말도 못

can't even say

→ 말

phrase Rare #20,432

can't even say 말도 못 is used with 하다, 듣다, 배우다, and similar verbs to emphasize that someone cannot even speak, say something, or hear/learn something. 도 means “even.”

KO: 너무 긴장해서 아무 말도 못 했어요.

EN: I was so nervous that I couldn't say anything.

전 잠파노와 가기 싫다는 말도 못 했어요

I couldn't even say that I didn't want to go with Zampano.

— 길 (1954)