V-(으)ㄹ래야 V-(으)ㄹ 수(가) 없다
Even if you want to …, you can't
The speaker is willing, but circumstances make it impossible. The same verb is repeated: the first half carries the intention, the second the outcome, and what sits between them is the obstacle.
접속 conjugation
- Both halves must use the same verb: 쉴래야 쉴 수가 없다
- No final consonant ＋ -ㄹ래야: 자다 → 잘래야 잘 수 없다
- Final consonant ＋ -을래야: 먹다 → 먹을래야 먹을 수 없다
- The 가 after 수 is optional: 잘 수 없다 = 잘 수가 없다
예문
EXAMPLES
짐이 너무 많아서 혼자서는 들래야 들 수가 없어요.
There's too much luggage — I couldn't carry it alone even if I wanted to.from 2026.09.23 Wed the examples
다행이네요. 그런데 짐이 많아서 혼자서는 들래야 들 수가 없어요.
That's a relief. But I have so much luggage I couldn't carry it alone if I tried.from 2026.09.23 Wed from.旅遊對話
목이 잠겨서 노래를 부를래야 부를 수가 없었어요.
My voice was gone, so I couldn't sing even though I wanted to.from 2026.09.24 Thu the examples
번호를 깜빡해서 연락할래야 연락할 수가 없었어요.
I'd forgotten the number, so I couldn't get in touch even though I wanted to.from 2026.09.24 Thu the examples
그러다 늦잠 자면 하루가 다 밀려서 규칙적으로 살래야 살 수가 없더라고.
And when I oversleep the whole day slides, so I can't keep a regular life even if I want to.from 2026.09.24 Thu the everyday dialogue
Appears in
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