the answer
Answer: 한자를 몰라서 이 책을 읽지 못해요.
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