Explanation at your level:
You use this to say 'no'. If you want to say you cannot eat, you say '먹을 수 없다'. It is very easy to use. Just take the verb and add this ending. You will use this every day to talk about things you cannot do.
At this level, you start using it to explain reasons. 'I cannot go to the park because it is raining.' It helps you connect your actions to the world around you. Practice with simple verbs like 'go', 'eat', and 'see'.
Now you can use it with more complex sentences. You might use it to decline invitations politely or explain professional limitations. It is common to pair this with 'because' (니까/어서) to provide context for the inability.
You will notice that native speakers often shorten this in casual speech to '없어'. Understanding the nuance between 'I don't have the ability' and 'The situation makes it impossible' becomes important here. It is a key tool for expressing boundaries.
In advanced contexts, this pattern is used to express logical impossibility or strong refusal. It appears in formal writing to describe constraints in research or policy. You should master the distinction between this and the '못' prefix, which is more common in spoken, informal speech.
At the mastery level, you recognize the subtle shift in tone when using this versus other negative forms. It is used in literary contexts to convey a sense of destiny or insurmountable obstacles. You will also see it used in rhetorical questions to emphasize a point about human limitations.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Used to express inability.
- Attaches to verb stems.
- Common in all registers.
- Essential for daily life.
Welcome! Today we are looking at ~을 수 없다. Think of this as your go-to way to say 'cannot' or 'unable to' in Korean. It is incredibly useful because it covers everything from physical inability to situational impossibility.
When you attach this to a verb stem, you are telling the listener that the action described simply cannot happen. Whether you can't reach the top shelf or you can't attend a meeting, this pattern is your best friend. It is versatile, common, and essential for daily conversation.
The structure is composed of three parts: the object marker ~을 (or ~를), the noun 수 (meaning 'way' or 'method'), and the adjective 없다 (meaning 'to not exist').
Historically, this phrase evolved from the literal meaning of 'there is no method/way to do [verb].' Over centuries, it solidified into the standard grammatical way to express negation of potential. It reflects a logical approach to language where 'impossibility' is defined as the 'absence of a path' to achieve an action.
You use this with verb stems. If the verb stem ends in a consonant, use ~을 수 없다. If it ends in a vowel, use ~ㄹ 수 없다. It is used in almost every context, from casual chats with friends to formal business reports.
Commonly, it pairs with time-related adverbs like 'now' or 'today' to explain why something is not happening. It is a neutral expression, making it safe to use in almost any social situation without worrying about sounding rude.
1. 어쩔 수 없다: Meaning 'it cannot be helped.' Used when a situation is unavoidable.
2. 참을 수 없다: Meaning 'cannot stand it.' Used for intense frustration or excitement.
3. 믿을 수 없다: Meaning 'cannot believe it.' Used for disbelief or shock.
4. 갈 수 없다: Meaning 'cannot go.' Used for scheduling conflicts.
5. 볼 수 없다: Meaning 'cannot see.' Used for missing someone or lack of visibility.
The grammar is straightforward: Verb Stem + (으)ㄹ 수 없다. Remember that 없다 is pronounced [업따] due to the double consonant rule in Korean.
This pattern does not change for tense; you modify the ending of 없다 (e.g., 없었다 for past tense) to change the timing of the inability. It is a highly regular pattern, meaning you don't have to worry about irregular verb stems breaking the rule too often.
Fun Fact
The '수' comes from Sino-Korean roots meaning 'number' or 'method'.
Pronunciation Guide
N/A
N/A
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing '수' as '수u'
- Ignoring the double consonant in '없다'
- Incorrect liaison
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
medium
medium
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Ability
갈 수 있다
Negation
안 가다
Tense
없었다
Examples by Level
갈 수 없어요.
Go + cannot
Polite ending
먹을 수 없어요.
Eat + cannot
Consonant ending
볼 수 없어요.
See + cannot
Vowel ending
할 수 없어요.
Do + cannot
Standard pattern
올 수 없어요.
Come + cannot
Vowel ending
읽을 수 없어요.
Read + cannot
Consonant ending
잘 수 없어요.
Sleep + cannot
Vowel ending
살 수 없어요.
Buy + cannot
Vowel ending
오늘 갈 수 없어요.
매운 음식을 먹을 수 없어요.
영어를 읽을 수 없어요.
지금은 할 수 없어요.
그를 볼 수 없어요.
집에 갈 수 없어요.
혼자 할 수 없어요.
다시 올 수 없어요.
바빠서 갈 수 없어요.
너무 비싸서 살 수 없어요.
그 소식을 믿을 수 없어요.
참을 수 없는 고통이에요.
어쩔 수 없는 상황이에요.
그는 말할 수 없어요.
우리는 기다릴 수 없어요.
다시 시작할 수 없어요.
그것은 결코 일어날 수 없는 일입니다.
그의 행동을 이해할 수 없어요.
우리는 더 이상 지체할 수 없습니다.
그녀는 그 사실을 부인할 수 없었다.
이 문제는 지금 해결할 수 없습니다.
도저히 참을 수 없는 상황이네요.
그는 아무것도 할 수 없는 상태입니다.
우리는 선택할 수 없는 상황에 놓였습니다.
그의 주장은 논리적으로 받아들일 수 없는 것입니다.
우리는 이 기회를 놓칠 수 없는 상황입니다.
그 결과는 예측할 수 없는 것이었습니다.
그녀는 자신의 감정을 숨길 수 없었다.
이러한 조치는 결코 용납될 수 없습니다.
그는 더 이상 버틸 수 없는 지경에 이르렀다.
이것은 우리가 간과할 수 없는 문제입니다.
그의 제안은 거부할 수 없는 매력이 있습니다.
운명은 거스를 수 없는 거대한 힘과 같습니다.
그의 연설은 청중이 외면할 수 없는 호소력을 지녔다.
이러한 비극은 피할 수 없는 역사적 필연이었다.
그는 도저히 부정할 수 없는 증거를 제시했다.
이 예술 작품은 말로 표현할 수 없는 감동을 줍니다.
우리는 이 시대를 외면할 수 없는 책임을 집니다.
그의 침묵은 숨길 수 없는 슬픔을 담고 있었다.
이것은 타협할 수 없는 원칙의 문제입니다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"어쩔 수 없다"
Cannot be helped
어쩔 수 없지.
casual"눈을 뗄 수 없다"
Cannot take eyes off
그녀에게서 눈을 뗄 수 없었다.
neutral"손을 쓸 수 없다"
Cannot do anything about it
이미 늦어서 손을 쓸 수 없다.
neutral"발을 뗄 수 없다"
Cannot move/leave
너무 무서워서 발을 뗄 수 없었다.
neutral"입을 열 수 없다"
Cannot speak
너무 당황해서 입을 열 수 없었다.
neutral"숨을 쉴 수 없다"
Cannot breathe
너무 놀라서 숨을 쉴 수 없었다.
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean cannot
못 is a prefix, this is a pattern
못 가요 vs 갈 수 없어요
Both are negatives
안 is for choice, this is for ability
안 가요 (I won't go) vs 갈 수 없어요 (I can't go)
Sentence Patterns
Subject + [Verb] + 수 없다
나는 갈 수 없다.
Subject + [Verb] + 수 없어요
저는 갈 수 없어요.
Because + [Verb] + 수 없다
바빠서 갈 수 없어요.
Though + [Verb] + 수 없다
가고 싶지만 갈 수 없어요.
It is [Adj] that + [Verb] + 수 없다
참을 수 없는 고통이다.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
It must attach to a verb.
The noun '수' requires a space.
Tense goes on the '없다' part.
못 is shorter/informal.
This expresses ability, not permission.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a wall blocking your path.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it to politely decline requests.
Cultural Insight
It shows respect for boundaries.
Grammar Shortcut
Always check the verb ending.
Say It Right
Practice the 'eop-da' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't attach to nouns.
Did You Know?
It is one of the most common negative patterns.
Study Smart
Combine with 'because' sentences.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'SUE' (수) who 'UP' (없) and left.
Visual Association
A road that is blocked by a wall.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 things you cannot do today.
Word Origin
Korean
Original meaning: There is no way to do
Cultural Context
None, very standard.
Direct equivalent to 'cannot'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- 지금은 할 수 없습니다
- 도와줄 수 없습니다
- 참석할 수 없습니다
travel
- 예약할 수 없나요?
- 갈 수 없어요
- 볼 수 없어요
social
- 갈 수 없어서 미안해요
- 믿을 수 없어요
- 참을 수 없어요
school
- 이해할 수 없어요
- 읽을 수 없어요
- 숙제를 할 수 없어요
Conversation Starters
"What is something you cannot do?"
"Can you believe what happened?"
"Why can't you go today?"
"How can I help if you cannot do it?"
"What can't you live without?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you couldn't do something.
Describe a situation that was unavoidable.
What is something you hope to do that you currently cannot?
How do you feel when you cannot finish a task?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, '못' is usually for internal inability, while '~을 수 없다' is broader.
Yes, use '없었어요'.
Yes, almost all action verbs.
No, it is very neutral.
Just add a question mark/intonation.
Yes, it works in all tenses.
The phrase itself functions as a predicate.
Between the verb and '수', and between '수' and '없다'.
Test Yourself
나는 학교에 ___.
Expressing inability.
Which means 'I cannot eat'?
Correct pattern.
Can you use this pattern for permission?
It is for ability.
Word
Meaning
Matching meanings.
Correct word order.
Score: /5
Summary
The pattern ~을 수 없다 is the standard way to express that an action is impossible or beyond your capability.
- Used to express inability.
- Attaches to verb stems.
- Common in all registers.
- Essential for daily life.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a wall blocking your path.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it to politely decline requests.
Cultural Insight
It shows respect for boundaries.
Grammar Shortcut
Always check the verb ending.
Example
너무 피곤해서 더 이상 걸을 수 없어요.
Related Content
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에어컨
A1Air conditioner; a system for cooling indoor air.
~와
A2And, with; connects nouns or indicates accompaniment.
아파트
A1Apartment
조립하다
A2To put together the component parts of (a machine or structure); to assemble.
집에서
A2In or at one's home; at home.
다락방
A2Attic; a space or room inside the roof of a building.
베란다
A2A roofed, open-air porch attached to the outside of a house.
발코니
A2A platform projecting from the wall of a building, enclosed by a railing.
지하실
A2Basement; the floor of a building that is partly or entirely below ground level.
바구니
A2Basket
