Learn Hardcore Korean: hoeui junbihaneura jeomsimeul mos meogeosseo. - I couldn’t eat lunch because I was preparing for the meeting.

-느라 means “because (I was) occupied doing X,” highlighting that the first action tied you up and led to an unfavorable or unintended result.
It’s commonly used for excuses/apologies or explaining why you failed to do something.
It usually pairs with action verbs and implies an ongoing process at that time (no explicit tense in the -느라 clause).

Example:

회의 준비하느라 점심을 못 먹었어. = I couldn’t eat lunch because I was tied up preparing for the meeting.

Why is it 준비하느라 and not 준비했느라 or 준비하는라?

Is 하느라 the same as 하느라고? Which should I use?

하느라 and 하느라고 are functionally the same in this use. Both mean “(being busy) doing X, so... (negative result).”
-느라고 is very common in speech; -느라 can feel a touch leaner/neutral. You can use either here:
- 회의 준비하느라(고) 점심을 못 먹었어.

Can I replace -느라 with -아서/어서 or -때문에? What’s the difference?

-아서/어서 is a neutral “because/so” and can lead to positive or negative results:
- 회의 준비해서(=해서) 점심을 못 먹었어. (Grammatically okay, but it lacks the “being tied up” nuance.)
때문에 attaches to nouns or verb phrases (with -기 때문에), and does not imply “being occupied”:
- 회의 준비 때문에 점심을 못 먹었어.
- 회의를 준비했기 때문에 점심을 못 먹었어.
-느라(고) specifically emphasizes being in the middle of doing something that hindered the other action and strongly suggests an unfavorable outcome. It’s the most natural here.

Does -느라 always imply a negative result? Can I follow it with something positive?

Yes, -느라 strongly leans toward negative/unwanted results or inability.
Using it before a positive result sounds odd:
- ? 공부하느라 성적이 올랐어. (Sounds unnatural.)
- Better: 공부해서/공부한 덕분에 성적이 올랐어.

Do the subjects of both clauses have to be the same with -느라?

Generally yes. The person who was “occupied doing X” should be the same person who experiences the result.
If you need different subjects, use something like -는 바람에 or -때문에:
- 내가 회의 준비를 하는 바람에 친구가 오래 기다렸어. (Different subjects OK)
- 내가 회의 준비 때문에 친구가 오래 기다렸어. (OK)
- 내가 회의 준비하느라 친구가 오래 기다렸어. (Feels off with -느라)

Can the -느라 clause come after the main clause?

Typically, no. The -느라 clause normally precedes the result clause.
You can, however, split into two sentences in speech:
- 점심을 못 먹었어. 회의 준비하느라고.
If you want cause-after-result in one sentence, use a different connector (e.g., 왜냐하면 ~어서, though that makes two clauses).

What’s the nuance difference between 못 먹었어 and 안 먹었어?

못 먹었어 = “couldn’t eat” (inability due to circumstances). Perfect with -느라.
안 먹었어 = “didn’t eat” (choice/volition, or simple negation without implying inability).
Other natural variants:
- 먹지 못했어 (slightly more formal/emphatic than 못 먹었어)
- 먹을 수 없었어 (explicit “was not able to”)

Is the object particle -을 after 점심 required?

Not in casual speech. Both are fine:
- 점심을 못 먹었어.
- 점심 못 먹었어.
Including -을/를 can sound a bit more careful or emphatic; omitting it is very common in conversation.

Would 회의를 준비하느라 also be correct? Why does this sentence say 회의 준비하느라?

Both are correct:
- 회의 준비하느라 treats 회의 준비 (“meeting preparation”) as a noun phrase + 하다.
- 회의를 준비하느라 treats 회의 as the direct object of 준비하다.
Nuance difference is minimal here; choose either.
Spacing note: 회의 준비 (two words) + 하다 is standard; 준비하다 is one word, so 준비하느라 is written together.

How polite is 못 먹었어? How do I make this polite or formal?

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

회의 is pronounced roughly like [회이] (often heard close to “hoe-ee”).
준비하느라 is pronounced as written [준비하느라].
먹었어 undergoes liaison: pronounced close to [머거써].
Overall: [회이 준비하느라 점시믈 머거써]. (The [l] in 을 often weakens or is barely heard before a consonant in fast speech.)

Can I use -느라 with adjectives or stative verbs?

Generally, no. -느라 pairs best with action verbs (things you do).
For adjectives/stative verbs, use other connectors:
- 예뻐서 사람들이 많았어. (Not 예쁘느라…)
- 추워서 집에 있었어. (Not 춥느라…)

How else could I say this naturally?