못 -
Quick answer: 못 - means cannot — because something stops you.
How to form it
못 + verb · 전화 못 받아요 · with 하다 verbs it goes before 하다: 통화 못 해요
In Korean: 못 + 동사 전화 못 받아요 하다 동사는 «통화 못 해요»
What to know
안 - is I don't; 못 - is I can't. And -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 is the same as 못 -, only longer and a little more formal. With 하다 verbs 못 slides inside, exactly like 안 did in 4-2.
Examples
- 지금 전화를 못 받아요.I can't take the call right now.
- 오늘 못 만나요.I can't meet today.
- 통화 못 해요.I can't talk.
Where it's taught
HanDa Level 1 (TOPIK I), Lesson 21: 지금 통화할 수 있어요? — Can you talk now?. Also in the Level 1 book.
Learned in the same lesson: -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 / 없다.
Practise 못 - out loud
In the HanDa app this is Level 1, Lesson 21 — drills, a speaking check and an AI teacher that corrects what you say. Free for 7 days.