Korean expression
못 만났어
Said by j-hope (BTS)
What does 못 만났어 mean?
못 만났어 means "could not meet" in Korean.
How it works here
‘못’ blocks the action expressed by ‘만났어’ (met), meaning that the speaker could not do it because of a lack of ability or suitable circumstances. Here, ‘못’ is the key negative element.
Key expression
못 V
To be unable to do an action because of a lack of ability or suitable circumstances
‘못’ comes before a verb to create a negative meaning. Compared with ‘안’, it more strongly suggests inability or constraint. In the past tense, it appears before the verb, as in ‘못 했어’ or ‘못 갔어’. It is very common in spoken language.
When it's used
Used when discussing an appointment or schedule and explaining that circumstances that day were unfavorable.
The line
나 또 멤버들 못 만났어
I couldn't meet the members again.
This is said when explaining that you were unable to meet the members because of an appointment or scheduling problem.
Scene from “Run BTS! 2022 Special Episode - Telepathy Part 2” · Channel: BANGTANTV Watch on YouTube
More examples
버스가 끊겨서 집에 못 갔어.
The buses stopped running, so I couldn't go home.
시간이 너무 없어서 숙제를 못 했어요.
I had so little time that I couldn't do my homework.
Quick check
When would you use this expression?
못 만났어
나 또 멤버들 못 만났어
I couldn't meet the members again.
- A situation where someone says they went on purpose because they wanted to meet a friend.
- A situation where someone says they could not go meet a friend that day because appointments overlapped.
- A situation where someone talks about the habit of seeing a friend every day.
Show the answer
A situation where someone says they could not go meet a friend that day because appointments overlapped.
to be unable to do an action because of a lack of ability or suitable circumstances. ‘못’ comes before a verb to create a negative meaning. Compared with ‘안’, it more strongly suggests inability or constraint. In the past tense, it appears before the verb, as in ‘못 했어’ or ‘못 갔어’. It is very common in spoken language.
Other words in this line
- 나
- I; me
- 또
- Again; also
- 멤버
- Member
- 못
- Unable to
- 만나다
- To meet
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