Everyday Korean · one useful step · LESSON 2 / 4

Say what you cannot do

Use 못 or -(으)ㄹ 수 없어요 for an inability or practical limit.

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You can read the menu, but the staff member speaks too fast for you to understand.

잘 못 알아들어요.

I have trouble understanding what I hear.

지금은 주문할 수 없어요.

I can’t order right now.

오늘은 못 가요.

I can’t go today.

A quick reminder before you practise

다시 and 천천히: make your request clearer →

Ask for repetition or slower speech.

Notice the pattern

Put 못 before the verb in 못 가요. In 잘 못 알아들어요, 잘 못 means you cannot do it well. Contrast 못 가요 (can’t go) with 안 가요 (don’t go). 수 없어요 can describe a temporary limit as well as a lack of ability.

Try it yourself

Which sentence says you cannot go today?

What does 지금은 주문할 수 없어요 say?

Which sentence explains difficulty understanding speech?

Build “I can’t order right now.”

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RETRIEVE BEFORE YOU REVEAL

Say it in your own time.

Say you have trouble understanding, then ask the listener to speak slowly.

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