End Up Doing (-고 말다)
-고 말다
Indicates an undesired outcome that ultimately happened despite efforts to prevent it.
Pattern
Verb stem + -고 말다
Explanation
-고 말다 expresses that something undesirable ultimately happened, despite efforts to avoid it: 비밀을 말하고 말았어요 (I ended up telling the secret — though I tried not to). It conveys a sense of resignation or inevitability.
This pattern is almost always used with negative or unfortunate outcomes. The speaker had intended to avoid the result but failed: 결국 포기하고 말았어요 (I ended up giving up in the end), 약속을 어기고 말았어요 (I ended up breaking my promise).
In some cases, -고 말다 can express strong determination with future tense: 반드시 해내고 말겠어요 (I will definitely accomplish it — no matter what). This positive use emphasizes determination to see something through.
Examples
결국 울고 말았어요.
Gyeolguk ulgo marasseoyo.
I ended up crying in the end.
다이어트를 포기하고 말았어요.
Daieoteureul pogihago marasseoyo.
I ended up giving up on the diet.
감기에 걸리고 말았어요.
Gamgie geolligo marasseoyo.
I ended up catching a cold.
반드시 성공하고 말겠어요.
Bandeusi seonggonghago malgessseoyo.
I will succeed no matter what.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
좋은 결과가 나오고 말았어요.
Correct
나쁜 결과가 나오고 말았어요.
-고 말다 (past tense) is for undesired outcomes. For good outcomes, just state the result normally.
Wrong
먹고 말다.
Correct
먹고 말았어요.
-고 말다 is almost always used in past tense (말았다) for regret or future (말겠다) for determination.
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