Advanced Negation: -지 아니하다 (The 'Long' No)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use -지 아니하다 for formal, written, or emphatic negation instead of the short -안- prefix.
- Attach -지 to the verb stem: 먹다 -> 먹지.
- Follow with 아니하다: 먹지 아니하다.
- Use this in formal writing or when you want to sound more serious.
Overview
Korean language learners are first introduced to negation through the simple adverb 안. While 안 effectively conveys "not" in many contexts, particularly in informal spoken Korean, an advanced understanding of the language requires proficiency in -지 아니하다. This construction, predominantly used in its contracted form -지 않다, represents the "long negation." It offers a more formal, objective, and often nuanced way to negate verbs and adjectives than 안.
The choice between 안 and -지 않다 is not merely stylistic; it reflects the speaker's intent regarding formality, objectivity, and the specific communicative context. Mastering -지 않다 is a hallmark of B2-level proficiency, enabling you to express complex ideas with precision and appropriate register across a wide array of formal, written, and even polite conversational situations. Understanding the linguistic underpinnings of this pattern allows for more sophisticated and natural Korean communication.
How This Grammar Works
-지 아니하다 (or -지 않다) functions as a negative auxiliary construction. The main verb or adjective stem connects to the auxiliary verb 아니하다 (to not do/be) via the connective ending -지. Importantly, only the auxiliary verb 않다 undergoes conjugation for tense, politeness, and mood.-지. This structural separation is a key differentiator from the short negation 안, which directly precedes and modifies the main verb or adjective.먹다 (to eat) becomes 안 먹다 (does not eat) with short negation, but 먹지 않다 (does not eat) with long negation. The particle -지 in this pattern effectively nominalizes the preceding action or state, linking it to the negation carried by 않다. Conceptually, 먹지 않다 can be thought of as "to not perform the act of eating." This provides a subtle semantic shift: 안 가다 (does not go) often implies a direct, sometimes spontaneous refusal, whereas 가지 않다 (does not go) suggests a more considered choice or an objective statement of non-action.않다.하다 (to do) to a noun or a Sino-Korean root, such as 공부하다 (to study) or 운동하다 (to exercise). While 안 공부하다 or 안 운동하다 are sometimes heard, they can sound less cohesive or even slightly awkward, as if 안 is only negating the 하다 part.공부하지 않다 ("to not do studying") or 운동하지 않다 ("to not do exercising") seamlessly negates the entire compound concept. The auxiliary nature of 않다 further facilitates its integration into complex sentence structures, where the main verb needs to maintain a consistent form while the negation is handled by a flexible, conjugatable element. This contributes significantly to its prevalence in formal and sophisticated Korean expression.Formation Pattern
-지 아니하다 or -지 않다 is highly regular and applicable to all action verbs (동사) and descriptive verbs (형용사). The method involves three distinct steps: identifying the verb/adjective stem, attaching the connective -지, and then conjugating the negative auxiliary 않다 (or 아니하다 for extremely formal/archaic contexts). The crucial rule is that only 않다 conjugates; the main verb or adjective always retains its stem + -지 form.
-다.
가다 (to go) → 가-
먹다 (to eat) → 먹-
예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘-
춥다 (to be cold) → 춥- (Note: ㅂ irregular verbs do not change before 지.)
-지: Append -지 directly to the stem. There are no stem-ending variations.
가- → 가지
먹- → 먹지
예쁘- → 예쁘지
춥- → 춥지
않다 (or 아니하다): Attach 않다 after -지 and conjugate it for tense, politeness, and mood.
않다 (Long Negation)
않다 | Example (하다 → 하지) | Romanization | Translation (for 하지 않다) |
아니하다: While -지 아니하다 is the historical and full form, its contracted version, -지 않다, is almost exclusively used in contemporary spoken and written Korean, including formal contexts. You will rarely encounter 아니하다 outside of classical literature, legal texts, or very specific, solemn pronouncements. For all practical purposes, employ -지 않다.
When To Use It
-지 않다 over 안 demonstrates a higher level of linguistic sophistication, often conveying greater formality, objectivity, or a nuanced intention.-지 않다. In professional emails, academic papers, official reports, news articles, and formal presentations, -지 않다 provides an objective and refined tone. Using 안 in such scenarios can appear overly casual or unprofessional.해당 문제는 아직 해결되지 않았습니다.(The relevant issue has not yet been resolved.) – This formal statement conveys a measured report, suitable for business contexts.본 연구는 다음 단계를 진행하지 않을 예정입니다.(This research will not proceed to the next stage.) – A clear, objective declaration often found in academic or research summaries.
하다 Verbs):-지 않다 is generally preferred with verbs formed by attaching 하다 to a noun or Sino-Korean root (e.g., 공부하다 "to study," 운동하다 "to exercise," 생각하다 "to think"). The short negation 안 can sound less natural or even awkward when placed before these verbs.저는 운동하지 않아요.(I don't exercise.) – This is the most natural and common expression.그는 생각하지 않고 행동했어요.(He acted without thinking.) – Seamlessly negates the entire compound action.
-지 않다 adds a subtle layer of deliberation and gravity.그것은 사실이 아닙니다.(That is not true.) – The formal-지 않다variant for이다emphasizes the objective untruth.이 책은 제 취향에 맞지 않습니다.(This book doesn't suit my taste.) – Expresses a reasoned judgment rather than a mere emotional reaction.
-지 않다 is frequently used in negative questions, often seeking confirmation of a negative state or forming rhetorical questions. This usage is common in polite inquiries.아직 식사하지 않으셨어요?(Haven't you eaten yet?) – A polite way to check.이해가 되지 않습니까?(Don't you understand?) – A formal check for comprehension.
-지 않다 integrates more elegantly into complex sentences that require verbs or adjectives in specific connective forms (e.g., -는데, -아서/어서) or adnominal clauses (-(으)ㄴ/는 것). The stable -지 part preceding conjugatable 않다 provides clear grammatical parsing.그는 약속을 지키지 않아서 실망했어요.(He didn't keep his promise, so I was disappointed.) –지키지 않아서flows naturally.나는 규칙을 지키지 않는 사람을 싫어한다.(I dislike people who don't follow rules.) –지키지 않는functions effectively as an adnominal modifier.
-지 않다 in these situations, you enhance the precision, politeness, and overall sophistication of your Korean communication, reflecting a higher level of linguistic and cultural awareness.Common Mistakes
-지 않다. Recognizing and rectifying these common errors is vital for accurate and natural expression.-지, must remain unconjugated for tense, politeness, or any other inflection. All such grammatical modifications are handled exclusively by the auxiliary 않다.- Incorrect:
*어제 영화를 갔지 않았어요.(The past tense marker-았-is incorrectly applied to the stem가-.) - Correct:
어제 영화를 가지 않았어요.(I didn't go to the movie yesterday.)
- Incorrect:
*저는 다음 주에 오겠지 않아요. - Correct:
저는 다음 주에 오지 않겠어요.(I won't come next week.)
-지 않다 is a declarative negation (statingConjugation of 아니하다
| Tense | Formal Polite (-ㅂ니다) | Formal Plain (-다) |
|---|---|---|
|
Present
|
가지 아니합니다
|
가지 아니한다
|
|
Past
|
가지 아니했습니다
|
가지 아니하였다
|
|
Future
|
가지 아니할 것입니다
|
가지 아니할 것이다
|
Common Contractions
| Long Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
|
가지 아니하다
|
가지 않다
|
|
먹지 아니하다
|
먹지 않다
|
Meanings
This is the formal, long-form negation used to negate verbs and adjectives. It is preferred in written documents, formal speeches, and literary contexts.
Formal Negation
Standard negation for verbs/adjectives in formal settings.
“그는 오지 아니하였다.”
“상황이 좋지 아니하다.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Present
|
Verb-지 아니하다
|
가지 아니하다
|
|
Past
|
Verb-지 아니하였다
|
가지 아니하였다
|
|
Future
|
Verb-지 아니할 것이다
|
가지 아니할 것이다
|
|
Negative Question
|
Verb-지 아니합니까?
|
가지 아니합니까?
|
|
Polite
|
Verb-지 아니해요
|
가지 아니해요
|
|
Plain
|
Verb-지 아니한다
|
가지 아니한다
|
Formality Spectrum
가지 아니합니다. (Formal speech)
가지 않아요. (Formal speech)
안 가. (Formal speech)
안 가. (Formal speech)
Negation Map
Short
- 안 not
Long
- 지 아니하다 do not
Examples by Level
저는 가지 아니합니다.
I do not go.
그것은 좋지 아니합니다.
That is not good.
그는 오늘 오지 아니할 것입니다.
He will not come today.
결과가 만족스럽지 아니하여 다시 검토했습니다.
The result was not satisfactory, so I reviewed it again.
그 사실을 알지 아니할 수 없었다.
I could not help but know that fact.
본 사안은 결코 가볍게 여기지 아니해야 한다.
This matter must by no means be taken lightly.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up short and long negation.
Both are long forms, but one is contracted.
Both negate, but '못하다' implies inability.
Common Mistakes
안 가다
가지 아니하다
가지아니하다
가지 아니하다
먹지 않다
먹지 아니하다
가다 아니하다
가지 아니하다
예쁘지 아니해
예쁘지 아니하다
가지 아니했어
가지 아니하였다
안 예쁘지 아니하다
예쁘지 아니하다
가지 아니할 것이다
가지 아니할 것이다
오지 아니함
오지 아니하다
좋지 아니한
좋지 아니하다
가지 아니하려 한다
가지 아니하려 한다
가지 아니했음
가지 아니하였다
알지 아니할 수 없었다
알지 아니할 수 없었다
가지 아니함이 좋다
가지 아니하는 것이 좋다
Sentence Patterns
저는 ___지 아니합니다.
그것은 ___지 아니할 것입니다.
그 사실을 알지 아니할 수 ___.
___지 아니하여 문제가 발생했습니다.
Real World Usage
본 연구는 결과를 포함하지 아니한다.
계약을 이행하지 아니할 경우...
참석하지 아니함을 알려드립니다.
정부는 이를 인정하지 아니하였다.
우리는 포기하지 아니할 것입니다.
저는 그 제안을 수락하지 아니하였습니다.
Use for Emphasis
Avoid in Texting
Master the Contraction
Professionalism
Smart Tips
Use -지 아니하다 instead of -지 않다 for a more professional tone.
Use the formal polite ending -지 아니합니다.
Recognize that -지 아니하다 is the standard for 'do not'.
Use the full form to show respect.
Pronunciation
Linking
The '지' and '아' often link smoothly.
Formal Statement
↘
Falling intonation for statements.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of '아니하다' as 'not doing'. If you are 'not doing' something, you are '지 아니하다'.
Visual Association
Imagine a formal judge in a courtroom holding a sign that says '아니하다' (Not doing).
Rhyme
Formal and long, -지 아니하다 is where you belong.
Story
A student wrote a formal letter. He used '안' but it looked too casual. He changed it to '지 아니하다'. His teacher praised his professional tone.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about your daily routine using -지 아니하다.
Cultural Notes
Used in all thesis papers.
Used in official company policies.
Used in laws and contracts.
Derived from the nominalizer -지 and the verb 아니하다 (not to do).
Conversation Starters
그 일을 왜 하지 아니하였습니까?
그것이 좋지 아니하다고 생각합니까?
왜 그곳에 가지 아니할 것입니까?
그 사실을 알지 아니할 수 없었습니까?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
저는 그곳에 가지 ___합니다.
Which is the most formal?
Find and fix the mistake:
저는 먹지아니합니다.
안 먹어요.
-지 아니하다 is used in casual speech.
A: 왜 안 왔어요? B: ___.
저는 / 가지 / 아니합니다.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises저는 그곳에 가지 ___합니다.
Which is the most formal?
Find and fix the mistake:
저는 먹지아니합니다.
안 먹어요.
-지 아니하다 is used in casual speech.
A: 왜 안 왔어요? B: ___.
저는 / 가지 / 아니합니다.
Match formal to informal.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercises저는 텔레비전을 ___.
커피를 / 저는 / 않아요 / 마시지
Question: Do you smoke?
내일은 학교에 가지 않았어요.
Match correctly.
이 옷은 별로 ___.
Select the correct Korean translation.
Select the best context.
안 가지 않아요.
그거 ___.
덥지 / 않아요 / 날씨가
Talking about your grandfather:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Yes, it is very versatile.
Yes, but -지 않다 is a contraction.
In casual conversation with friends.
Yes, it is standard for formal writing.
No, it just changes the register.
Yes, -지 아니하였다.
Yes, very common.
Because it is a phrase, not a single word.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
No + verb
Korean is suffix-based, Spanish is prefix-based.
ne...pas
French surrounds the verb, Korean follows it.
nicht
German is adverbial, Korean is verbal.
nai
Japanese is a single word, Korean is a phrase.
la
Arabic is particle-based.
bu
Chinese is prefix-based.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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