Short Negation with 안 (Don't/Not)
안 before a verb to make it negative, but remember to sandwich it inside 하다 action verbs.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To make a sentence negative, simply place '안' directly before the verb or adjective.
- Place '안' before the verb: 안 먹어요 (I don't eat).
- Place '안' before the adjective: 안 예뻐요 (It is not pretty).
- For 'noun + 하다' verbs, place '안' before '하다': 공부 안 해요 (I don't study).
Overview
Korean negation allows you to express what is not, what you don't do, or what isn't true. Among the various negation strategies, the short negation using 안 (an) is the most common and versatile, especially in spoken and informal written Korean. It functions as an adverb, placed directly before a verb or adjective to form a simple negative statement.
Mastery of 안 provides a foundational understanding of how to construct negative sentences, establishing a crucial building block for more complex grammatical structures.
Unlike English, which uses auxiliary verbs like "do not" or "does not" that inflect for tense and subject, Korean 안 remains invariant. This consistency simplifies its application significantly for learners. It expresses a general state of "not doing" or "not being," often implying a choice or a simple factual negation.
This pattern exists due to Korean's agglutinative nature, where 안 acts as a pre-verbal adverbial modifier, directly impacting the predicate's meaning.
안 is indispensable for daily communication, from simple refusals to stating non-existent conditions. Its widespread use reflects a cultural preference for conciseness in everyday speech when formality is not the primary concern. Understanding this core negation strategy is your first step towards fluent communication in Korean.
How This Grammar Works
안 short negation operates by directly modifying the predicate of a sentence, whether it is an action verb (동사, dong-sa) or a descriptive verb (adjective) (형용사, hyeong-yong-sa). Its placement is crucial: 안 must precede the verb or adjective it negates. This positions it as an adverbial negator, similar to "not" in "not happy" or "not go" in English.가다 (ga-da, to go). After conjugating it to your desired politeness level and tense (e.g., 가요 (ga-yo) for present informal polite, 갑니다 (gam-ni-da) for present formal polite), you place 안 immediately before it.안 가요 or 안 갑니다, directly negates the action of going.크다 (keu-da, to be big), to say "It's not big," you would use 안 커요 (an keo-yo) or 안 큽니다 (an keum-ni-da). The 안 acts as a direct modifier, rendering the predicate negative. 안 can negate actions in various tenses, such as 안 가요 ("I don't go," present), 안 갔어요 (an gat-sseo-yo, "I didn't go," past), and 안 갈 거예요 (an gal geo-ye-yo, "I won't go," future).안 a powerful and frequently used grammatical tool, applicable to almost any verb or adjective, with specific, critical exceptions discussed later.Word Order Rules
안 negation is its placement. As an adverb, 안 typically precedes the word it modifies. In Korean short negation, this means 안 is placed immediately before the verb or adjective it is negating.안 directly before the conjugated form:- Original:
저는 학교에 가요.(Jeo-neun hak-gyo-e ga-yo. – I go to school.) - Negated:
저는 학교에 안 가요.(Jeo-neun hak-gyo-e an ga-yo. – I don't go to school.) - Original:
이 옷이 비싸요.(I o-si bi-ssa-yo. – This clothing is expensive.) - Negated:
이 옷이 안 비싸요.(I o-si an bi-ssa-yo. – This clothing is not expensive.)
Noun + 하다 action verbs. Many Korean verbs are formed by combining a noun (명사, myeong-sa) with the verb 하다 (ha-da, to do). Examples include 공부하다 (gong-bu-ha-da, to study – 공부 (gong-bu, study) + 하다), 운동하다 (un-dong-ha-da, to exercise – 운동 (un-dong, exercise) + 하다), and 요리하다 (yo-ri-ha-da, to cook – 요리 (yo-ri, cooking) + 하다).안, you must separate the noun from 하다 and insert 안 in between:- Incorrect:
저는 안 공부해요.(Jeo-neun an gong-bu-hae-yo.) - Correct:
저는 공부 안 해요.(Jeo-neun gong-bu an hae-yo. – I don't study.)
안 negates the action of "doing" (하다), not the noun itself. You are not "not-study" (안 공부), but rather "study not do" (공부 안 해요). This structural difference emphasizes 안's function as an adverb modifying 하다 directly.하다 verbs that are primarily descriptive verbs (adjectives), such as 피곤하다 (pi-gon-ha-da, to be tired) or 행복하다 (haeng-bok-ha-da, to be happy), this rule changes. You do not split them; 안 goes directly before the entire adjective. For instance, 안 피곤해요 (an pi-gon-hae-yo, "I'm not tired") is correct, while 피곤 안 해요 would be grammatically incorrect for this meaning.Noun + 하다 action verbs and 하다 descriptive verbs is a common point of confusion for learners and highlights the nuanced adverbial nature of 안 in Korean grammar.Formation Pattern
안 follows a clear pattern, but it requires careful attention to the type of verb or adjective being negated. The core rule involves placing 안 directly before the conjugated verb or adjective. Remember that Korean verbs and adjectives must always be conjugated for politeness level (e.g., informal polite -아요/-어요 or formal polite -ㅂ니다/-습니다) and tense before 안 is added.
가다 → 가요/갑니다; 크다 → 커요/큽니다).
안 immediately before the conjugated form.
해체, hae-che) and formal polite (합니다체, ham-ni-da-che) forms:
안 Negation (해체) | 안 Negation (합니다체) | Meaning |
먹다 (meok-da, to eat) | 먹어요 | 먹습니다 | 안 먹어요 | 안 먹습니다 | I don't eat. |
가다 (ga-da, to go) | 가요 | 갑니다 | 안 가요 | 안 갑니다 | I don't go. |
좋다 (joh-da, to be good) | 좋아요 | 좋습니다 | 안 좋아요 | 안 좋습니다 | It's not good. |
춥다 (chup-da, to be cold) | 추워요 | 춥습니다 | 안 추워요 | 안 춥습니다 | It's not cold. |
Noun + 하다 Action Verbs
Noun + 하다, where 하다 acts as a light verb meaning "to do" an action related to the noun, require 안 to be placed between the noun and 하다.
하다 | Informal Polite (해체) | Formal Polite (합니다체) | 안 Negation (해체) | 안 Negation (합니다체) | Meaning |
공부하다 (gong-bu-ha-da, to study) | 공부 | 하다 | 공부해요 | 공부합니다 | 공부 안 해요 | 공부 안 합니다 | I don't study. |
운동하다 (un-dong-ha-da, to exercise) | 운동 | 하다 | 운동해요 | 운동합니다 | 운동 안 해요 | 운동 안 합니다 | I don't exercise. |
요리하다 (yo-ri-ha-da, to cook) | 요리 | 하다 | 요리해요 | 요리합니다 | 요리 안 해요 | 요리 안 합니다 | I don't cook. |
하다 Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives):
하다 verb is purely descriptive, indicating a state rather than an action, it behaves like a regular adjective. 안 is placed directly before the entire word, without splitting.
피곤하다 (pi-gon-ha-da, to be tired) → 안 피곤해요/안 피곤합니다 (I'm not tired.)
행복하다 (haeng-bok-ha-da, to be happy) → 안 행복해요/안 행복합니다 (I'm not happy.)
하다 means "to do" an action (in which case it's split) or if it's an integral part of a descriptive state (in which case it's not split). Often, if the noun component can be acted upon as an object, it's an action verb. If it describes a quality, it's a descriptive verb.
When To Use It
안 is characterized by its directness and conciseness, making it highly prevalent in everyday Korean. Its usage is appropriate across a broad spectrum of communicative situations, from casual conversations to moderately formal interactions, reflecting its pragmatic utility in expressing simple negation.- Casual and Everyday Conversation:
안is the primary negation for quick replies and informal discussions with friends, family, or colleagues. Its brevity makes it efficient for spontaneous speech. When asked if you ate lunch, a simple아니요, 안 먹었어요.(A-ni-yo, an meok-eot-sseo-yo. – No, I didn't eat.) is perfectly natural. - Informal Written Communication: Text messages, social media posts, chat applications, and personal emails frequently employ
안. It mirrors the fluidity and speed of spoken language, allowing for clear and quick communication without excessive formality. For instance,오늘 안 바빠?(O-neul an ba-ppa? – Aren't you busy today?) is common in texts. - Stating a Simple Fact or Non-Occurrence: When you simply want to state that something is not happening or a condition does not exist,
안is ideal. It conveys a neutral, objective negation without emphasizing the speaker's will or inability (unlike못). For example,비가 안 와요.(Bi-ga an wa-yo. – It's not raining.) is a simple factual statement. - Expressing Choice or Willingness:
안often indicates that the speaker chooses not to do something. It implies a voluntary decision or a habitual non-action.저는 술 안 마셔요.(Jeo-neun sul an ma-syeo-yo. – I don't drink alcohol.) implies a choice or habit, not an inability.
안 generally carries a slightly more informal or direct tone compared to the long negation -지 않다. In very formal or public settings, such as news broadcasts or academic presentations, -지 않다 is typically preferred for its more polished and deliberate feel. However, for the vast majority of daily interactions, 안 is not only acceptable but expected.Common Mistakes
안 negation. Avoiding these common errors is key to speaking Korean naturally and accurately, reflecting a deeper understanding of Korean linguistic structure.- Incorrect Placement with
Noun + 하다Action Verbs: This is the most common and persistent error. Learners often forget to splitNoun + 하다action verbs, placing안directly before the compound verb instead of between the noun and하다. - Incorrect:
저는 안 공부해요.(Jeo-neun an gong-bu-hae-yo.) - Correct:
저는 공부 안 해요.(Jeo-neun gong-bu an hae-yo. – I don't study.) - Why it's wrong:
안must negate the하다(to do) part of the action. The noun part (공부,운동,요리) is the object or concept of the action, not what is directly negated. Placing안before the noun makes it sound like you are negating the noun itself, which is not how this structure works.
- Incorrectly Negating
있다(it-da, to exist/have): You cannot use안to negate있다. The inherent negative form of있다is없다(eop-da, to not exist/not have). - Incorrect:
돈이 안 있어요.(Don-i an it-sseo-yo.) - Correct:
돈이 없어요.(Don-i eop-sseo-yo. – I don't have money.) - Why it's wrong:
있다and없다are lexical antonyms. They represent fundamental opposing concepts in Korean, expressing existence and non-existence as distinct words, rather than through direct negation of a single root. This is a common feature in many languages where certain concepts have inherent opposites.
- Incorrectly Negating
알다(al-da, to know): Similar to있다, you cannot use안to negate알다. The specific negative counterpart for알다is모르다(mo-reu-da, to not know). - Incorrect:
저는 한국어를 안 알아요.(Jeo-neun han-gu-geo-reul an a-ra-yo.) - Correct:
저는 한국어를 몰라요.(Jeo-neun han-gu-geo-reul mol-la-yo. – I don't know Korean.) - Why it's wrong:
알다and모르다function as a pair of direct opposites. Using안with알다is grammatically unnatural and conceptually redundant in Korean, much like how one wouldn't say "not dead" instead of "alive" in some contexts.
- Splitting Descriptive
하다Verbs (Adjectives): WhileNoun + 하다action verbs are split,하다adjectives (descriptive verbs) should not be split. - Incorrect:
날씨가 피곤 안 해요.(Nal-ssi-ga pi-gon an hae-yo.) - Correct:
날씨가 안 피곤해요.(Nal-ssi-ga an pi-gon-hae-yo. – The weather is not tiring.) - Why it's wrong: In descriptive verbs like
피곤하다,피곤is not an object being acted upon by하다;피곤하다functions as a single descriptive unit meaning "to be in a tired state."안modifies this entire descriptive state, so it must precede the whole compound.
- Confusing
안with못(mot, cannot/unable): Learners often conflate안(not by choice/fact) with못(mot, cannot/unable). These have distinct meanings and using them interchangeably conveys an incorrect nuance regarding volition or capability. 안 가요.(An ga-yo. – I don't go. It's my choice or a factual non-occurrence.)못 가요.(Mot ga-yo. – I can't go. Something prevents me from going, or I lack the ability.)- Why it's wrong:
안expresses simple negation or voluntary non-action, while못expresses inability or external impossibility. Mastering this distinction is crucial for expressing precise meaning.
안 negation.Contrast With Similar Patterns
안 from its counterparts is essential for accurate and nuanced communication. The primary patterns often confused with 안 are the long negation -지 않다 and the inability negation 못. Each carries a slightly different nuance or level of formality.- 1
안vs.-지 않다(Long Negation):
-지 않다 (ji anh-da) is functionally similar to 안 in that both negate verbs and adjectives. However, they differ in formality, emphasis, and structural application.- Formality:
-지 않다is generally perceived as more formal and literary than안. In highly formal settings (e.g., news broadcasts, academic presentations, respectful conversations with elders or superiors),-지 않다(or its even more formal-지 아니하다) is preferred.안is suitable for casual to semi-formal contexts, which covers most daily interactions. 저는 커피를 안 마셔요.(Jeo-neun keo-pi-reul an ma-syeo-yo. – I don't drink coffee.) - Casual/Standard저는 커피를 마시지 않아요.(Jeo-neun keo-pi-reul ma-si-ji a-na-yo. – I don't drink coffee.) - More formal/Neutral
- Emphasis: While both convey simple negation,
-지 않다can sometimes convey a slightly stronger or more deliberate negation, emphasizing the non-occurrence of an action or state.안often feels more like a casual statement of fact or choice, a direct and brief way to negate. 이것은 안 좋아요.(I-geot-seun an joh-a-yo. – This isn't good.) - Simple statement, perhaps a mild opinion.이것은 좋지 않아요.(I-geot-seun joh-chi a-na-yo. – This is not good.) - Can imply a stronger, more reasoned judgment or a definitive lack of goodness.
- Length and Placement:
안is a prefix (short negation), directly before the predicate.-지 않다is a suffix (long negation), attaching-지to the verb/adjective stem, followed by the negative auxiliary verb않다(which then conjugates for tense/politeness). This structural difference makes-지 않다physically longer.
Noun + 하다Verbs: With-지 않다,Noun + 하다verbs are not split. The-지 않다attaches to the하다part directly, maintaining the compound. This is a key distinguishing factor to remember.저는 공부 안 해요.(Short negation –안splits공부하다)저는 공부하지 않아요.(Long negation –공부하다remains together)
- 1
안vs.못(Inability Negation):
안 signifies non-volitional negation (you don't do it by choice, or it simply doesn't happen as a fact) or non-occurrence. 못 (mot) signifies inability or circumstantial impossibility (you can't do it, either because you lack the skill/ability, or external circumstances prevent it).저는 매운 음식을 안 먹어요.(Jeo-neun mae-un eum-si-geul an meok-eo-yo. – I don't eat spicy food.) - This implies a choice or preference; I choose not to eat it.저는 매운 음식을 못 먹어요.(Jeo-neun mae-un eum-si-geul mot meok-eo-yo. – I can't eat spicy food.) - This implies an inability, perhaps due to a medical condition, or it's too spicy for my tolerance.
오늘은 학교에 안 가요.(O-neul-eun hak-gyo-e an ga-yo. – I'm not going to school today.) - This is my decision not to go.오늘은 학교에 못 가요.(O-neul-eun hak-gyo-e mot ga-yo. – I can't go to school today.) - This means something prevents me, like being sick or having an emergency.
못 also follows similar word order rules to 안, typically preceding the verb. For Noun + 하다 action verbs, 못 also splits the verb (e.g., 공부 못 해요). However, 못 is generally not used with 하다 adjectives (e.g., 피곤 못 해요 is incorrect; you would use 안 피곤해요).- 1
안vs.말다(Prohibition):
안 can express a choice not to do something, 말다 (mal-da) is specifically used for prohibitions or commands not to do something. It typically appears with imperative endings like -지 마세요 (-ji ma-se-yo, please don't) or -지 마라 (-ji ma-ra, don't, informal).저는 술을 안 마셔요.(Jeo-neun sul-eul an ma-syeo-yo. – I don't drink alcohol.) - A statement of fact or personal choice.술을 마시지 마세요.(Sul-eul ma-si-ji ma-se-yo. – Please don't drink alcohol.) - A command or request not to.
안, -지 않다, and 못 often reveals the speaker's intent, capability, or the context's formality, making clear communication possible.Real Conversations
Observing 안 in natural conversation reveals its versatility and prevalence. These examples demonstrate its use in various contexts and politeness levels, showcasing how native speakers integrate it into their daily exchanges, often reflecting spontaneity and directness.
Scenario 1
- A: 더 드실래요? (Deo deu-sil-lae-yo? – Would you like more?) Informal polite
- B: 아니요, 배불러서 안 먹어요. (A-ni-yo, bae-bul-leo-seo an meok-eo-yo. – No, I'm full, so I won't eat.) Simple refusal based on state, a common, concise response.
Scenario 2
- A: 이번 주말에 시간 있어요? (I-beon ju-mar-e si-gan it-sseo-yo? – Do you have time this weekend?) Informal polite
- B: 음... 주말에는 안 돼요. (Eum... ju-mar-e-neun an dwae-yo. – Hmm... the weekend won't work (or isn't possible).) *안 되다 is a very common fixed expression for "not possible" or "not work."
- A: 그럼 오늘 저녁은요? (Geu-reom o-neul jeo-nyeok-eun-yo? – Then how about tonight?)
- B: 오늘 저녁은 약속이 있어서 안 될 것 같아요. (O-neul jeo-nyeok-eun yak-sok-i it-sseo-seo an doel geot gat-a-yo. – I have plans tonight, so it looks like it won't work.)
Scenario 3
- A: 이 코트 어때요? 예쁘죠? (I ko-teu eo-ttae-yo? Ye-ppeu-jyo? – How about this coat? It's pretty, right?) Informal polite
- B: 글쎄요, 제 스타일은 안 같아요. (Geul-sse-yo, je seu-ta-il-eun an gat-a-yo. – Well, I don't think it's my style.) 안 같다 is used for "not seem/look like" in a direct manner.
- A: 색깔이 안 마음에 들어요? (Saek-kkal-i an ma-eum-e deul-eo-yo? – You don't like the color?) 마음에 들다 means "to like" or "to be pleasing to one's heart" which is negated by 안 directly preceding it.
Scenario 4
- A: 밖에 날씨 좋아요? (Bak-ke nal-ssi joh-a-yo? – Is the weather good outside?)
- B: 아니요, 안 좋아요. 바람이 많이 불어요. (A-ni-yo, an joh-a-yo. Ba-ram-i man-i bul-eo-yo. – No, it's not good. It's very windy.) A straightforward factual negation of a descriptive state.
Scenario 5
Noun + 하다 verb negation (Daily routine)- A: 요즘도 매일 운동해요? (Yo-jeum-do mae-il un-dong-hae-yo? – Do you still exercise every day these days?)
- B: 아니요, 요즘은 바빠서 운동 안 해요. (A-ni-yo, yo-jeum-eun ba-ppa-seo un-dong an hae-yo. – No, I'm busy these days, so I don't exercise.) Correct splitting of the Noun + 하다 verb, common in daily conversation.
These dialogues illustrate how 안 is seamlessly integrated into daily speech to convey simple negations, refusals, or factual statements. The speaker's intent and context often guide the precise nuance of 안, whether it implies a choice or a simple non-occurrence, making it a cornerstone of conversational Korean.
Quick FAQ
안 negation, aiming to clarify specific points and reinforce your understanding of this essential grammatical pattern.- Q: Is
안always interchangeable with-지 않다? - A: No, not entirely. While they are often similar in meaning for simple negations,
-지 않다generally carries a slightly more formal or neutral tone, making it preferable in highly formal contexts.안is shorter, more direct, and widely used in everyday conversation. Crucially, forNoun + 하다action verbs,안splits them (공부 안 해요), while-지 않다keeps them together (공부하지 않아요). Your choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific verb structure you are negating.
- Q: Does
안change its form based on the subject (e.g., singular/plural, person)? - A: No,
안is an invariant adverb. It does not inflect for person, number, or gender of the subject. Whether the subject is나(na, I),우리(u-ri, we),그(geu, he), or그들(geu-deul, they),안remains안. The conjugation for politeness and tense is handled by the main verb or adjective itself, not by안.
- Q: Can I use
안with verbs that already have a negative connotation or opposite meaning, like있다or알다? - A: Generally, no. As noted in the "Common Mistakes" section,
안is not used with있다(to exist/have) – you must use없다(eop-da, to not exist/not have). Similarly, for알다(to know), you must use모르다(mo-reu-da, to not know). These verbs have their own inherent, distinct negative counterparts that are fundamental to Korean vocabulary. Attempting to use안with them sounds unnatural or grammatically incorrect, as Korean prefers these antonym pairs for these specific concepts.
- Q: What about negating questions? Can I ask
안 가요?? - A: Yes, absolutely.
안is commonly used to form negative questions in Korean.안 가요?(An ga-yo? – Aren't you going?/Don't you go?) is a perfectly natural way to ask a negative question, often used to confirm something or express mild surprise. It follows the same placement rule, with안directly before the verb/adjective, combined with question intonation or a question ending.
- Q: Is
안ever used with nouns? - A: Rarely, and only in very specific, fixed expressions or compounds, not as a general negation particle for nouns. For direct noun negation ("not a student"), you would use
아니다(a-ni-da, to not be) with the noun, typically in the formNoun이/가 아니다. For example,학생이 아니에요.(Hak-saeng-i a-ni-e-yo. – I am not a student.)안functions as a pre-verbal/adjectival adverb, not a noun modifier in a simple declarative sense. It fundamentally negates actions or states, not entities.
Negation Formation
| Type | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
|
Verb
|
먹다 (eat)
|
안 먹다 (not eat)
|
|
Adjective
|
예쁘다 (pretty)
|
안 예쁘다 (not pretty)
|
|
Noun+하다
|
공부하다 (study)
|
공부 안 하다 (not study)
|
Meanings
The adverb '안' is used to negate the action or state expressed by the following verb or adjective.
General Negation
Negating a simple action or state.
“안 가요 (I'm not going)”
“안 좋아요 (It's not good)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Simple Verb
|
안 + Verb
|
안 가요
|
|
Simple Adj
|
안 + Adj
|
안 커요
|
|
Noun+하다
|
Noun + 안 + 하다
|
운동 안 해요
|
|
Past Tense
|
안 + Past Verb
|
안 먹었어요
|
|
Future Tense
|
안 + Future Verb
|
안 갈 거예요
|
|
Question
|
안 + Verb + -나요?
|
안 가나요?
|
|
Polite
|
안 + Verb + -요
|
안 해요
|
|
Informal
|
안 + Verb + -어
|
안 해
|
Formality Spectrum
저는 먹지 않습니다. (General)
안 먹어요. (General)
안 먹어. (General)
안 먹어! (General)
The '안' Negation Map
Verbs
- 안 먹어요 I don't eat
Adjectives
- 안 예뻐요 It's not pretty
Noun+하다
- 공부 안 해요 I don't study
Examples by Level
저는 안 먹어요.
I don't eat.
안 예뻐요.
It's not pretty.
안 가요.
I'm not going.
공부 안 해요.
I don't study.
오늘 학교에 안 가요.
I'm not going to school today.
이 음식은 안 매워요.
This food is not spicy.
저는 운동 안 해요.
I don't exercise.
그 영화 안 봤어요.
I didn't watch that movie.
바빠서 전화를 안 받았어요.
I didn't answer the phone because I was busy.
그 사람은 약속을 안 지켜요.
That person doesn't keep their promises.
날씨가 안 좋아서 집에 있어요.
The weather is not good, so I'm staying home.
저는 커피를 안 마셔요.
I don't drink coffee.
그 제안은 별로 안 매력적이에요.
That proposal is not very attractive.
준비가 안 됐으면 나중에 해요.
If you're not ready, let's do it later.
생각보다 안 어려워요.
It's not as difficult as I thought.
그는 실수를 안 하려고 노력해요.
He tries not to make mistakes.
그의 태도는 전혀 안 진지해요.
His attitude is not serious at all.
상황이 안 좋게 돌아가고 있어요.
The situation is not turning out well.
그녀는 안 가겠다고 고집을 부려요.
She insists that she won't go.
결과가 안 좋더라도 실망하지 마세요.
Even if the result is not good, don't be disappointed.
그는 안 가느니만 못한 선택을 했다.
He made a choice that was worse than not going.
안 하느니만 못한 소리 하지 마세요.
Don't say things that are better left unsaid.
그의 안색이 안 좋아 보여요.
His complexion doesn't look good.
안타깝게도 계획대로 안 됐어요.
Unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan.
Easily Confused
Both negate, but '안' is choice, '못' is inability.
Both mean 'not', but '없다' is for existence.
Both mean 'not', but register differs.
Common Mistakes
안 가요
안 가요
안 있어요
없어요
안 공부해요
공부 안 해요
안 예뻐요
안 예뻐요
안 먹었요
안 먹었어요
안 알아요
몰라요
안 가고 싶어요
안 가고 싶어요
안 해요 공부
공부 안 해요
안 가시나요?
안 가시나요?
안 먹는 것이에요
안 먹어요
안 하느니
안 하느니
안 가고 싶지 않아요
안 가고 싶어요
안 먹는다고 해요
안 먹는다고 해요
Sentence Patterns
저는 ___ 안 해요.
이거 ___ 안 매워요.
어제 ___ 안 갔어요.
저는 ___ 안 마셔요.
Real World Usage
안 가!
안 매운 거 주세요.
그런 경험은 없습니다.
안 멀어요?
안 가요~
안 매워요.
The '안' Rule
Don't use with '있다'
Noun+하다
Tone matters
Smart Tips
Always split it!
Switch to '지 않다'.
Use '없다'.
Use '못' instead of '안'.
Pronunciation
Linking
The 'n' sound in '안' often links to the next vowel.
Flat
안 가요 →
Neutral statement
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of '안' as a 'Stop' sign. It stops the action from happening.
Visual Association
Imagine a big '안' sign blocking a door. You cannot walk through the door because the '안' sign is in the way.
Rhyme
Put '안' in front, don't be slow, it makes the verb a 'no-go'!
Story
Min-su wanted to eat, but the fridge was empty. He looked at the food and said '안 먹어!' (I'm not eating!). He then looked at his books and said '공부 안 해!' (I'm not studying!). He decided to just sleep instead.
Word Web
Challenge
For the next 5 minutes, look at objects around you and say '안 [adjective]' for things that aren't true (e.g., '안 커요' for a small pen).
Cultural Notes
Used universally in daily life.
Often uses '안' but with different sentence endings.
Sometimes '안' is omitted in very fast texting.
Derived from the Middle Korean '아니' (ani).
Conversation Starters
오늘 학교에 가요?
이거 매워요?
커피 마실래요?
운동 좋아해요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
저는 커피를 ___ 마셔요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
안 있어요.
가요.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
예뻐요 -> ?
저는 운동 ___ 해요.
안 / 가요 / 오늘
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises저는 커피를 ___ 마셔요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
안 있어요.
가요.
먹어요 -> ?
예뻐요 -> ?
저는 운동 ___ 해요.
안 / 가요 / 오늘
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises우유를 ___ 마셔요.
Which is correct?
저는 안 있어요.
Arrange the words:
Match the pairs:
Translate into Korean:
어제 학교에 ___ 갔어요.
It is not cheap (싸다).
It is not simple (간단하다).
Arrange:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Almost, but not for verbs like '있다'.
Directly before the verb or adjective.
It's neutral. Use '~지 않다' for formal.
Because '공부' is a noun and '하다' is the verb.
Yes, but formal writing prefers '지 않다'.
It sounds very unnatural.
It's an adverb meaning 'not'.
Use '몰라요', not '안 알아요'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
No + verb
Spanish 'no' is used for everything; Korean has '안' and '못'.
ne...pas
Korean '안' is a single word.
nicht
Korean '안' is placed before the verb.
~nai
Korean '안' is a prefix/adverb.
bu
Chinese has specific tones.
la
Arabic negation changes based on tense.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
Korean Long Negation: Using -지 않다 (-ji anh-da)
Overview Korean features distinct methods for expressing negation, signifying what "is not" or "does not happen." For A1...
Formal Negation: -ji anta
Overview Korean language learners encounter various methods for expressing negation. While `안` (`an`) offers a concise,...
I Can't! Korean Negation with 'Mot' (못)
Overview In Korean, expressing inability or the state of being unable to perform an action due to external circumstances...
Must Not: Expressing Prohibition with -(으)면 안 되다
Overview Prohibition is a fundamental communicative act. In Korean, the most versatile and widely used grammatical patte...
Related Grammar Rules
Polite Negation: Saying 'Not' Professionally (-지 않다)
Overview In Korean, expressing negation goes beyond a simple 'no.' The choice between different negative forms often con...
Formal Negation: Cannot (지 못하다)
Overview This grammar pattern, `~지 못하다` (ji mot-hada), is a fundamental construction in Korean used to express **ina...
Korean Long Negation: Using -지 않다 (-ji anh-da)
Overview Korean features distinct methods for expressing negation, signifying what "is not" or "does not happen." For A1...
Negative Commands: Don't do it! (-지 말다)
Overview When you need to tell someone to stop an action, refrain from doing something, or issue a direct prohibition, K...
I Can't! Korean Negation with 'Mot' (못)
Overview In Korean, expressing inability or the state of being unable to perform an action due to external circumstances...
