Yap.Town

못했어

couldn't, was unable to, did badly, performed poorly, wasn't ... enough

→ 못하다
auxiliary · informal, past tense Common #4,262
couldn't, was unable to Used after 지 to say that someone could not or did not manage to do something.
KO: 오늘은 일찍 자지 못했어.
EN: I couldn't go to bed early today.
Conjugation of 못하다
Potential past
못했어못한못했어요못했던못했죠

요즘엔 계속 날지 못했어

I haven't been able to fly lately.

— 그대들은 어떻게 살 것인가 (2023)

난 똑바로 보지 못했어

I couldn't see clearly.

— 반지의 제왕: 반지 원정대 (2001)

그런데 우리는 같이 가지는 못했어

But we couldn't go together.

— 친절한 금자씨 (2005)

또 너 에게 번호를 물어보지 못했어.

I couldn't ask for your number again.

곁에 있어 주지 못했어

I couldn’t be there for you.

— 클리너 (2025)

몇 주 전부터 그를 보지 못했어.

I haven't seen him for a few weeks.

— 주토피아 (2016)

난 이해하지 못했어

I didn't understand.

— 8과 1/2 (1963)

미안해, 카이카쿠와 잘 지내지 못했어!

I'm sorry, I didn't get along well with Kaikaku!

— 극장판 귀멸의 칼날: 무한성편 (2025)

그리고 누구도 그를 막지 못했어

And no one could stop him.

— 잠입자 (1979)

말하지 못했어.

I couldn't say it.

— 주토피아 2 (2025)

쇼쨩을 또 지키지 못했어!

I failed to protect Sho-chan again!

— 목소리의 형태 (2016)

그들이 우릴 죽이진 못했어

They couldn't kill us.

— 특전 U보트 (1981)

verb · informal, past tense Rare #18,503
couldn't, was unable to Used to say that someone could not do something or did not manage to do it.
KO: 시간이 없어서 숙제를 못했어.
EN: I couldn't do my homework because I didn't have time.
did badly, performed poorly
KO: 이번 시험은 정말 못했어.
EN: I did really badly on this test.
wasn't ... enough Used after an adjective to say something fell short of the expected standard.
KO: 이번 발표는 프로답지 못했어.
EN: This presentation wasn't professional enough.
Conjugation of 못하다
Past
못했어

너무 못했어

I did terribly.

— 빅 식 (2017)

근데 아직 취직을 못했어?

But you still haven’t found a job?

— 버닝 (2018)

프로답지 못했어.

It was unprofessional.

— 더스트 버니 (2025)