Negation · 안, -지 않아요
3. Examples
Example 1 — Things I do not do
저는 학교에 안 가요.
jeo-neun hak-gyo-e an ga-yo.
→ I do not go to school.
오늘은 커피를 안 마셔요.
o-neu-reun keo-pi-reul an ma-syeo-yo.
→ I do not drink coffee today.
저는 고기를 먹지 않아요.
jeo-neun go-gi-reul meok-ji a-na-yo.
→ I do not eat meat.
이 옷은 안 비싸요.
i o-seun an bi-ssa-yo.
→ These clothes are not expensive.Each sentence puts 안 before the verb or ends in -지 않아요. The two forms mean nearly the same thing, so you can choose either one. Use 안 for everyday speech.
Example 2 — 하다 verbs
저는 공부 안 해요.
jeo-neun gong-bu an hae-yo.
→ I do not study.
오늘은 운동 안 해요.
o-neu-reun un-dong an hae-yo.
→ I do not exercise today.
저는 매운 음식을 안 좋아해요.
jeo-neun mae-un eum-si-geul an jo-a-hae-yo.
→ I do not like spicy food.The first two sentences use a noun plus 하다, so 안 goes in the middle. The last sentence uses 좋아하다, which is one verb, so 안 goes in front.
If you are unsure, use the long form instead. 공부하지 않아요 and 좋아하지 않아요 are correct in every case.
Example 3 — 안 and 못
저는 수영을 못해요.
jeo-neun su-yeong-eul mo-tae-yo.
→ I cannot swim.
오늘은 바빠서 못 가요.
o-neu-reun ba-ppa-seo mot ga-yo.
→ I cannot go today because I am busy.
매워서 못 먹어요.
mae-wo-seo mon meo-geo-yo.
→ It is too spicy, so I cannot eat it.
저는 술을 안 마셔요.
jeo-neun su-reul an ma-syeo-yo.
→ I do not drink alcohol. It is my choice.못 shows that something stops you: a skill you lack, a busy day or food that is too spicy. The last sentence uses 안 because it is a personal choice.
Be careful with the meaning. 안 가요 tells the listener you decided not to go, while 못 가요 tells them you wanted to go but could not.
Example 4 — Nouns and having
저는 학생이 아니에요.
jeo-neun hak-saeng-i a-ni-e-yo.
→ I am not a student.
이것은 책이 아니에요.
i-geo-seun chae-gi a-ni-e-yo.
→ This is not a book.
제 친구는 의사가 아니에요.
je chin-gu-neun ui-sa-ga a-ni-e-yo.
→ My friend is not a doctor.
저는 돈이 없어요.
jeo-neun do-ni eop-seo-yo.
→ I do not have money.The first three sentences use 이/가 아니에요, and the choice depends on the last sound of the noun. 학생 and 책 end in consonants, so they take 이. 의사 ends in a vowel, so it takes 가.
The last sentence shows that not having something is 없어요, the opposite of 있어요. You never need 안 here.