V + पाना (Manage to)
Whether you succeeded or failed at something — 'managed to do', 'couldn't do'
Example
मैं समझ नहीं पाया
I couldn't understand
Usage Notes
Most commonly used in the negative — मैं कर नहीं पाया (I couldn't manage to do it). Implies you tried but failed, which is different from सकना (general ability).
Compare: मैं नहीं बोल सकता (I can't speak — I don't have the ability) vs. मैं बोल नहीं पाया (I couldn't speak — I tried but failed to).
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Related — Compound Verbs
Adds a sense of 'completely' or 'gone' — the action is fully finished
The action benefits the doer themselves — 'ate it up (for myself)', 'took it'
The action is done for someone else's benefit — 'told (them)', 'gave (away)'
Something happened suddenly or unexpectedly — 'burst out laughing', 'fell asleep'
A sudden burst of action — 'burst into tears', 'suddenly started'