Negation — 안 and -지 않아요

To say "do not" in Korean, put 안 right before the verb or add -지 않아요 to the verb stem. Use 못 or -지 못해요 for "cannot", 이/가 아니에요 for "is not" with a noun, and 없어요 for "there is not" or "do not have".

1. Why learn this

Sooner or later you need to say no. You do not eat meat, you do not like a movie, or you are not a teacher. Negation lets you answer questions honestly and politely.

Korean negation is easy in one way. The verb itself does not change for who does it, so 안 가요 can mean I do not go, you do not go or they do not go. You only add a small word or a short ending.

There are a few forms to learn, and each one has its own job. 안 and 못 go before verbs, 이/가 아니에요 goes with nouns, and 없어요 is its own word. This lesson shows you which one to pick.