없다
It means something does not exist or you do not have it.
Explanation at your level:
You use this word to say 'I don't have it.' If you are at a store and they are sold out, you can say '없어요' (It is not here). It is very simple to use!
At this level, you learn to use 없다 to describe your surroundings. '친구는 여기 없어요' means 'My friend is not here.' It is perfect for basic communication.
You start using it in more complex sentences. You might say '시간이 없어서 못 갔어요' (I couldn't go because I didn't have time). This shows you understand cause and effect.
Advanced learners use 없다 to express abstract concepts. You might describe a situation as '희망이 없다' (there is no hope) or '근거가 없다' (there is no basis/evidence).
At the C1 level, you use it in nuanced ways. It appears in formal writing and literary contexts to emphasize the total absence of something, often creating a dramatic or philosophical tone.
Mastery involves understanding the subtle cultural weight of 없다. It is used in proverbs and high-level discourse to discuss existential themes, reflecting the deep philosophical roots of the Korean language.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- Means to not have or not exist.
- Antonym of 있다.
- Grammatically a descriptive verb.
- Used with subject particles.
Welcome to the world of 없다! Think of this as your go-to word for 'missing' or 'not here.' Whether you are looking for your keys or explaining that you don't have money, this word is your best friend.
In Korean, 없다 is technically a descriptive verb. It describes a state of being—specifically, the state of non-existence. It is incredibly versatile and is one of the first words you will master because it is used in almost every daily conversation.
The word 없다 has deep roots in the Korean language, tracing back to Middle Korean. It has remained a core pillar of the language, evolving alongside the grammatical structures that define Korean today.
Historically, it has always been paired with 있다. These two words form a binary system that helps speakers define reality: if it's not 있다 (there), it must be 없다 (not there). It's a simple, elegant way to categorize the world around us.
You use 없다 in two main ways: possession and location. For possession, you say 'I don't have [item].' For location, you say '[Person/Thing] is not here.'
It is very common to combine this with particles like -이/가. For example, '돈이 없다' (I have no money). It is used in both casual and formal settings, though you change the ending (e.g., 없어요 for polite, 없습니다 for formal) to match the situation.
1. 말도 없다: To be speechless or have nothing to say. 2. 재미없다: To be boring or not fun. 3. 정신없다: To be distracted or have one's mind elsewhere. 4. 쓸데없다: To be useless or unnecessary. 5. 염치없다: To be shameless.
Pronouncing 없다 can be tricky! The 'ps' sound at the bottom of the first syllable is often simplified to just the 'p' sound in natural speech. It sounds like 'op-da'.
Grammatically, it always follows the subject marked by -이/가. It does not have a plural form because it describes a state, not a countable object. Remember, it is a descriptive verb, so it doesn't take object markers like -을/를.
Fun Fact
It is one of the most frequently used words in the Korean language.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'op-da'
Sounds like 'op-da'
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 's' sound
- Adding extra vowels
- Incorrect stress
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Subject Particles
이/가
Descriptive Verbs
없다
Polite Ending
없어요
Examples by Level
돈이 없어요.
Money + subject marker + don't have.
Basic possession
시간이 없어요.
Time + subject marker + don't have.
Abstract noun
친구가 없어요.
Friend + subject marker + don't have.
Social context
물이 없어요.
Water + subject marker + don't have.
Physical item
책이 없어요.
Book + subject marker + don't have.
Possession
여기 없어요.
Here + not exist.
Location
맛이 없어요.
Taste + not exist.
Describing quality
재미없어요.
Fun + not exist.
Describing feeling
가방에 아무것도 없어요.
어제는 시간이 없었어요.
그 영화는 재미없었어요.
근처에 식당이 없어요.
내일은 약속이 없어요.
답이 없어요.
이유가 없어요.
자신이 없어요.
그는 아무런 생각이 없었다.
이 문제는 답이 없는 것 같아요.
도움이 필요하지만 방법이 없어요.
그에게는 가족이 없었습니다.
요즘은 정신없이 바빠요.
쓸데없는 걱정 하지 마세요.
염치없는 행동은 삼가야 합니다.
희망이 없는 것은 아니에요.
그의 말에는 근거가 전혀 없습니다.
이 상황에서는 선택의 여지가 없어요.
그는 남을 배려할 줄 모르는 염치없는 사람이다.
우리는 대안이 없는 상태입니다.
그의 태도에는 진심이 없다.
법 앞에서는 예외가 없어야 한다.
이 일은 끝이 없는 것 같다.
그는 아무런 대책 없이 일을 시작했다.
그의 주장은 논리적 근거가 없다.
전례 없는 사태가 발생했습니다.
그는 아무런 가책 없이 거짓말을 했다.
이곳은 사람의 발길이 닿지 않는 곳이다.
그의 열정은 끝이 없어 보였다.
우리는 더 이상 미룰 명분이 없다.
그는 아무런 의심 없이 제안을 받아들였다.
그런 일은 상상조차 할 수 없다.
그의 결단에는 주저함이 없었다.
역사적으로 전례를 찾아볼 수 없는 사건이다.
그는 아무런 사심 없이 봉사했다.
그의 문장에는 군더더기가 없다.
이것은 실체가 없는 허상에 불과하다.
그는 아무런 거리낌 없이 자신의 의견을 말했다.
그의 노력은 헛되지 않았다.
그는 근본 없는 소문을 퍼뜨렸다.
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"말도 없다"
To be silent/speechless.
그는 화가 났는지 말도 없다.
neutral"정신없다"
To be very busy or distracted.
아침이라 정신없네요.
casual"쓸데없다"
To be useless.
쓸데없는 걱정 마.
casual"염치없다"
To be shameless.
염치없지만 도와주세요.
polite"재미없다"
To be boring.
정말 재미없는 사람이네요.
neutral"끝이 없다"
To be endless.
욕심은 끝이 없다.
neutralEasily Confused
They are opposites
Existence vs non-existence
돈이 있다 vs 돈이 없다
Both imply lack
Zero vs not enough
돈이 없다 vs 돈이 부족하다
Both imply absence
State vs action
지갑이 없다 vs 지갑이 사라졌다
Similar root
State vs process
없다 (is gone) vs 없어지다 (becomes gone)
Sentence Patterns
Subject + -이/가 + 없다
친구가 없어요.
Noun + -이/가 + 없다
시간이 없어요.
Adjective + -다 + 없다
재미없다.
Verb + -ㄹ + 방법이 + 없다
할 방법이 없어요.
Noun + -에 + -이/가 + 없다
가방에 돈이 없어요.
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
없다 is a descriptive verb, not a transitive verb.
안 있다 is grammatically incorrect.
When talking about elders, you must use honorifics.
없다 means zero, 부족하다 means not enough.
The 's' is silent in this cluster.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize an empty shelf in your memory palace.
Native Usage
Use it to express lack of time or money.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the Korean focus on existence.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use -이/가 with 없다.
Say It Right
Skip the 's' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Do not use -을/를.
Did You Know?
It is one of the top 100 most used words.
Study Smart
Practice with '있다' pairs.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of an 'Empty' (O) box.
Visual Association
An empty plate.
Word Web
چالش
Look around your room and list 5 things you don't have.
ریشه کلمه
Korean
Original meaning: To be absent
بافت فرهنگی
None, but be careful with honorifics when talking about people.
Directly correlates to 'to not have' or 'there is no'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Shopping
- 사이즈가 없어요
- 재고가 없어요
- 이거 없어요?
Social
- 시간이 없어요
- 약속이 없어요
- 친구가 없어요
Dining
- 맛이 없어요
- 메뉴가 없어요
- 자리가 없어요
Work
- 방법이 없어요
- 대안이 없어요
- 근거가 없어요
Conversation Starters
"오늘 시간이 있어요?"
"가장 재미없는 영화는 뭐예요?"
"지금 필요한데 없는 게 있어요?"
"왜 돈이 없어요?"
"어디에 사람이 없어요?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you lost something.
Describe a place where there are no people.
Why is it important to have hobbies?
What do you do when you have no time?
سوالات متداول
8 سوالUse the subject marker -이/가 (e.g., 책이 없어요).
In Korean grammar, it is classified as a descriptive verb.
No, that is incorrect. Use the subject marker.
The opposite is 있다.
Add -어요 to get 없어요.
It means something is not fun or boring.
Yes, but use honorifics if the person is older than you.
Yes, it is very common in all forms of writing.
خودت رو بسنج
저는 돈이 ____.
Correct form for 'do not have'.
Which means 'It is boring'?
재미없다 means boring.
없다 is a transitive verb.
It is a descriptive verb.
Word
معنی
Matching phrases to meanings.
Subject + location + verb.
امتیاز: /5
Summary
없다 is the essential Korean word for expressing absence or lack.
- Means to not have or not exist.
- Antonym of 있다.
- Grammatically a descriptive verb.
- Used with subject particles.
Memory Palace
Visualize an empty shelf in your memory palace.
Native Usage
Use it to express lack of time or money.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the Korean focus on existence.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use -이/가 with 없다.
Related Content
عبارات مرتبط
واژههای بیشتر general
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
정도
A2An approximate amount or degree.
위에
A1on top of
절대적
B2Being unconditional, unlimited, or not relative to anything else. It describes something that is certain, total, or supreme without comparison.
절대로
A2Never, absolutely not.
우연적이다
B2To be accidental or coincidental; happening by chance.
우연히
B1By chance, accidentally, or unexpectedly. Often used in TOEFL listening narratives or history passages about accidental discoveries.
데리다
A1To take (a person); to pick up.
따라
A2Along, according to.