ended up, finally did
This expression refers to an unplanned event or action that continued until it was completed or thoroughly finished in a way undesired by the speaker. Thus it includes the speaker's feeling of regret or sorrow with regard to the resulting state of affairs. Only verbs can come before this expression.
1. Because only verbs can come before '-고 말다' combining it with adjectives will result in incorrect sentences.
Because 나쁘다 is an adjective, its verb form '나빠지다' must be used.
2. The expression '-고 말다' can also refer to the subject's strong will or intention to do something. In such cases, it is often combined with an expression that indicates the speaker's intention, such as -겠- or -(으)ㄹ 테니까，to form expressions such as -고 말겠다. In addition, these forms are often used together with adverbs such as '꼭' and 반드시.
3. This expression can also be combined with -아/어 버리다 as -아/어 버리고 말았다 to emphasize the speaker's feeling of regret and sorrow.
Sentence ② expresses a stronger sense of regret than sentence ①.
While both -아/어 버리다 and -고 말다 refer to the completion or finishing of an act or state of affairs, they are different in the following ways.
However, in cases of events not related to the speaker's will or Intention, the two expressions have the following differences.
Expresses that an action happened unintentionally, unexpectedly, or inevitably.
고 말다 is used to express that something happened:
Unintentionally or Unexpectedly: The action was not planned or desired.
Inevitably: Despite efforts to prevent it, the action occurred.
With Regret or Frustration: Often conveys the speaker's disappointment.
Note: When used in the future tense, 고/말겠다 (Strong determination) shows the speaker's strong will or determination.
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