Expressing Unexpected Outcomes || Using -고 말다

Q: What is the nuance of -고 말다 in Korean?

-고 말다 expresses that something undesirable or unintended happened in the end, often despite attempts to prevent it.

Q: Can -고 말다 be used with positive outcomes?

It’s generally used with negative or unfortunate results , though in casual speech, it can sometimes be used dramatically for positive outcomes (e.g., “I ended up confessing!”).

Q: How do I use -고 말다 with past tense?

You conjugate the verb with -고 말다 followed by the past tense ending: -고 말았어요 means “ended up doing (something)” or “unfortunately did (something).”

Q: Is -고 말다 formal or casual?

The structure itself is neutral. You can make it casual or formal by changing the sentence ending, like -고 말았다 / -고 말았어요 / -고 말았습니다 .

Q: What’s the difference between -아/어 버리다 and -고 말다?

-아/어 버리다 focuses on the completion of an action (often with relief or regret), while -고 말다 emphasizes an unwanted or inevitable outcome .

Q: Can I study Korean with LTL?

Yes! You can study with us in Seoul , in our Hongdae location , or online if you prefer learn from home. Contact us here if you have any questions.

Home B2 Expressing unexpected, inevitable outcome

HOW TO USE -고 말다

In Korean, -고 말다 is used to express that something happened in the end, often against one’s will or expectations.

It’s commonly used to highlight unintended or unfortunate outcomes, adding emotional nuance to your sentences.

BASIC STRUCTURE

The expression -고 말다 is used when describing an unwanted, unintentional, or inevitable result, often something that the speaker tried to avoid or regrets.

It shows that despite intentions, something eventually happened—usually with an emotional nuance like disappointment or frustration.

PATTERN

Verb stem + 고 말다

늦잠을 자고 말았어요.	I ended up oversleeping.
약속을 깜빡 잊고 말았어요.	I completely forgot the appointment.

View More Examples:

핸드폰을 두고 나오고 말았어요.	I ended up leaving my phone behind.
공부하려고 했는데 TV를 보고 말았어요.	I was going to study, but ended up watching TV.
시험을 망치고 말았어요.	I ended up failing the exam.

버스를 놓치고 말았어요.	I ended up missing the bus.
커피를 옷에 쏟고 말았어요.	I spilled coffee on my clothes.
숙제를 안 가져오고 말았어요.	I forgot to bring my homework.
여행 가기 전에 감기에 걸리고 말았어요.	I caught a cold before the trip.
집중하려 했지만 핸드폰을 보게 되고 말았어요.	I tried to focus, but ended up checking my phone.

View More Words:

늦잠을 자다	to oversleep
알람을 못 듣다	to miss the alarm
버스를 놓치다	to miss the bus
약속을 잊다	to forget an appointment
비가 오다	to rain
우산을 안 가져오다	to not bring an umbrella
시험에 떨어지다	to fail an exam
숙제를 잊다	to forget homework
감기에 걸리다	to catch a cold
넘어지다	to fall down
커피를 쏟다	to spill coffee
핸드폰을 놓고 오다	to leave one’s phone behind
열쇠를 잃어버리다	to lose the key
교통사고가 나다	to have a traffic accident
길을 잃다	to get lost

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FAQs

What is the nuance of -고 말다 in Korean?

-고 말다 expresses that something undesirable or unintended happened in the end, often despite attempts to prevent it.

Can -고 말다 be used with positive outcomes?

It’s generally used with negative or unfortunate results, though in casual speech, it can sometimes be used dramatically for positive outcomes (e.g., “I ended up confessing!”).

How do I use -고 말다 with past tense?

You conjugate the verb with -고 말다 followed by the past tense ending: -고 말았어요 means “ended up doing (something)” or “unfortunately did (something).”

Is -고 말다 formal or casual?

The structure itself is neutral.

You can make it casual or formal by changing the sentence ending, like -고 말았다 / -고 말았어요 / -고 말았습니다.

What’s the difference between -아/어 버리다 and -고 말다?

-아/어 버리다 focuses on the completion of an action (often with relief or regret), while -고 말다 emphasizes an unwanted or inevitable outcome.

Can I study Korean with LTL?

Yes!

You can study with us in Seoul, in our Hongdae location, or online if you prefer learn from home.