Korean Grammar: Understanding 고 말다 For Unintended Outcomes

In Korean, the structure V + 고 말다 is used to express unintended and contrasting negative outcomes that result from a previous action.

This construction can be translated as ‘I ended up Ving’, ‘in the end I V-ed’, or ‘finally I V-ed’.

Some examples in English to illustrate what this looks like:

To add emphasis, you can include 결국 (also ‘in the end’) before 고 말다.

Grammar Rule: Verb + 고 말다

고 말다 examples

Let’s explore this grammar pattern through practical examples:

밤을 새야하는데 잠에 들고 말았어요.
I tried to stay up all night but eventually I fell asleep.
숙제를 끝내려고 했지만 포기하고 말았어요.
I tried to finish my homework but I eventually gave up.
차가 비쌌지만 결국 사고 말았어요.
The car was expensive but in the end I bought it.
버스는 덥고 복잡해서 집까지 걸어가고 말았어요.
The bus was so hot and crowded so I ended up walking home.

Emphasizing with 결국

By adding 결국 before 고 말다, you can emphasize the final unintended outcome:

우산을 잊어버려서 비가 왔을 때 옷이 젖고 말았어요.
I did the test but I didn't prepare so I ended up failing.
잘못된 버튼을 누르고 파일을 지우고 말았어요.
I pressed the wrong button and ended up erasing the file.
남자친구와 다투고 헤어지고 말았어요.
I had an argument with my boyfriend and ended up breaking up with him.

Conclusion

Understanding the Korean grammar structure 고 말다 is essential for expressing unintended and negative outcomes that result from previous actions.

This construction adds depth to your Korean language skills and allows you to communicate nuanced situations effectively.

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