Manage to achieve

This pattern is attached to a verb to express that an action was successfully completed after a difficult process, effort, or struggle. It's not just about doing something, but about managing to do it.

Meaning & Usage

Meaning: "to manage to do," "to succeed in doing," "to pull off"

When to use: Use it to emphasize the effort, persistence, or difficulty involved in achieving a result. It highlights the sense of accomplishment.

Formation

It's formed by adding -아/어 to the verb stem, followed by 내다.

Verb stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ: Add 아 내다

찾다 (to find) → 찾아내다

알다 (to know) → 알아내다

Verb stems ending in other vowels: Add 어 내다

견디다 (to endure) → 견뎌 내다 (shortens to 견뎌)

이기다 (to win) → 이겨 내다

만들다 (to make) → 만들어 내다

하다 verbs: Become 해내다

극복하다 (to overcome) → 극복해내다

발명하다 (to invent) → 발명해내다

결국 해냈어. / 범인을 찾아냈어. / 신제품을 만들어 냈어. / 시련을 이겨 냈어.

This pattern pairs naturally with verbs that imply a challenge or a process of discovery, creation, or endurance. Understanding these common pairings will help you use -아/어 내다 more naturally.

Discovery & Revelation

Used when you find or figure out something that was hidden or unknown.

찾아내다: to find (something hidden or hard to locate)

알아내다: to figure out, find out (information, a secret)

밝혀내다: to uncover, reveal (the truth, a fact)

Endurance & Overcoming

Used for getting through a difficult situation.

이겨 내다: to overcome (hardship, illness)

견뎌 내다: to withstand, endure (pain, pressure)

참아 내다: to bear, endure (with patience)

버텨 내다: to hold on, endure (surviving a tough time)