Korean expression
먹었어야 했는데
Said by DK (SEVENTEEN)
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먹었어야 했는데 means "I should have eaten them" in Korean.
How it works here
‘-었어야 했는데’ expresses regret that the speaker did not eat them.
Key expression
-았/었어야 하다
An expression of regret that something should have been done in the past
‘-았/었어야 하다’ directly expresses regret that something should have been done but was not.
When it's used
Used to express regret about not doing something in the past.
The line
아 호두과자 먹었어야 했는데 아쉽다.
I should have eaten walnut pastries. What a shame.
Looking back on a past choice and regretting the result.
Scene from “[GOING SEVENTEEN 2020] EP.45 TTT #2 (Hyperrealism Ver.)” · Channel: SEVENTEEN Watch on YouTube
More examples
회의 전에 자료를 확인했어야 했어요.
I should have checked the materials before the meeting.
그때 바로 병원에 갔어야 했는데 너무 늦었어요.
I should have gone to the hospital right then, but I was too late.
Quick check
When would you use this expression?
먹었어야 했는데
아 호두과자 먹었어야 했는데 아쉽다.
I should have eaten walnut pastries. What a shame.
- Trying to break the habit of putting off things that need to be done now.
- Giving a different conclusion because the meeting was misunderstood.
- Regretting the result while thinking back on something that happened.
Show the answer
Regretting the result while thinking back on something that happened.
An expression of regret that something should have been done in the past. ‘-았/었어야 하다’ directly expresses regret that something should have been done but was not.
Other words in this line
- 호두과자
- Walnut pastry
- 먹다
- To eat
- 아쉽다
- To be regrettable; disappointing
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