-아/어 내다

Build it

When to use it

The vowel follows the -아요/어요 rule: 이겨 내다, 참아 내다, 견뎌 내다, 만들어 내다, 밝혀 내다.

There must be difficulty to overcome. The auxiliary says the action was carried through against resistance, which is why it pairs so naturally with 이기다, 참다, 견디다, 버티다.

A second group is about producing something that did not exist: 만들어 내다, 찾아 내다, 밝혀 내다, 이끌어 내다. Here the sense is bringing something out into the open.

The judgement is positive throughout — admiration or relief. That is the whole difference from -아/어 버리다, which is neutral about difficulty and often tinged with regret.

How to attach it

In use

1. 그는 오랜 병을 끝내 이겨 냈습니다.

   He came through a long illness in the end.

2. 힘든 시기를 잘 견뎌 냈어요.

   You got through a hard stretch.

3. 연구진이 새로운 물질을 만들어 냈다.

   The research team succeeded in creating a new material.

4. 수사팀이 사건의 전모를 밝혀 냈습니다.

   The investigators brought the whole affair to light.

5. 끝까지 참아 낸 것이 대단합니다.

   It is remarkable that you bore it to the end.

6. 불리한 조건에서도 결국 해 냈다.

   Against the odds, he pulled it off.

Compared with

• -아/어 버리다

  버리다 marks completion with relief or regret, and implies nothing about difficulty. 내다 specifically credits getting through hardship.

  다 써 버렸어요. (used it all up, alas)  /  다 써 냈어요. (managed to write it all)

• -고 말다

  The opposite verdict. -고 말다 reports an ending you did not want; -아/어 내다 reports one you fought for.

  포기하고 말았다. (ended up giving up)  /  견뎌 냈다. (held out)

• -아/어 대다

  The pair to learn together. Both are auxiliaries of manner, and they carry opposite judgements.

  참아 냈어요. (bore it, admirably)  /  떠들어 댔어요. (racketed on, tiresomely)

Watch out

• 의자에 앉아 냈어요.

  의자에 앉았어요.

  내다 requires something difficult to get through. An easy action leaves it with nothing to credit.

• 실수로 컵을 깨 냈어요.

  실수로 컵을 깨 버렸어요.

  내다 is a compliment. For an accident, 버리다 carries the regret.

• 그는 결국 포기해 냈다.

  그는 결국 포기하고 말았다.

  Giving up is not an achievement. An unwanted ending takes -고 말다.

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