-아/어 내다
Used when something is finally accomplished after a difficult process or through persistent effort. It carries a strong sense of achievement or overcoming obstacles.
Summary
Equivalent
To finally manage to..., To end up doing..., To achieve despite difficulty...
Example
King Sejong created (managed to invent) Hunminjeongeum for the common people.
세종대왕은 백성들을 위해 훈민정음을 만들어 내셨습니다.
Grammar rules
- It implies 'I struggled, but I finally did [X].' Common compound verbs include '알아내다' (find out), '찾아내다' (locate), '해내다' (accomplish/do it).
- Often used with words like '마침내' (finally) or '드디어' (at last) to emphasize the effort.
수많은 실패 끝에 마침내 신약을 개발해 냈다. (After numerous failures, they finally managed to develop the new drug.)
Patterns
V (Verbs)
현재 (Present) · -아/어 내다
Example sentences
King Sejong created (managed to invent) Hunminjeongeum for the common people.
세종대왕은 백성들을 위해 훈민정음을 만들어 내셨습니다.
That athlete overcame their injury and eventually won (managed to get) the gold medal.
그 선수는 부상을 이겨 내고 결국 금메달을 따 냈습니다.
The police found out (managed to discover) where the criminal was hiding.
범인이 어디에 숨어 있는지 경찰이 알아냈어요.
Conversation
A: How did you solve that difficult math problem?
어려운 수학 문제를 어떻게 풀었어요?
B: After thinking about it for several hours, I finally found (managed to find) the answer.
몇 시간 동안 고민한 끝에 드디어 답을 찾아냈어요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct 'managed to do X' phrase.
Solving a mystery.
Overcoming hardship.