Korean double verbs: when two verbs make a new meaning
Korean often joins two verbs into one: 먹어 보다 (try eating), 해 주다 (do for someone), 가 버리다 (leave for good). Sometimes the second verb adds an attitude, and sometimes the pair grows a whole new meaning — 빼먹다 is 'skip', not 'take out and eat'. Word-by-word translation breaks on exactly these. Read the first verb as how, the second as what, and check for a figurative meaning.
- Daily Lifev0.5
-아/어 내다
-a/eo nae-da · “Do and put out”
AI gets it wrong:했어 just states who did it. 내다 after a verb adds 'all the way through, despite difficulty'. 해냈어요 is the triumphant 'I did it!' Koreans actually say.Say instead:선생님, 저 해냈어요!See why → - Daily Lifev0.5
-아/어 대다
-a/eo dae-da · “Do and touch”
AI gets it wrong:대다 after a verb means doing it over and over, too much — and the speaker is annoyed. The dog didn't just bark; it wouldn't stop barking all night.Say instead:애가 장난감 사 달라고 졸라 대요.See why → - Daily Lifev0.5
-아/어 두다 · 놓다
-a/eo du-da · no-ta · “Do and put down”
AI gets it wrong:놓다 and 두다 ('put') after a verb mean the action is done ahead of time and the result stays in place. Your host is saying 'The room's ready, and I'll leave the door open for you.'Say instead:제가 식당 예약해 둘게요.See why → - Daily Lifev0.4
-아/어 버리다
-a/eo beo-ri-da · “Do something and throw it away”
AI gets it wrong:After another verb, 버리다 stops meaning 'throw away'. It says the action is finished completely and can't be undone — and it adds a feeling: regret ('oops'), relief ('finally'), or coldness ('just gone').Say instead:케이크를 다 먹어 버렸어.See why → - Daily Lifev0.5
-아/어 보다
-a/eo bo-da · “Do and see”
AI gets it wrong:시도하다 is a formal word for 'attempt' — fine for a new strategy, odd for food. Korean says 'try' by adding 보다 to the action itself: 먹어 보다, 입어 보다. And 가 봤어요? alone already means 'Have you ever been?'Say instead:이거 제가 만든 김치예요. 드셔 보세요!See why → - Workplace & Hierarchyv0.5
-아/어 주다
-a/eo ju-da · “Do and give”
AI gets it wrong:Without 주다, 보낼 수 있어요? asks whether they're able to send it, not whether they will. And 해 줄게요 to a senior sounds like you're doing them a favor from above. Korean marks favors with 주다, and favors to seniors with 드리다.Say instead:파일 보내 주실 수 있으세요?See why → - Daily Lifev0.5
넘어가다
neo-meo-ga-da · “Go over”
AI gets it wrong:넘어지다 is 'fall down'; 넘어가다 is 'go over'. Here it means 'I'll let it go this time.' The same verb also means being fooled (말에 넘어가다) and moving to the next topic.Say instead:이번엔 그냥 넘어갈게.See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.5
돌아가시다
do-ra-ga-si-da · “Go back (honorific)”
AI gets it wrong:돌아가시다 is the respectful way to say someone has died — literally 'returned'. 죽었어요 is used for animals or in blunt speech, and sounds disrespectful for a family member or elder.Say instead:작년에 할아버지가 돌아가셨어요.See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.5
들어주다
deu-reo-ju-da · “Listen for someone”
AI gets it wrong:With 부탁 (favor) or 소원 (wish), 들어주다 means 'grant' or 'do'. Your friend is asking you to agree to the favor, often before saying what it is. 'I'm listening' sounds like you haven't said yes.Say instead:그래, 뭔데?See why → - Workplace & Hierarchyv0.5
떼먹다
tte-meok-da · “Tear off and eat”
AI gets it wrong:떼먹다 means keeping money you owe someone — not paying back a loan, or not paying wages. Your coworker is warning you that this employer doesn't pay people.Say instead:친구가 빌려 간 돈을 떼먹었어요.See why → - Daily Lifev0.5
말아먹다
ma-ra-meok-da · “Roll up and eat”
AI gets it wrong:말아먹다 is slang for ruining something completely: an exam, a presentation, a business. It sounds like a total, often self-inflicted failure.Say instead:시험 망했어.See why → - Daily Lifev0.4
받아먹다
ba-da-meok-da · “Receive and eat”
AI gets it wrong:In a double verb, the first verb sets up how the second happens. 받아먹다 is eating what someone feeds you — a baby taking a spoon, a dog catching a treat. Figuratively, it means pocketing money or favors, and it's negative.Say instead:아기가 잘 받아먹어요.See why → - Daily Lifev0.5
봐주다
bwa-ju-da · “See for someone”
AI gets it wrong:봐주다 has three meanings: look at something for someone, look after someone, and let someone off. 한 번만 봐주세요 is the classic plea: 'Please let it go just this once.'Say instead:이것 좀 봐 주시겠어요?See why → - Workplace & Hierarchyv0.5
빼먹다
ppae-meok-da · “Take out and eat”
AI gets it wrong:빼먹다 means leaving something out by mistake, or skipping something on purpose (수업을 빼먹다, 'cut class'). Nothing is eaten. Your leader is pointing out a missing line.Say instead:죄송합니다, 제가 빠뜨렸습니다. 바로 수정하겠습니다.See why → - Food & Diningv0.5
얻어먹다
eo-deo-meok-da · “Get and eat”
AI gets it wrong:얻어먹다 means eating on someone else's money. Saying you 'only' 얻어먹다 is a nudge: in Korea, treating is a cycle, and it's your turn. AI also misses 욕을 얻어먹다, which means 'get scolded'.Say instead:잘 얻어먹었습니다. 다음엔 제가 살게요!See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.5
잡아떼다
ja-ba-tte-da · “Grab and pull off”
AI gets it wrong:잡아떼다 means insisting you didn't do something when you clearly did — denying it to someone's face. It's always said about someone else, with frustration or amusement.Say instead:모른다고 딱 잡아떼더라.See why →