안/못
Not
안 means 'don't/doesn't'. 못 means 'can't'. Both go before a verb or adjective.
How It Works
안 and 못 are adverbs used to create negative sentences in Korean. They are placed directly before a verb or an adjective. This is often called 'short-form negation'.
1. 안 (don't / doesn't / is not)
Use 안 to express a simple negation based on the speaker's will or a simple fact.
- Formula: 안 + Verb/Adjective
- Meaning: The subject chooses not to do the action, or a certain state is not true.
Examples:
- 저는 학교에 안 가요. (I don't go to school.)
- 이 옷은 안 예뻐요. (These clothes are not pretty.)
2. 못 (can't / cannot)
Use 못 to express inability to do something. This could be due to a lack of skill, time, or other external constraints.
- Formula: 못 + Verb
- Meaning: The subject is unable to do the action.
- Important: 못 is generally not used with adjectives.
Examples:
- 저는 운전을 못 해요. (I can't drive.)
- 바빠서 전화를 못 받았어요. (I was busy, so I couldn't answer the phone.)
Key Difference Summary:
- 안 했어요. (I didn't do it.) → I had the ability, but I chose not to.
- 못 했어요. (I couldn't do it.) → I wanted to, but I was unable to.
For verbs that end in 하다 (like 공부하다, 운동하다), the negation is often formed differently using -지 않다 and -지 못하다, which are the 'long-form' negation patterns.
Examples (5)
- 저는 아침을 안 먹어요.
I don't eat breakfast.
Word by Word: I breakfast don't eat.
Using '안' implies that not eating breakfast is a choice or a habit.
- 이 영화는 안 재미있어요.
This movie is not fun.
Word by Word: This movie not is fun.
'안' is used to negate an adjective (재미있다 - to be fun).
- 저는 매운 음식을 못 먹어요.
I can't eat spicy food.
Word by Word: I spicy food cannot eat.
Using '못' implies an inability to eat spicy food, perhaps because it's too spicy for the speaker.
- 어제 숙제를 안 했어요.
I didn't do my homework yesterday.
Word by Word: Yesterday homework didn't do.
This implies a choice. Maybe the speaker was lazy or decided to do something else.
- 어제 숙제를 못 했어요.
I couldn't do my homework yesterday.
Word by Word: Yesterday homework couldn't do.
This implies an inability. Maybe the homework was too difficult or the speaker had no time.
Common Mistakes
Using 못 with adjectives.
Not Quite날씨가 못 좋아요.Better날씨가 안 좋아요.못 (cannot) is used to negate actions (verbs), not states or descriptions (adjectives). For negating adjectives, always use 안.
Confusing 'don't' (안) with 'can't' (못).
Different Meaning수영을 안 해요. 수영하는 법을 몰라요.Better수영을 못 해요. 수영하는 법을 몰라요.If the reason for not doing something is a lack of ability (not knowing how to swim), you must use 못. Using 안 implies you are choosing not to swim, even though you know how.
Related Patterns
- -지 않다Not
This is the 'long form' equivalent of 안. For example, '안 가요' and '가지 않아요' both mean 'I don't go'. They are generally interchangeable.
- -지 못하다Cannot
This is the 'long form' equivalent of 못. For example, '못 가요' and '가지 못해요' both mean 'I can't go'. They are generally interchangeable.
- Negation patterns
안/못 are the two main 'short form' negation patterns. This overview explains all the different ways to make negative sentences in Korean.
- Verb stems
Understanding verb stems is essential because 안 and 못 are placed directly before the conjugated verb or adjective, which is built from its stem.