What does 직설적이지 못해 mean?
직설적이지 못해 means "not being direct" in Korean.
How it works here
‘직설적이다’ (to be direct) combines with -지 못하다 to indicate that the state has not been achieved. Here, 못해 indicates that the person is not in a direct state.
Key expression
A-지 못하다
Indicates that a certain state has not been achieved.
When -지 못하다 is added after an adjective or a word expressing a state, it means that the state has not been achieved. Compared with the simple negative -지 않다, it more strongly suggests that something is not in that state or falls short of that degree. It is common in spoken language, but can sound somewhat conclusive and evaluative in a sentence.
When it's used
Used when saying that a quality or state, such as a person's personality, speech style, or attitude, is not sufficiently present or has not been reached.
The line
민규 직설적이지 못해.
Mingyu isn't very direct.
This is said when evaluating someone's words or writing and saying that they fall short of the standard.
Scene from “[SPECIAL VIDEO] SEVENTEEN 5th Anniversary '빛나는 5주년(Shining 5th Anniversary)'” · Channel: SEVENTEEN Watch on YouTube
More examples
그 설명은 너무 길어서 핵심이 명확하지 못해.
That explanation is too long, so the main point isn't clear enough.
이 보고서는 내용이 충분히 구체적이지 못하다.
This report isn't sufficiently specific in its content.
Quick check
When would you use this expression?
직설적이지 못해
민규 직설적이지 못해.
Mingyu isn't very direct.
- A situation where the speaker feels that the other person's manner of speaking is very rough and uncomfortable to listen to.
- A situation where the speaker evaluates the way of speaking as falling short of the expected level.
- A situation where the speaker keeps feeling awkward because they do not understand the other person's feelings.
Show the answer
A situation where the speaker evaluates the way of speaking as falling short of the expected level.
Indicates that a certain state has not been achieved. When -지 못하다 is added after an adjective or a word expressing a state, it means that the state has not been achieved. Compared with the simple negative -지 않다, it more strongly suggests that something is not in that state or falls short of that degree. It is common in spoken language, but can sound somewhat conclusive and evaluative in a sentence.
Other words in this line
- 직설적이다
- Direct
- 못하다
- Cannot do ~
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