I didn't hear (it) - KoreanBlueprint

Day 172 — I didn’t hear (it) | Korean Blueprint

Today’s Phrase

못 들었어요

mot deu·reo·sseo·yo

mot deureosseoyo

I didn’t hear (it)

Learning Tip

못 + verb = inability: 못 들었어요 (couldn’t hear), 못 봤어요 (couldn’t see), 못 먹어요 (can’t eat). Compare with 안 which is a willful choice: 안 들었어요 (didn’t listen — chose not to). 못 is inability, 안 is choice or negation. This distinction is crucial.

Phrase Breakdown

못

mot

could not, unable

Negation particle expressing inability

들었어요

deureosseoyo

heard (past polite)

듣다 (hear) + past polite = 들었어요

Tells someone you missed or couldn’t catch what they said.

Example Phrases

죄송해요, 못 들었어요. 다시 말씀해 주세요.

Joesonghaeyo, mot deureosseoyo. Dasi malsseum hae juseyo.

I’m sorry, I didn’t hear. Please say it again.

다시 말씀해 주세요 = please say it again (honorific).

시끄러워서 못 들었어요.

Sikkeureoweoseo mot deureosseoyo.

It was noisy so I couldn’t hear.

시끄럽다 = to be noisy/loud.

뭐라고 하셨어요?

Mwurago hasyeosseoyo?

What did you say? (honorific)

뭐라고 = saying what; -하시다 = honorific do.

Related Phrases

다시 말해 주세요

dasi malhae juseyo

Please say it again

Requesting repetition of what was said.

잘 못 들었어요

jal mot deureosseoyo

I didn’t catch it clearly

Saying you didn’t hear clearly.

크게 말해 주세요

keuge malhae juseyo

Please speak louder

Requesting the speaker to raise their voice.

Quick Review

한국 음식 중에 뭘 제일 좋아해요?

Can you recall what this means?

hanguk eumsik junge mwol jeil johahaeyo?

Which Korean food do you like the most?