-지 못하다

cannot / be unable to

TOPIK 1

Expresses inability due to circumstances: 'cannot / be unable to'.

Examples from real articles

  • 대통령의 후광에만 기대고 자신들의 정책과 비전을 제대로 보여주지 못했다는 지적입니다.

    There are criticisms that they relied only on the president's halo effect and failed to properly show their own policies and vision.

    Political Turmoil After Election Setback →

  • 전 대통령 지지자들은 오열을 터트리며 재판 결과를 받아들이지 못했다.

    Supporters of the former president burst into tears and were unable to accept the verdict.

    Reactions to Ex-President's Sentencing →

  • 점프 후 내려오는 과정에서 슬로프 턱에 보드가 걸려 넘어진 최가온은 한동안 일어서지 못했고, 의료진이 슬로프 안으로 들어가 그의 상태를 살폈습니다.

    Choi Ga-on, who fell after her board caught on the slope's edge during the descent after the jump, was unable to get up for a while, and medical staff entered the slope to check on her condition.

    Korea's First Olympic Gold in Skiing →

  • 느왕게네는 인근 클리닉을 찾았지만, 해당 의료기관에는 뱀 해독제가 비치돼 있지 않아 즉각적인 치료를 받지 못했습니다.

    Nwangene visited a nearby clinic, but since the medical facility did not have antivenom available, he was unable to receive immediate treatment.

    Young K-Pop Star Tragically Killed by Snake →

  • 또한 실제 경찰관처럼 움직이거나 말하지는 못한다.

    Also, it cannot move or speak like a real police officer.

    South Korea's Hologram Police Patrols Curb Crime →

  • 화재 발생 당시 소방대원들은 신속하게 현장에 도착했지만, 많은 인명피해를 막지 못했다.

    Although firefighters arrived at the scene quickly at the time of the fire, they were unable to prevent many casualties.

    Deadly Apartment Fire in Gwangmyeong, South Korea →

  • 여야가 청문회 증인 채택을 놓고 이견을 좁히지 못하면서 결국 증인과 참고인이 없는 청문회가 열리게 됐습니다.

    As the ruling and opposition parties failed to narrow their differences over the adoption of witnesses for the hearing, a hearing without witnesses or reference persons ended up being held.

    Partisan Clash over PM Nominee's Hearing →

Read these lessons

Articles that use -지 못하다 in context — open one to read it in full.

Related grammar · TOPIK 1

와/과 도