What does 못 하겠어요 mean?
못 하겠어요 means "I don't think I can do it" in Korean.
How it works here
못 is placed before 하겠어요 to indicate that the action is impossible because of ability or circumstances. Adding -겠어요 makes the expression sound polite and indirect.
Key expression
못 V-겠어요
To politely say that one cannot do something because of ability or circumstances
못 V-겠어요 does not mean ‘V-고 싶지 않다’ (do not want to do V), but ‘V 할 수 없다’ (cannot do V). It sounds more polite and cautious than 못 해요, and is naturally followed by a verb. It differs in meaning from 안 V-겠어요.
When it's used
Used when politely explaining one's circumstances and saying that doing something right now is difficult or impossible.
The line
디노 저 못 하겠어요..
Dino, I don't think I can do it..
This is said when politely explaining the circumstances and saying that doing something immediately is difficult.
Scene from “[SPECIAL VIDEO] SEVENTEEN 5th Anniversary '빛나는 5주년(Shining 5th Anniversary)'” · Channel: SEVENTEEN Watch on YouTube
More examples
오늘은 일정이 너무 많아서 회의에 못 가겠어요.
I have too much on my schedule today, so I don't think I can go to the meeting.
이 글씨는 너무 작아서 제가 못 읽겠어요.
The writing is too small, so I don't think I can read it.
Quick check
When would you use this expression?
못 하겠어요
디노 저 못 하겠어요..
Dino, I don't think I can do it..
- A situation where the speaker confidently says that they can do the task very easily.
- A situation where the speaker politely says that doing the task is difficult right now.
- A situation where the speaker says they will deliberately not do the task because they do not want to.
Show the answer
A situation where the speaker politely says that doing the task is difficult right now.
To politely say that one cannot do something because of ability or circumstances. 못 V-겠어요 does not mean ‘V-고 싶지 않다’ (do not want to do V), but ‘V 할 수 없다’ (cannot do V). It sounds more polite and cautious than 못 해요, and is naturally followed by a verb. It differs in meaning from 안 V-겠어요.
Other words in this line
- 저
- I; me (humble/polite)
- 못
- Cannot; unable to
- 하다
- To do
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