B1 · 中级 章节 9

Abilities and Ease of Action

5 总规则
51 例句
5 分钟
本章规则 快速练习

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the nuances of capability, task assessment, and focused action in natural Korean conversation.

  • Distinguish between physical ability and learned skills.
  • Evaluate the difficulty of various tasks and activities.
  • Express circumstantial impossibility and intense singular focus.
From 'I can' to 'I know how' and beyond.

你将学到什么

Ready to take your Korean conversations to the next level? In this chapter, we're diving deep into expressions that will make you sound incredibly natural and confident, moving beyond basic statements to truly express nuances about abilities and actions. First up, you'll master how to use '-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다' to express 'knowing how to do something' – it's more than just being physically able; it's about skill and know-how. Then, we'll explore the flip sides of difficulty: with '-기 쉽다', you'll effortlessly say something is 'easy to do', and its counterpart, '-기가 어렵다', will equip you to describe tasks that are 'difficult or tricky'. These two are essential for giving your opinions on various activities. Ever found yourself in a situation where something is absolutely impossible? You'll learn '-(으)ㄹ 수가 없다' to convey total impossibility due to circumstances, giving your Korean a powerful punch. Finally, to add precision and emphasis, we'll tackle '-기만 하다', allowing you to highlight when someone is 'doing nothing but' a specific action, showing intense focus. Imagine telling a Korean friend, 'I know how to cook Korean food!' or 'It's impossible to find good coffee here after midnight.' Or perhaps you want to describe how 'studying grammar is easy' or 'writing essays is difficult.' You'll even be able to say, 'He just keeps watching Netflix!' By the end of this chapter, you won't just communicate actions; you'll express capabilities, assess task difficulty, state impossibilities, and emphasize single-minded focus with ease. Your Korean will become richer, more expressive, and you'll feel much more comfortable in intermediate conversations. Let's get started!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Explain your professional and hobby-related skills using -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Compare the difficulty of learning tasks using -기 쉽다 and -기가 어렵다.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Describe situations where external factors prevent action using -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to: Emphasize repetitive or exclusive actions using -기만 하다.

章节指南

Overview

Welcome to a pivotal chapter in your Korean grammar journey! As you progress to B1 Korean, you're ready to add depth and nuance to your conversations. This chapter is designed to help you express not just what you do, but *how* you do it, *how easy or difficult* it is, and even when something is utterly impossible.
Mastering these expressions will make your Korean sound incredibly natural and confident, allowing you to move beyond basic statements and truly articulate your thoughts with precision.
We'll dive into five essential grammar patterns. First, you'll learn -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다 to confidently state whether you
know how to do something
– highlighting skill and know-how. Next, we'll equip you with -기 쉽다 and -기가 어렵다 to effortlessly describe tasks as easy to do or difficult to do, perfect for sharing your opinions.
For those moments when an action is completely out of reach, -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 will empower you to convey total impossibility due to circumstances. Finally, to add emphasis and focus, we'll explore -기만 하다, allowing you to highlight when someone is doing nothing but a specific action. By the end, you'll be expressing capabilities, assessing difficulty, stating impossibilities, and emphasizing actions with ease, making your B1 Korean richer and more expressive.
Let's unlock these powerful tools!

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down each of these crucial Korean grammar patterns to understand how they function and how you can use them in your daily conversations.
1. Knowing How to Do Something (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
This pattern is used to express whether you
know how to do
a specific skill or task. It refers to learned ability or know-how, not just physical capability.
* Conjugation:
* If the verb stem ends in a consonant: verb stem + -을 줄 알다/모르다
* If the verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: verb stem + -ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다
* Example: 저는 한국어를 할 줄 알아요. (I know how to speak Korean.)
* Example: 김치찌개를 만들 줄 몰라요. (I don't know how to make kimchi stew.)
2. Easy to do (-기 쉽다)
Use this pattern to describe an action as easy to do or prone to happen.
* Conjugation: verb stem + -기 쉽다
* Example: 이 책은 읽기 쉬워요. (This book is easy to read.)
* Example: 요즘은 감기에 걸리기 쉬운 날씨예요. (Lately, it's weather where you easily catch a cold.)
3. It is difficult to... (-기가 어렵다)
This is the opposite of -기 쉽다, used to express that an action is difficult to do or hard to achieve.
* Conjugation: verb stem + -기가 어렵다 (The particle 가 can sometimes be omitted in casual speech but adds clarity.)
* Example: 한국어 발음은 하기가 어려워요. (Korean pronunciation is difficult to do.)
* Example: 그 문제를 풀기 어렵다. (That problem is difficult to solve.)
4. Cannot possibly: Total impossibility (-(으)ㄹ 수가 없다)
This pattern conveys a strong sense of impossibility due to external circumstances or conditions, not just a lack of ability. It's stronger than simply using 못 or -지 못하다.
* Conjugation:
* If the verb stem ends in a consonant: verb stem + -을 수가 없다
* If the verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: verb stem + -ㄹ 수가 없다
* Example: 너무 바빠서 만날 수가 없어요. (I'm too busy to possibly meet you.)
* Example: 이 시간에는 택시를 잡을 수가 없어요. (At this hour, it's impossible to catch a taxi.)
5. Doing Nothing But... (-기만 하다)
This pattern emphasizes that someone is doing nothing but a specific action, often highlighting single-minded focus or, at times, a slightly negative connotation if other actions are expected.
* Conjugation: verb stem + -기만 하다
* Example: 그는 하루 종일 게임만 하기만 해요. (He just plays games all day long.)
* Example: 비가 오기만 해서 나갈 수 없었어요. (It just kept raining, so I couldn't go out.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: «저는 수영할 수 알아요.» (I can swim know.)
✓ Correct:
저는 수영할 줄 알아요.
(I know how to swim.)
*Explanation:* -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 means can (possibility/ability), while -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 specifically means know how to (a learned skill). Don't mix them up!
  1. 1✗ Wrong: «이 음식은 만들기가 쉬워요.» (This food is easy to make.)
✓ Correct:
이 음식은 만들기 쉬워요.
(This food is easy to make.)
*Explanation:* While -기가 어렵다 often uses the particle 가 for clarity, -기 쉽다 typically attaches directly to the verb stem without 가.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: «배고파서 먹을 수 없어요.» (I'm hungry, so I can't eat.)
✓ Correct:
배고파서 먹을 수가 없어요.
(I'm so hungry that I can't possibly eat.) (Or «배고파서 못 먹어요» for simple inability)
*Explanation:* -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 implies a strong, often external, impossibility. If you simply mean "I can't" due to lack of ability or simple refusal, 못 or -지 못하다 are usually sufficient and more natural. Use -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 when the circumstances truly make it impossible.

Real Conversations

A

A

한국어 시험이 어땠어요? (How was the Korean exam?)
B

B

듣기는 쉬웠지만, 쓰기는 너무 어려웠어요. (Listening was easy, but writing was too difficult.)
A

A

운전 할 줄 아세요? (Do you know how to drive?)
B

B

아니요, 아직 할 줄 몰라요. 배우고 싶어요! (No, I don't know how to yet. I want to learn!)
A

A

왜 이렇게 늦었어요? (Why are you so late?)
B

B

죄송해요. 길이 너무 막혀서 제 시간에 도착할 수가 없었어요. (I'm sorry. The road was so blocked that I couldn't possibly arrive on time.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the difference between -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 and -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 in Korean grammar?

-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 expresses general ability or possibility (can do), while -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 specifically means

to know how to do
a learned skill or method.

Q

Can -기 쉽다 and -기가 어렵다 be used with adjectives?

No, these patterns attach only to verb stems to describe the ease or difficulty of performing an *action*.

Q

When should I use -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 instead of just 못 or -지 못하다?

Use -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 when emphasizing that an action is *impossible due to external circumstances* or a strong reason, not just a simple inability. It conveys a stronger sense of impossibility.

Cultural Context

These Korean grammar patterns are incredibly common in daily conversations, reflecting how Koreans often discuss skills, challenges, and limitations. -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다 is frequently used when asking about or offering help with practical skills like cooking, driving, or using technology. -기 쉽다 and -기가 어렵다 are perfect for sharing opinions on tasks, food, or learning experiences, often softening direct statements.
-(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 is a polite but firm way to state an impossibility, often used to decline requests or explain unavoidable situations. Finally, -기만 하다 can be used humorously or to subtly express frustration about someone's single-minded focus. Mastering these patterns will make your Korean sound much more authentic and relatable.

关键例句 (6)

1

저는 한국어 할 줄 알아요.

我会说韩语。

知道/不知道怎么做某事 (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
2

인스타 필터 사용할 줄 알아요?

你知道怎么用 Ins 滤镜吗？

知道/不知道怎么做某事 (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
3

한국어는 발음하기가 어려워요.

韩语发音很难。

很难做... (-기가 어렵다)
4

주말에는 예약하기가 진짜 어려워요.

周末真的很难预约到。

很难做... (-기가 어렵다)
5

너무 시끄러워서 집중할 수가 없어요.

太吵了，我根本没法集中注意力。

根本无法：完全不可能 (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)
6

와이파이가 안 돼서 이메일을 보낼 수가 없었어요.

没Wi-Fi，我根本没法发邮件。

根本无法：完全不可能 (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

技巧与窍门 (4)

💡

谦虚的小秘诀

当别人问你会不会说韩语时，回答 «할 줄 알아요» 比起 «할 수 있어요» 听起来更谦虚自然。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 知道/不知道怎么做某事 (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
💡

反义词也很简单

如果你想表达“很难做某事”，只需要把 '쉽다' 换成 '어렵다' 就可以了： «배우기 어렵다»。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 容易做、易于... (-기 쉽다)
💡

省略助词更地道

在日常口语中，大家经常会把助词 «가» 去掉，听起来更自然流利！比如：«하기 어려워요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 很难做... (-기가 어렵다)
🎯

加点“戏”更地道

想听起来更像韩国人？在说 «수가» 的时候稍微拉长音并停顿一下，能完美传达出你已经尽力但还是没戏的挫败感。比如：«할 수가... 없어요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 根本无法：完全不可能 (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

核心词汇 (6)

운전하다 to drive 포기하다 to give up 외국어 foreign language 복잡하다 to be complicated 요리하다 to cook 집중하다 to concentrate

Real-World Preview

utensils

Cooking with a Friend

Review Summary

  • Verb Stem + -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다
  • Verb Stem + -기 쉽다
  • Verb Stem + -기가 어렵다
  • Verb Stem + -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다
  • Verb Stem + -기만 하다

常见错误

Learners often confuse '수 있다' (can) with '줄 알다' (know how to). Use '줄' when referring to a learned skill.

Wrong: 수영할 수 알아요.
正确: 수영할 줄 알아요.

While '배우기 어렵다' is sometimes heard, the grammatically standard form for B1 level includes the subject particle '-가' after the nominalized verb.

Wrong: 한국어가 배우기 어려워요.
正确: 한국어는 배우기가 어려워요.

To express total impossibility or to emphasize 'there is no way I can go,' adding '-가' to '수' is much more natural and emphatic.

Wrong: 바빠서 갈 수 없어요.
正确: 바빠서 갈 수가 없어요.

Next Steps

You've just added some very sophisticated tools to your Korean toolkit. Being able to explain 'how' and 'why' things are difficult or impossible is a huge milestone. Keep practicing!

Record a 1-minute voice memo listing 3 things you know how to do and 1 thing you find difficult.

Write 5 sentences about your 'impossible' schedule this week using -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다.

Continue to: Navigating Uncertainty and Questions

快速练习 (10)

用 '듣다' (听) 的正确形式填空。

소리가 너무 작아서 ____.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 들을 수가 없어요
'듣다' 是 'ㄷ' 不规则动词，在 '-을 수가 없다' 前要变成 '들'。加上 '가' 能按要求增强语气。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 根本无法：完全不可能 (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

找出并修正时态位置的错误。

어제는 집에서 잤기만 했어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 어제는 집에서 자기만 했어요.
主动词词干绝对不能带过去时标记。保持原形 ‘자’ + 기만，把过去时放在 ‘하다’ 上变成 ‘했어요’。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 韩语语法：只做...、除了...什么都不做 (-기만 하다)

哪句话的意思是“我不会游泳”？

选择正确的句子：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 수영할 줄 몰라요.
表达不会做某事时，使用 -(으)ㄹ 줄 모르다。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 知道/不知道怎么做某事 (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)

在商店里，哪句话最自然地表达“我只是看看”？

选择语法正确的句子：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 보기만 할게요.
‘보기만 할게요’ 使用了表示意图的将来时，礼貌地告诉店员“我只是打算看看”（随便逛逛）。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 韩语语法：只做...、除了...什么都不做 (-기만 하다)

哪句话在表达“因为忙没法去”时最正确且自然？

选择最佳句子：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 바빠서 갈 수가 없어요.
«수가» 和 «없어요» 之间必须有空格，且词干 «가-» 需要接修饰语 «-ㄹ»。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 根本无法：完全不可能 (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

填空表达你会做饭。

저는 요리___ ___요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 할 줄 알아
하다 + ㄹ 줄 알아요 变成 할 줄 알아요。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 知道/不知道怎么做某事 (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)

请在空格处填入正确形式。

아기가 하루 종일 ___ (to cry).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 울기만 해요
取动词原形 ‘울다’，去掉 ‘다’，接上 ‘-기만 해요’。‘ㄹ’ 收音在这里不需要脱落。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 韩语语法：只做...、除了...什么都不做 (-기만 하다)

修正句子中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

한국어 읽을 줄 알습니까?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 한국어 읽을 줄 압니까?
当 '알다' 遇到 'ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ' 时，'ㄹ' 会脱落。所以 '알' + 'ㅂ니까' 变成 '압니까'。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 知道/不知道怎么做某事 (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)

找出并修正这句话中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

피곤해서 숙제를 할수가 없어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 피곤해서 숙제를 할 수가 없어요.
唯一的错误是漏掉了空格。«할 수가» 是修饰语+依存名词+助词的正确间距写法。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 根本无法：完全不可能 (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

哪句话正确表达了“这部手机很难用”？

选择正确的翻译：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 이 휴대폰은 쓰기가 어려워요.
'쓰다' (用) + '기가 어렵다' (难) 构成了“很难用”。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 很难做... (-기가 어렵다)

Score: /10

常见问题 (6)

前者侧重于“方法”或“习得的技能”，后者侧重于“可能性”或“许可”。例如：我会游泳（习得技能 «줄 알다»），但今天感冒了不能游（可能性 «수 없다»）。
通常不行。它只用于需要学习方法或过程的动词。你不能说“知道怎么漂亮”这种话。
当然可以！它经常用来描述不好的倾向，比如 «감기에 걸리기 쉽워요»（容易感冒）或 «오해하기 쉬워요»（容易误会）。
去掉动词原型的 '-다'，直接加上 '-기 쉽다' 就行。不管词干有没有收音都一样，比如 «먹다» 变成 «먹기 쉽다»。
不可以哦，这个句型只适用于动词。你不能用这个结构说“长高很难”这种话。
«어렵다» 侧重于事情的复杂性、技巧难度或可能性低。而 «힘들다» 侧重于体力上的劳累、疲惫或情感上的煎熬。比如搬重物要用 «힘들다»。
上一章
Describing States and Completed Actions
下一章
Navigating Uncertainty and Questions
返回学习路线