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Easy Korean - Level 9, Unit 25: To an extreme degree (-다 못해)

When a feeling, action, or state reaches such an extreme point that you can no longer maintain it, and it crosses over into an even worse (or stronger) state, you use -다 못해.

It translates to "Unable to keep doing X..." or "X to the extreme."

Structure Breakdown

  • -다(가) = while doing / keeping up a state
  • 못해 = unable to do

Literally: "I kept doing X, but was unable to continue doing it, so..."

How to Conjugate

Just attach -다 못해 to the verb or adjective stem. There are no irregular rules!

  • 보다 -> 보다 못해 (Unable to just keep watching)
  • 기다리다 -> 기다리다 못해 (Unable to keep waiting)
  • 맵다 -> 맵다 못해 (Spicy to the extreme)
  • 희다 -> 희다 못해 (White to the extreme)

Usage 1: With Action Verbs

When used with action verbs, it means you tried to endure the action, but couldn't anymore, so you took a different action. * 참다 못해 화를 냈어요. (I tried to endure it but couldn't hold it in anymore, so I got angry.) * 기다리다 못해 제가 먼저 갔어요. (I was unable to keep waiting, so I left first.)

Usage 2: With Adjectives

When used with adjectives, it means the state is so extreme that it turns into a stronger word. * 이 음식은 맵다 못해 써요. (This food is so spicy that it is actually bitter.) * 그의 얼굴은 희다 못해 창백했어요. (His face was so white that it was pale.) * 그 옷은 촌스럽다 못해 웃겨요. (That outfit is so tacky it's funny.)

Example Sentences

  1. 계속되는 거짓말을 듣다 못해 방을 나갔어요. (Unable to keep listening to the continuous lies, I left the room.)

  2. 바람이 차갑다 못해 아파요. (The wind is so cold that it actually hurts.)

  3. 배가 고프다 못해 속이 쓰려요. (I am so hungry that my stomach is burning.)