다 말다

start and leave it unfinished

You began the thing and stopped partway, and it stayed stopped: 정리를 조금씩 해야 되는데 오늘도 하다 말았어요 'I keep meaning to tidy up and today I gave up halfway again.' In the modifier form it labels the half-done object — 이렇게 참외 껍질 까다 만 거 있죠?! 'look, the melon is only half-peeled.' With 말고 it means being interrupted mid-action: 얼씨구 니네 싸우다 말고 뭐 하냥? 'what are you doing stopping mid-fight?'

Register: casual