Explication à ton niveau :
You use 안되다 when something is not okay. If you want to do something but your teacher says no, they say '안 돼요!' It is very simple. Use it when you are sad or when something is broken.
At this level, you start using it for plans. If your friend asks 'Can we meet at 5?', you can say '5시는 안 돼요' (5 o'clock doesn't work). It is a polite way to say no to a schedule.
You can use it to express empathy. When someone tells you sad news, saying '정말 안됐네요' (That is really too bad) shows you understand their feelings. It is a very useful social tool for building rapport.
Use it for abstract concepts. You might say '그렇게 하면 안 돼요' (You shouldn't do it that way) to give advice or correct behavior. It carries more weight than just saying 'no'—it implies a violation of a standard.
In advanced contexts, 안되다 is used to describe systemic failure or societal issues. You might read in a newspaper that a policy '안 될 것 같다' (seems like it won't work). It is a subtle way to express skepticism about future outcomes.
At the mastery level, you recognize the nuance between 안 되다 (the phrase) and 안되다 (the verb). The former is a negation of the verb 되다, while the latter is a distinct lexical item meaning 'to be pitiable.' Mastering this distinction shows true fluency.
Mot en 30 secondes
- Means not to work or fail.
- Used for prohibition.
- Used to express pity.
- Very common in daily life.
Think of 안되다 as the ultimate 'no' word in Korean. It is a combination of 안 (not) and 되다 (to become/work). When you use it, you are basically saying that something isn't happening or isn't allowed to happen.
It is incredibly common because it covers so many scenarios. Whether your phone is broken, you aren't allowed to enter a room, or a plan just fell through, this word is your go-to. It is the linguistic equivalent of a red light.
The word 안되다 stems from the Middle Korean roots of 아니 (not) and 되다 (to become). Historically, 되다 was used to indicate a state of completion or success. By prefixing it with the negation 안, the language created a shorthand for 'failure to reach a state of completion.'
Over centuries, it evolved from purely describing physical processes into a social marker. It became the standard way to express social boundaries and moral disapproval, reflecting the high-context nature of Korean culture.
You will hear 안되다 everywhere. In casual speech, it is often used to express sympathy, like 'That is too bad' (안됐네요). In formal settings, it is used to decline requests or enforce rules.
It pairs well with nouns like 일 (work) or 공부 (study) to describe failure. Remember that the register changes based on conjugation: 안 돼요 is polite, while 안 돼 is casual.
1. 안되면 되게 하라: 'If it doesn't work, make it work' (A classic motivational phrase). 2. 안 될 말이다: 'That is out of the question' (Used to reject an absurd idea). 3. 안 된 일이다: 'It is a pity' (Expressing regret). 4. 잘되고 안 되고: 'Success and failure' (The ups and downs of life). 5. 안 될 리가 없다: 'There is no way it won't work' (Expressing confidence).
Grammatically, 안되다 is a verb. It is often used with the particle -면 (if) to form conditional sentences like 안 되면 (if it doesn't work). The pronunciation is straightforward, but watch the liaison between the 'n' sound and the 'd' sound.
IPA: [an-dwe-da]. It rhymes with words like 안개다 (to clear up) in terms of rhythm, though the meanings are vastly different. Stress usually falls on the first syllable.
Le savais-tu ?
It reflects the Korean value of 'process' over 'result'.
Guide de prononciation
Crisp 'an' followed by 'dwe'
Flat 'a' sound
Erreurs fréquentes
- Mispronouncing 'dwe'
- Adding extra vowels
- Wrong stress
Rime avec
Niveau de difficulté
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Prérequis
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Grammaire à connaître
Negation
안 먹어요
Conditional
하면
Politeness
요
Exemples par niveau
그거 안 돼요.
That does not work.
Polite ending.
지금은 안 돼요.
Now is not okay.
Time marker.
안 돼요!
No!
Simple command.
이거 안 돼요.
This is broken.
Subject marker.
안 될까요?
Is it not possible?
Question form.
안 되면 어떡하죠?
What if it fails?
Conditional.
안 된대요.
They say it is not allowed.
Reported speech.
정말 안 돼요.
It really does not work.
Adverb usage.
그 계획은 안 될 것 같아요.
여기서 담배 피우면 안 돼요.
사진 찍으면 안 돼요.
시간이 안 돼서 미안해요.
그건 안 되는 일이에요.
공부가 잘 안 돼요.
왜 안 돼요?
다 안 돼요.
그렇게 말하면 안 돼요.
성적이 잘 안 돼서 고민이에요.
일이 생각처럼 안 되네요.
그럼 안 될 이유가 없죠.
안 된 일이지만 어쩔 수 없어요.
그는 안 되는 사람이에요.
안 될 것 같으면 말해줘요.
모두가 안 된다고 했어요.
그건 도덕적으로 안 되는 행동이에요.
사업이 잘 안 돼서 문을 닫았어요.
안 될 거라는 생각은 버리세요.
그는 안 되는 일만 골라서 해요.
안 될 줄 알면서도 도전했어요.
그런 식으로 하면 안 될 텐데요.
안 되는 게 어디 있어요?
안 될 이유를 찾지 마세요.
그 정책은 시행해도 안 될 것이 자명하다.
안 되는 집안은 뭘 해도 안 된다.
그의 시도는 결국 안 되고 말았다.
안 될 것을 알면서도 희망을 품었다.
그런 안 되는 소리는 하지 마라.
안 되는 일에 매달리지 마세요.
사회적 합의가 안 되면 안 된다.
모든 것이 안 되는 상황이었다.
안된 사람을 보면 마음이 아프다.
그는 안된 처지에 놓여 있었다.
인생이 안 될 때는 잠시 쉬어가라.
안 될 리가 없다고 생각했다.
그들의 관계는 결국 안 되고 말았다.
안 되는 것은 과감히 포기해야 한다.
그는 참 안된 사람이다.
세상 일이 마음대로 안 되는 법이다.
Collocations courantes
Expressions idiomatiques
"말이 안 되다"
It makes no sense
그건 말이 안 돼요.
casual"안 되면 되게 하라"
Force it to work
안 되면 되게 하라!
motivational"안 된 일이다"
It is a pity
참 안 된 일이에요.
neutral"안 될 말"
Nonsense/Out of the question
그건 안 될 말이에요.
formal"잘되고 안 되고"
Success and failure
잘되고 안 되고는 운이다.
neutral"안 될 리가 없다"
It must work
안 될 리가 없잖아!
casualFacile à confondre
Both start with '안'
안하다 is 'not to do' (choice), 안되다 is 'cannot' (inability)
공부를 안해요 vs 공부가 안돼요
Both mean 'cannot'
못하다 is lack of ability, 안되다 is external failure
수영을 못해요 vs 수영이 안돼요
Both express negation
없다 is non-existence, 안되다 is non-functioning
시간이 없어요 vs 시간이 안돼요
Both used for pity
안쓰럽다 is the feeling of pity, 안되다 is the situation
안쓰러운 마음 vs 안된 상황
Structures de phrases
Subject + -가/이 + 안 되다
일이 안 돼요.
Verb + -면 + 안 되다
먹으면 안 돼요.
Subject + -가/이 + 안 될 것 같다
안 될 것 같아요.
안 될 이유가 없다
안 될 이유가 없어요.
안 된 사람
그는 안 된 사람이에요.
Famille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Adjectifs
Apparenté
Comment l'utiliser
10/10
Échelle de formalité
Astuces
Memory Palace
Imagine a broken robot saying '안 돼!'
Native Context
Use it when declining invitations.
Cultural Insight
It shows empathy for others.
Grammar Shortcut
It is always a verb.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'dwe' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse with '안하다'.
Did You Know?
It is one of the most used words.
Study Smart
Learn it with collocations.
Politeness
Always use '안 돼요' with strangers.
Social Norms
Use it to set boundaries.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
An (No) + Dwe (Do) = No Do!
Association visuelle
A broken lightbulb.
Word Web
Défi
Say '안 돼요' to five things today.
Origine du mot
Korean
Sens originel : Not to become
Contexte culturel
Can sound rude if used to dismiss someone.
Similar to 'doesn't work' or 'can't'.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
At work
- 그건 안 됩니다
- 일이 안 돼요
- 시간이 안 돼요
School
- 공부가 안 돼요
- 이해가 안 돼요
- 안 돼요!
Social
- 안 됐네요
- 안 될 것 같아요
- 안 될 리가 없죠
Travel
- 안 돼요?
- 여기는 안 돼요
- 안 되는 건가요?
Amorces de conversation
"오늘 일이 잘 안 되나요?"
"왜 안 된다고 생각하세요?"
"안 될 상황에서 어떻게 하세요?"
"안 되는 일을 포기한 적 있나요?"
"안 된 사람을 보면 어떤 마음인가요?"
Sujets d'écriture
Write about a time things didn't work out.
Describe a situation where you had to say no.
How do you handle failure?
What does '안되다' mean to you personally?
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsIt depends on the meaning; usually two when negating.
Yes, to express pity.
Depends on the tone.
안 됐어요.
No, use other verbs.
Often, yes.
Yes, for declining.
되다/가능하다.
Teste-toi
내일은 시간이 ___.
Time doesn't work.
Which means 'It is not allowed'?
Standard phrase for prohibition.
'안되다' can mean 'to be pitiable'.
Yes, in the context of '안된 사람'.
Word
Signification
Collocations.
Correct structure.
그 계획은 결국 ___.
Past tense failure.
What is the formal synonym for '안되다'?
Formal register.
You should use '안되다' in academic papers.
Use '불가능하다' instead.
Strong confidence.
그의 처지가 참 ___.
Pitiable state.
Score : /10
Summary
An essential verb for expressing failure, prohibition, and empathy in Korean.
- Means not to work or fail.
- Used for prohibition.
- Used to express pity.
- Very common in daily life.
Memory Palace
Imagine a broken robot saying '안 돼!'
Native Context
Use it when declining invitations.
Cultural Insight
It shows empathy for others.
Grammar Shortcut
It is always a verb.
Contenu associé
Plus de mots sur general
몇몇
A2An unspecified small number of; some or a few.
조금
A1A little/a bit
적게
A1A little / Few
약간
A2A little; slightly; somewhat.
많이
A1A lot/much
잠시
A2For a moment; briefly.
잠깐
A2For a short time; a moment.
아까
A2A little while ago, earlier.
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
