못 V+ 는데요. Express the inability of doing something.

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우빈 씨, 이번 주 모임에 가시지요?

Mr. Woobin, are you going to this week's meeting?

아니요, 저는 선약이 있어서 못 가는데요. 왜요?

No, I can't go because I have an appointment. Why?

저도 이번 주 모임에 못 가서 우빈 씨에게 부탁을 하나 하려고 했어요.

I can't go to this week's meeting either. So I was about to ask you a favor.

왜 모임에 못 가요?

Why can't you go to the meeting?

저는 다음 날까지 기말 보고서를 내야 해서 못 가요.

I can't go because I have to submit a final report the day after the meeting.

그럼 흐엉 씨에게 연락하세요. 흐엉 씨는 아마 갈 거예요.

Then, please call Ms. Huong. Ms. Huong might go.

못 V+ 는데요.

It is the negation of ‘V+ 는데요.’ to express the inability of doing something.

이 책은 한자가 많아서 못 읽는데요.

I can't read this book because it has a lot of Chinese characters.

목이 아파서 노래를 못 하는데요.

I can't sing because I have a sore throat.

바람이 많이 불어서 오늘은 배가 운행을 못 하는데요.

The ship doesn't operate today because it's so windy.

Related words

부탁 a favor

기말 a final

내다 to submit

한자 a Chinese character

목이 아프다 to have a sore throat

배 a ship, a boat

운행 operation

Source: Yonsei University. Korean Language Institute

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