“Can’t” 못 vs 지 못하다 vs 수 없다 | Korean FAQ

There are three common ways to say "can't," and all of them can have the same meaning - 못, 지 못하다, and 수 없다. However, although all three of these forms can have the same meaning ("can't") they're not always interchangeable, and each has a different nuance. I wanted to break down all three and how they're used, what they actually mean, and when you should pick each one.