Key facts
- Korean negation has short forms (안, 못), long forms (-지 않다, -지 못하다) and prohibitions (-지 마세요).
- 안 means "do not" and 못 means "cannot". Choice versus inability decides which to use.
- Both short forms stand directly before the verb or adjective.
- This set contains 12 lessons at level A1 and above.
Listen to the sentence that shows the simplest negative.
The next section defines the topic and its three families.
What Is Korean Negation?
Korean negation is the set of words and endings that turn a sentence into a denial. Negation means saying that something is not true or does not happen. Korean has three families, and each answers a different need.
Short forms put a small word before the verb. 안 means "do not", and 못 means "cannot". 안 먹어요 is "I do not eat", and 못 먹어요 is "I cannot eat". They are the most common forms in speech.
Long forms attach to the verb stem. -지 않다 means "do not", and -지 못하다 means "cannot". 먹지 않아요 and 먹지 못해요 mean the same as the short forms but sound more formal.
Prohibitions tell someone not to do something. -지 마세요 means "please do not", as in 가지 마세요.
A predicate is the verb or adjective that closes a Korean sentence. In every family, the negative marker stays close to the predicate, because Korean is verb-final. The verb-last pattern itself is taught in the Korean SOV sentence pattern, and the wider area is described in Korean grammar. The next section gives a route through the lessons.
Where Should You Start with Korean Negation?
Start with 안, then 못, then the choice between them. The long forms, special verbs, tenses and answers build on those three. Four stages cover the whole set.
- Stage 1: short forms. Read 안 negation in Korean, then 못 can't in Korean, then 안 vs 못.
- Stage 2: long forms and commands. Read -지 않다 negation, 안 vs -지 않다, -지 못하다 cannot and -지 마세요 don't.
- Stage 3: special verbs and tenses. Read negating 하다 verbs and negative past tense in Korean.
- Stage 4: questions, answers and negative words. Read negative questions in Korean, 아무도 아무것도 전혀 negative words and answering yes or no questions in Korean.
Who can skip ahead? A learner who already uses 안 and 못 correctly can start at stage 2. A learner who needs "is not" with nouns should read the lesson on 아니에요 not to be first, because 안 does not work with 이다. The next section describes each lesson.
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Each lesson below has a short description, one example sentence with Revised Romanization (RR, the official Latin spelling, shown only as an aid) and audio.
안 Negation in Korean
This lesson teaches the short negative 안, placed directly before a verb or adjective. It also shows the split in 하다 verbs and the three words that look like 안. Example: 안 먹어요. (an meogeoyo.) "I do not eat." Spoken [안 머거요].
못 Can't in Korean
This lesson teaches 못, the short word for inability. It covers abilities, outside blocks and the difference from 안. Example: 못 먹어요. (mot meogeoyo.) "I cannot eat." Spoken [몬 머거요], because 못 changes before ㅁ.
안 vs 못
This lesson puts 안 and 못 side by side on the same verbs. It shows how a speaker signals choice, ability or a blocking circumstance. Example: 수영을 못 해요. (suyeongeul mot haeyo.) "I cannot swim." Spoken [수영을 모태요].
-지 않다 Negation
This lesson teaches the long form of 안, attached to the verb stem. It covers its formal, written use and its endings. Example: 먹지 않아요. (meokji anayo.) "I do not eat." Spoken [먹찌 아나요].
안 vs -지 않다
This lesson compares the short and long forms of the same denial. It shows when each fits: speech, writing, formal contexts and particular verbs. Example: 가지 않아요. (gaji anayo.) "I do not go." Spoken [가지 아나요].
-지 못하다 Cannot
This lesson teaches the long form of 못 for formal "cannot". It covers the ending and the contrast with -지 않다. Example: 먹지 못해요. (meokji motaeyo.) "I cannot eat." Spoken [먹찌 모태요].
-지 마세요 Don't
This lesson teaches the prohibition for polite requests, such as "Please do not go." It also explains why 안 cannot make a command. Example: 가지 마세요. (gaji maseyo.) "Please do not go."
Negating 하다 Verbs: 공부 안 해요
This lesson shows how to negate verbs made of a noun and 하다. The noun stays in front and 안 goes before 하다. Example: 공부 안 해요. (gongbu an haeyo.) "I do not study."
Negative past Tense in Korean
This lesson shows how 안, 못 and the long forms combine with the past tense. The tense stays on the verb. Example: 안 먹었어요. (an meogeosseoyo.) "I did not eat." Spoken [안 머거써요].
Negative Questions in Korean
This lesson teaches questions that contain a negative, such as "Aren't you eating?" It covers the forms and what the speaker expects. Example: 안 먹어요? (an meogeoyo?) "Aren't you eating?"
아무도 아무것도 전혀 Negative Words
This lesson teaches words that need a negative verb, such as 아무도 ("nobody"), 아무것도 ("nothing") and 전혀 ("not at all"). Example: 아무도 안 와요. (amudo an wayo.) "Nobody comes."
Answering Yes or No Questions in Korean
This lesson explains how 네 and 아니요 work after positive and negative questions. In Korean, 네 means "that is right", so the answer follows the content of the question. Example: 네, 안 먹어요. (ne, an meogeoyo.) "Yes, I am not eating."
The next section helps you choose a lesson for your own sentence.
Which Lesson Fits Your Sentence?
Match the sentence you want to say to the lesson in the table.
| If you want to say... | Open | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "I do not eat meat" (a choice or fact) | 안 negation in Korean | 안 goes before the verb |
| "I cannot swim" (no ability) | 못 can't in Korean | 못 expresses inability |
| the same verb, two meanings | 안 vs 못 | choice versus ability |
| a formal or written denial | -지 않다 negation | the long form sounds formal |
| "Please do not go" | -지 마세요 don't | prohibitions have their own ending |
| "I do not study" (공부하다) | negating 하다 verbs | 안 goes before 하다 |
| "I did not eat" | negative past tense in Korean | tense stays on the verb |
| "Nobody came" | 아무도 아무것도 전혀 negative words | these words need a negative verb |
| "Yes" or "No" to "Aren't you eating?" | answering yes or no questions in Korean | 네 and 아니요 follow the content |
The next section shows the most useful contrast in the set.
How Do You Choose between 안 and 못?
Choose 안 when you decide not to do something or describe a fact, and choose 못 when you are unable to do it. The two words stand in the same place, so the choice is about meaning only.
| Verb | With 안 | With 못 |
|---|---|---|
| 가요 (go) | 안 가요. I do not go. | 못 가요. I cannot go. |
| 먹어요 (eat) | 안 먹어요. I do not eat. | 못 먹어요. I cannot eat. |
| 해요 (do) | 안 해요. I do not do it. | 못 해요. I cannot do it. |
A sentence with 안 can imply "I choose not to", and a sentence with 못 can imply "I want to, but something stops me". The full comparison, with ability, circumstances and exceptions, is in 안 vs 못. The next section lists the mistakes to avoid first.
Which Mistakes Come First?
Four mistakes appear in most beginner sentences in this area.
- Putting 안 before the noun in a 하다 verb. Saying 안 공부해요 sounds unnatural. Say 공부 안 해요.
- Using 안 with 이다. Saying 학생이 안 이에요 is wrong. Say 학생이 아니에요.
- Using 안 for "cannot". Saying 안 해요 when you mean "I cannot" gives the wrong reason. Say 못 해요.
- Using 안 for commands. Saying 안 가세요 does not mean "do not go". Say 가지 마세요.
Each lesson in the set explains these in detail. The next section shows what the set leaves out.
What Does This Set Not Cover?
The Korean negation set covers denials of actions, states and requests. It does not cover the copula 이다 and its negative 아니다, which belong to Korean sentence structure. It does not teach the verb endings in general, which sit in the verb conjugation hub.
All Korean text, spoken forms and audio on this page were machine-generated and reviewed and signed off by Min-ji Park on 15 October 2026. The next section shows how to practise.
How Do You Practise Korean Negation?
Practise Korean negation by changing positive sentences into negative ones and checking them against a key. A short routine works well across a week.
- Read one lesson and say its model sentences aloud with the audio.
- Make five positive sentences about your day, then make each one negative with 안 or 못.
- Take the grammar quizzes to check the pattern.
- Review the forms with the grammar flashcard decks.
- Print a grammar worksheet and fill it in by hand.
- Check how a verb changes with the Korean verb conjugator.
Each lesson ends with a practice set and an answer key, so you can check your work immediately. After finishing the set, continue to the other lessons in Korean grammar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say "not" in Korean? Put 안 directly before a verb or adjective. 먹어요 ("I eat") becomes 안 먹어요 ("I do not eat"). With 하다 verbs, put 안 before 하다, as in 공부 안 해요. For "cannot", use 못 in the same place. For "is not" with a noun, use the separate word 아니에요, as in 학생이 아니에요.
What is the difference between 안 and 못? 안 means "do not" or "is not" and describes a choice or a plain fact. 못 means "cannot" and describes inability or a blocking circumstance. 수영을 안 해요 means "I do not swim", and 수영을 못 해요 means "I cannot swim". Both stand directly before the verb, so only the choice of word changes the meaning.
Which lesson in Korean negation should I read first? Start with 안 negation, the simplest and most common form. Then read 못, then the comparison 안 vs 못. After that, move to the long forms -지 않다 and -지 못하다, then to 하다 verbs and the past tense. Leave negative questions, negative words and yes/no answers for last, because they combine several earlier ideas.
How do I tell someone not to do something? Use -지 마세요, attached to the verb stem. 가다 ("to go") becomes 가지 마세요, "Please do not go." Do not use 안 for commands, because 안 가세요 is a statement or a question, not a request. The lesson on -지 마세요 covers the polite, casual and formal forms with examples and audio.