Negation patterns
Korean has two main ways to say 'not': placing '안' before a verb/adjective, or attaching '-지 않다' after a verb/adjective stem.
How It Works
In Korean, there are two primary ways to negate verbs and adjectives. Both are very common.
1. Short Form: 안 + Verb/Adjective
This is the simpler and more common way in conversation. You just place 안 directly before the verb or adjective.
- 가다 (to go) → 안 가요 (don't go)
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 안 예뻐요 (not pretty)
Important Rule for 하다 verbs: For verbs that are a noun + 하다 (e.g., 공부하다 - to study), 안 goes between the noun and 하다.
- 공부하다 (to study) → 공부를 안 해요 or 공부 안 해요 (don't study)
- 운동하다 (to exercise) → 운동 안 해요 (don't exercise)
- Incorrect: 안 공부해요 (X)
2. Long Form: Verb/Adjective Stem + -지 않다
This form is also very common and can sound a bit more formal or emphatic. You attach -지 않다 to the verb or adjective stem.
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹지 않아요 (don't eat)
- 비싸다 (to be expensive) → 비싸지 않아요 (not expensive)
Both forms are generally interchangeable in meaning. For example, '안 먹어요' and '먹지 않아요' both mean 'I don't eat.'
This pattern covers simple negation ('not'). For expressing inability ('cannot'), you use 못.
Examples (5)
- 저는 아침을 안 먹어요.
I don't eat breakfast.
Word by Word: I breakfast (object) not eat.
This is the short-form negation using '안' placed before the verb '먹어요'.
- 저는 아침을 먹지 않아요.
I don't eat breakfast.
Word by Word: I breakfast (object) eat not.
This is the long-form negation using '-지 않아요' attached to the verb stem '먹다'. It has the same meaning as '안 먹어요'.
- 이 음식은 안 짜요.
This food is not salty.
Word by Word: This food not is salty.
Here, '안' is used to negate the adjective '짜다' (to be salty).
- 주말에는 공부 안 해요.
I don't study on the weekend.
Word by Word: On weekends study not do.
For 하다 verbs like '공부하다', '안' is placed between the noun part (공부) and '해요'.
- 저는 김치를 못 먹어요.
I can't eat kimchi.
Word by Word: I kimchi (object) cannot eat.
This example uses '못' instead of '안'. It means 'cannot' (due to inability, spiciness, etc.), not just 'do not'.
Common Mistakes
Placing '안' before a 하다 verb instead of between the noun and 하다.
Not Quite저는 안 운동해요.Better저는 운동 안 해요.For verbs made of a noun + 하다 (like 운동하다, 공부하다, 일하다), '안' must come right before '하다'.
Using '안' (don't) when you mean '못' (can't).
Different Meaning저는 수영을 안 해요. (When you mean you don't know how to swim)Better저는 수영을 못 해요.Use '안' when you choose not to do something. Use '못' when you lack the ability or are prevented from doing something. '수영을 안 해요' means 'I don't swim' (by choice), while '수영을 못 해요' means 'I can't swim'.
Learn This First
To understand Korean negation patterns, you first need to know basic negation words.
Related Patterns
- -지 못하다Cannot
This is the long-form equivalent of '못', meaning 'cannot'. It contrasts with '-지 않다' (do not).
- Verb stems
Understanding verb stems is necessary to correctly attach the long-form negation ending '-지 않다'.
- Basic verb conjugation
Negation is a fundamental part of verb and adjective conjugation. This pattern explains how to conjugate the final part of the negation, like changing '않다' to '않아요' or '않습니다'.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- -지 마세요Please Don't
- -지 말다Don't Do
- -지 않다Not
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 줄 모르다Not Know How to, Be Unaware That
- -(으)ㄹ지도 모르다Might, May Possibly
- -밖에Only, Except
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 뿐만 아니라Not Only... but Also
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ지 알다/모르다(Don't) Know If/whether
And 4 more in the full list.