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. Contact us here if you have any questions.

B2

Grammar Point	Pattern	Example
Expressing unexpected, inevitable outcome	Verb stem + 고 말다	버스를 놓치고 말았어요.
Expressing inevitability in Korean	Verb stem + 수밖에 없다	약속이 있어서 갈 수밖에 없어요.
Pretending in Korean	[Verb] + -(으)ㄴ/는 척하다	아는척하다
Expressing easy & difficult actions in Korean	[Verb stem] + -기 쉽다	청소하기 쉽다.
Expectations in Korean	[Verb stem] + -았/었어야 했다	청소했어야 했다
Expressing "no choice but to" in Korean	Verb stem + ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다	비가 와서 집에 있을 수밖에 없어요.
Expressing "pretending to" in Korean	Descriptive verb stem + -(으)는 척하다	그는 부자인 척했어요.
How to use 도록 in Korean	Verb + -도록	고양이를 기를 수 있도록 할 거예요.
Passive voice in Korean	Verb + -이 / -히 / -리 / -기	놓다 → 놓이다
Expressing even though in Korean	Subject + Verb + ㄴ지만	그는 아프지만 수업에참여합니다.
Expressing emphasis in Korean	Verb + ㄹ 뿐이다	그의 행동은 그녀를 더 밀어낼뿐이다.
Expressing surprise in Korean	Subject + Verb + (는) 구나 / 네 / 군	그녀가 부산에서 오는구나.