🚫 Saying “No” in Korean: Your Complete Guide to Negation
Imagine you’re a superhero with a magic shield. Every time something you don’t want comes at you, you raise your shield and say “NO!” In Korean, we have different shields for different situations. Let’s learn them all!
🎯 The Big Picture: Why Korean Has Many Ways to Say “No”
Think of it like this: In English, we mostly say “not” or “don’t.” But Korean is more specific! It has different words depending on:
- What you’re negating (actions vs. identity)
- How long your sentence is
- Whether you can’t do something or just won’t do it
It’s like having a toolbox with special tools for each job!
🛡️ Shield #1: Short Negation with 안 (an)
The Quick “No” Shield
When you want to say “not” quickly, put 안 right before the verb. It’s like adding a tiny “no” sticker!
The Formula
안 + Verb
Examples
| Positive | Negative | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 (to go) | 안 가다 | not go |
| 먹다 (to eat) | 안 먹다 | not eat |
| 자다 (to sleep) | 안 자다 | not sleep |
Real Sentences
- 저는 안 가요. → I’m not going.
- 오늘 안 먹어요. → I’m not eating today.
- 아이가 안 자요. → The child isn’t sleeping.
💡 Easy Trick: 안 is like a tiny stop sign 🛑 you place before the action!
🛡️ Shield #2: Long Negation with 지 않다 (ji anhda)
The Formal “No” Shield
This one goes at the end of the verb. It sounds more formal and complete!
The Formula
Verb Stem + 지 않다
How to Make It
- Take the verb: 가다 (to go)
- Remove 다: 가
- Add 지 않다: 가지 않다
Examples
| Verb | Long Negation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 | 가지 않다 | not go |
| 먹다 | 먹지 않다 | not eat |
| 읽다 | 읽지 않다 | not read |
Real Sentences
- 저는 가지 않아요. → I’m not going.
- 그 책을 읽지 않았어요. → I didn’t read that book.
🎭 When to use: More formal writing, polite speech, or when you want to emphasize the negation.
🛡️ Shield #3: 아니다 (anida) — “To Not Be”
The Identity Shield
This is special! Use it when you want to say something is NOT something else.
The Formula
Noun + 이/가 아니다
- Use 이 아니다 after consonants
- Use 가 아니다 after vowels
Examples
| Statement | Negation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 학생이다 (is a student) | 학생이 아니다 | is not a student |
| 선생님이다 (is a teacher) | 선생님이 아니다 | is not a teacher |
| 고양이다 (is a cat) | 고양이가 아니다 | is not a cat |
Real Sentences
- 저는 의사가 아니에요. → I am not a doctor.
- 이것은 사과가 아니에요. → This is not an apple.
- 그는 한국 사람이 아니에요. → He is not Korean.
⚠️ Important: 아니다 is ONLY for nouns, never for verbs!
🛡️ Shield #4: Inability with 못 (mot)
The “Can’t Do It” Shield
When you cannot do something (not your choice!), use 못.
The Formula
못 + Verb
The Difference: 안 vs 못
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 안 | won’t (choice) | 안 먹어요 = I won’t eat |
| 못 | can’t (inability) | 못 먹어요 = I can’t eat |
Examples
- 못 가요. → I can’t go. (Something is stopping me)
- 못 먹어요. → I can’t eat. (Maybe allergic, or food is gone)
- 못 해요. → I can’t do it. (Don’t have the ability)
Real Sentences
- 오늘 못 와요. → I can’t come today.
- 한국어를 못 해요. → I can’t speak Korean.
- 수영을 못 해요. → I can’t swim.
🎯 Remember: 못 = “I wish I could, but I can’t!”
🛡️ Shield #5: Long Inability with 지 못하다 (ji mothada)
The Formal “Can’t” Shield
Just like 지 않다 is the long form of 안, this is the long form of 못!
The Formula
Verb Stem + 지 못하다
Examples
| Short Form | Long Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 못 가다 | 가지 못하다 | cannot go |
| 못 먹다 | 먹지 못하다 | cannot eat |
| 못 하다 | 하지 못하다 | cannot do |
Real Sentences
- 저는 참석하지 못해요. → I cannot attend.
- 그 일을 끝내지 못했어요. → I couldn’t finish that work.
- 약속을 지키지 못했어요. → I couldn’t keep the promise.
📝 Usage: More formal, written Korean, or when emphasizing inability.
🛡️ Shield #6: Negative Commands with 지 말다 (ji malda)
The “Don’t Do That!” Shield
When you want to tell someone NOT to do something, use this!
The Formula
Verb Stem + 지 마(세요/라)
Politeness Levels
| Level | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | 지 마 | 가지 마! = Don’t go! |
| Polite | 지 마세요 | 가지 마세요 = Please don’t go |
| Formal | 지 마십시오 | 가지 마십시오 = Do not go (official) |
Common Commands
- 걱정하지 마세요. → Please don’t worry.
- 울지 마. → Don’t cry.
- 늦지 마세요. → Please don’t be late.
- 만지지 마세요. → Please don’t touch.
🚨 Tip: 지 마 is like putting a big red X ❌ on an action!
🛡️ Shield #7: Inherent Negatives
Words That Are Already Negative
Some Korean words have negative meaning built right in! No extra shields needed!
Common Inherent Negatives
| Word | Meaning | Related Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 모르다 | to not know | 알다 (to know) |
| 없다 | to not exist / not have | 있다 (to exist / have) |
| 아무도 | nobody | 누군가 (somebody) |
| 아무것도 | nothing | 무언가 (something) |
| 전혀 | not at all | — |
| 절대로 | never, absolutely not | 항상 (always) |
Examples in Sentences
- 저는 몰라요. → I don’t know.
- 시간이 없어요. → I don’t have time.
- 아무도 없어요. → Nobody is here.
- 아무것도 안 먹었어요. → I didn’t eat anything.
- 전혀 모르겠어요. → I don’t understand at all.
- 절대로 안 돼요! → Absolutely not!
🌟 Notice: You don’t add 안 or 못 to these—they’re already negative!
🗺️ Your Negation Map
graph TD A["Want to say NO?"] --> B{What type?} B --> C["Action - wont do"] B --> D["Action - cant do"] B --> E["Identity - is not"] B --> F["Command - dont do"] C --> G["안 or 지 않다"] D --> H["못 or 지 못하다"] E --> I["아니다"] F --> J["지 말다"]
🎮 Quick Comparison Chart
| Situation | Short Form | Long Form |
|---|---|---|
| Won’t (choice) | 안 + verb | verb + 지 않다 |
| Can’t (inability) | 못 + verb | verb + 지 못하다 |
| Is not (identity) | — | noun + 아니다 |
| Don’t! (command) | — | verb + 지 말다 |
💪 You’ve Got This!
Now you have 7 powerful shields to say “no” in Korean:
- 안 — Quick “won’t”
- 지 않다 — Formal “won’t”
- 아니다 — “Is not”
- 못 — Quick “can’t”
- 지 못하다 — Formal “can’t”
- 지 말다 — “Don’t do it!”
- Inherent negatives — Already negative words
Remember: Every time you use the right negation, you’re becoming more fluent! Keep practicing, and soon saying “no” in Korean will feel as natural as breathing! 🚀
다음에 봐요! (See you next time!)