How to Make Negative Sentences in Korean

Korean negation in short

Korean uses different negative forms depending on whether you mean not, cannot, is not, or do not.

Compare these three sentences:

저는 커피를 안 마셔요.
I do not drink coffee.

저는 커피를 못 마셔요.
I cannot drink coffee.

커피를 마시지 마세요.
Please do not drink coffee.

The meanings are different:

• 안 and -지 않다 negate an action or quality.
• 못 and -지 못하다 express inability.
• 아니다 negates a noun.
• 없다 expresses absence or not having something.
• -지 마세요 forms a polite negative request or command.

The most important beginner contrast is:

안 가요.
I am not going.

못 가요.
I cannot go.

Once you understand whether a sentence expresses a simple negative, an inability, an absence, or a command, choosing the correct Korean form becomes much easier.

Table of Contents

Korean negation at a glance

Korean does not use one universal word equivalent to English “not.”

The correct form depends on what you are negating and what meaning you want to express.

The most important beginner distinction is between 안 and 못:

안 가요.
I do not go. / I am not going.

못 가요.
I cannot go.

The first sentence usually suggests a choice, habit, plan, or simple fact. The second says that something prevents the speaker from going.

That small change creates a major difference in meaning.

What is negation in Korean?

Negation changes a positive sentence into one that denies an action, state, identity, existence, or ability.

Consider this positive sentence:

민수 씨가 운동해요.
Minsu exercises.

You can negate it in several ways:

민수 씨가 운동을 안 해요.
Minsu does not exercise.

민수 씨가 운동하지 않아요.
Minsu does not exercise.

민수 씨가 운동을 못 해요.
Minsu cannot exercise.

민수 씨가 운동하지 못해요.
Minsu is unable to exercise.

The first two sentences negate the action itself. The final two express an inability to perform it.

Korean grammar often distinguishes between two structural types of negation. When checking unfamiliar forms or example sentences, the National Institute of Korean Language’s Korean-English Learners’ Dictionary is a useful official reference for Korean learners:

• A short form using 안 or 못 before the predicate
• A longer form using -지 않다 or -지 못하다 after the verb or adjective stem

For example:

The short and long forms often communicate the same basic meaning, but they do not always sound identical in tone or emphasis.

We will look at those differences after learning how each form is built.

How to use 안 for “not”

안 is one of the simplest and most common ways to make a Korean verb or descriptive verb negative.

Place 안 immediately before the verb or descriptive verb:

안 + verb or descriptive verb

You do not need to conjugate 안. The verb or descriptive verb still carries the tense and politeness ending.

오늘 학교에 안 가요.
I am not going to school today.

아침을 안 먹어요.
I do not eat breakfast.

이 가방은 안 비싸요.
This bag is not expensive.

안 can describe a choice, habit, or fact

With action verbs, 안 often indicates that someone chooses not to do something, does not usually do it, or simply did not perform the action.

저는 술을 안 마셔요.
I do not drink alcohol.

This may describe a habit or personal choice.

오늘은 운동을 안 해요.
I am not exercising today.

This may suggest that the speaker has decided not to exercise today.

그 영화를 안 봤어요.
I did not watch that movie.

This simply tells us that the action did not happen.

The exact interpretation depends on context. 안 itself does not tell you whether the negative action was a deliberate refusal, a habit, a plan, or a neutral fact.

안 also works with descriptive verbs

Korean descriptive words behave like verbs grammatically. You can therefore place 안 before many of them.

오늘은 안 추워요.
It is not cold today.

시험이 안 어려웠어요.
The exam was not difficult.

그 식당은 안 비싸요.
That restaurant is not expensive.

However, you should not translate every English negative sentence mechanically with 안. Some Korean words have their own natural opposites.

For example:

시간이 없어요.
I do not have time. / There is no time.

Do not normally say:

시간이 안 있어요. ❌

The natural opposite of 있다, meaning “to exist” or “to have,” is 없다, meaning “not to exist” or “not to have.”

How 안 works with 하다 verbs

Many Korean verbs consist of a noun followed by 하다, meaning “to do.”

Common examples include:

• 공부하다 — to study
• 운동하다 — to exercise
• 요리하다 — to cook
• 청소하다 — to clean
• 일하다 — to work
• 전화하다 — to call

With many noun-plus-하다 action verbs, conversational Korean places 안 before 하다 rather than before the entire expression.

The basic pattern is:

noun + 안 하다

For example:

오늘은 공부 안 해요.
I am not studying today.

주말에는 일 안 해요.
I do not work on weekends.

어제 운동 안 했어요.
I did not exercise yesterday.

You can also include the object particle after the noun:

공부를 안 해요.
I do not study.

운동을 안 했어요.
I did not exercise.

Both 공부 안 해요 and 공부를 안 해요 are natural. In casual speech, particles are often omitted when the meaning is clear.

Avoid placing 안 before the entire expression

A common beginner mistake is:

안 공부해요. △

For a common separable action verb such as 공부하다, the more natural pattern is:

공부 안 해요.
I do not study.

You can think of the structure as:

공부 + 안 해요
study + do not do

Compare these forms:

Not every 하다 word behaves identically

Do not assume that every word ending in 하다 can be separated in exactly the same way.

Some forms ending in 하다 function as established descriptive verbs or tightly connected predicates. With these words, -지 않다 is often clearer and more natural.

For example:

그 문제는 중요하지 않아요.
That issue is not important.

설명이 정확하지 않아요.
The explanation is not accurate.

For beginners, a practical approach is to learn common action verbs such as 공부하다, 운동하다, and 청소하다 with the pattern 공부 안 해요, while using -지 않다 when the short form feels uncertain.

How to use -지 않다

-지 않다 is the longer way to express “do not,” “does not,” or “is not.”

Attach it directly to the stem of a verb or descriptive verb:

verb or descriptive verb stem + 지 않다

The main word remains in its stem form. The final 않다 carries the tense and politeness ending.

Present-tense formation

For example:

저는 고기를 먹지 않아요.
I do not eat meat.

이 문제는 어렵지 않아요.
This problem is not difficult.

요즘은 운동하지 않아요.
I do not exercise these days.

Unlike short-form negation, this pattern works without moving 안 around a compound verb. It is therefore useful when you are unsure where 안 should go.

How to conjugate 않다

Only 않다 changes for tense and speech level.

Compare the tense changes:

오늘 학교에 가지 않아요.
I am not going to school today.

어제 학교에 가지 않았어요.
I did not go to school yesterday.

내일 학교에 가지 않을 거예요.
I am not going to school tomorrow.

The verb stem 가- remains unchanged. The tense is shown through 않다:

• 않아요
• 않았어요
• 않을 거예요

-지 않다 with 하다 verbs

For a verb ending in 하다, remove 다 and add -지 않다.

For example:

저는 밤에 공부하지 않아요.
I do not study at night.

동생은 집에서 요리하지 않아요.
My younger sibling does not cook at home.

The long form avoids the placement issue that appears with 안:

Both forms are grammatically correct.

안 versus -지 않다

In many sentences, 안 and -지 않다 express the same basic meaning.

저는 커피를 안 마셔요.

저는 커피를 마시지 않아요.

Both mean:

I do not drink coffee.

The difference is often related to structure, rhythm, tone, and context rather than the basic meaning.

Use 안 for short everyday statements

In ordinary conversation, 안 is often the quickest and most natural choice.

오늘 안 가요.
I am not going today.

아침 안 먹었어요.
I did not eat breakfast.

그거 안 비싸요.
That is not expensive.

Use -지 않다 for a more structured statement

The longer form may sound more deliberate, explanatory, formal, or contrastive.

저는 아침을 먹지 않아요.
I do not eat breakfast.

그 제품은 비싸지 않아요.
That product is not expensive.

저는 그렇게 생각하지 않아요.
I do not think so.

The longer form is also useful in complex sentences because the negative predicate is easier to recognize.

The tone is not always identical

Compare:

안 먹어요.
I am not eating it. / I do not eat it.

먹지 않아요.
I do not eat it.

The short version can sound immediate and conversational. Depending on the context and intonation, it may also sound like a refusal.

The longer version may sound more neutral, explanatory, or deliberate.

These are tendencies, not absolute rules. Korean speakers choose between the forms based on rhythm, emphasis, context, and personal speaking style.

Which one should beginners use?

Learn both forms and follow these practical guidelines:

• Use 안 for short everyday statements.
• Use -지 않다 when the sentence is longer or more formal.
• Use -지 않다 when you are unsure where 안 belongs.
• Expect to hear both forms in natural Korean.
• Do not assume that every pair has a major difference in meaning.

The more important contrast is often not 안 versus -지 않다, but 안 versus 못.

How to use 못 for “cannot”

Use 못 when someone is unable to perform an action.

Place 못 before an action verb:

못 + action verb

For example:

오늘 회사에 못 가요.
I cannot go to work today.

매운 음식을 못 먹어요.
I cannot eat spicy food.

어젯밤에 잠을 못 잤어요.
I could not sleep last night.

The reason for the inability may be physical, practical, situational, or related to skill.

한국어를 잘 못 해요.
I cannot speak Korean well. / I am not good at Korean.

다리가 아파서 오래 못 걸어요.
My leg hurts, so I cannot walk for a long time.

회의가 있어서 친구를 못 만나요.
I have a meeting, so I cannot meet my friend.

못 normally describes inability, not simple choice

Compare:

오늘 안 가요.
I am not going today.

오늘 못 가요.
I cannot go today.

The first sentence may describe a choice or plan. The second says that circumstances make going impossible.

Another comparison:

고기를 안 먹어요.
I do not eat meat.

고기를 못 먹어요.
I cannot eat meat.

The first may describe a preference, habit, or personal decision. The second may suggest an allergy, health issue, religious restriction, or another reason that prevents the person from eating it.

How 못 works with 하다 verbs

With separable noun-plus-하다 action verbs, place 못 before 하다.

noun + 못 하다

For example:

오늘은 운동 못 해요.
I cannot exercise today.

저는 운전 못 해요.
I cannot drive.

아직 한국어로 대화 못 해요.
I cannot have a conversation in Korean yet.

The object particle may also appear:

운전을 못 해요.
I cannot drive.

공부를 못 했어요.
I could not study.

Both forms are natural.

How to use -지 못하다

-지 못하다 is the longer form used to express inability or failure to complete an action.

Attach it to the verb stem:

verb stem + 지 못하다

For example:

아파서 학교에 가지 못했어요.
I was sick, so I could not go to school.

너무 긴장해서 아무 말도 하지 못했어요.
I was so nervous that I could not say anything.

시간이 없어서 숙제를 끝내지 못했어요.
I did not have enough time, so I could not finish the homework.

Conjugating -지 못하다

The final 못하다 carries the tense and politeness ending.

The main verb remains in its stem form.

못 versus -지 못하다

Short-form 못 and long-form -지 못하다 often express the same basic meaning.

오늘 못 가요.

오늘 가지 못해요.

Both mean:

I cannot go today.

In everyday conversation, the short form is often more natural:

어제 잠을 못 잤어요.
I could not sleep last night.

In a report, explanation, or more formal statement, the long form may fit better:

소음 때문에 잠을 자지 못했습니다.
I could not sleep because of the noise.

The difference is usually stylistic rather than a change in the central meaning.

안 versus 못

This is one of the most important distinctions in Korean negation.

• 안 means that an action does not happen.
• 못 means that an action cannot happen.

Consider this short dialogue:

오늘 파티에 와요?
Are you coming to the party today?

아니요, 안 가요.
No, I am not going.

The speaker has decided not to go.

Now compare:

오늘 파티에 와요?
Are you coming to the party today?

아니요, 일이 있어서 못 가요.
No, I cannot go because I have work.

In the second example, work prevents the speaker from attending.

Context can make the distinction more polite

Sometimes Korean speakers use 못 because it sounds less direct than saying they simply will not do something.

For example:

오늘은 참석을 못 할 것 같아요.
I do not think I will be able to attend today.

This can sound softer than:

오늘은 참석 안 할 거예요.
I am not going to attend today.

The first sentence presents the absence as an inability or circumstance. The second sounds more like a clear decision.

This does not mean that 못 should be used dishonestly. It means that Korean, like English, often frames refusals indirectly to sound considerate.

How to negate nouns with 아니다

You cannot normally use 안 directly before a noun.

To say that someone or something “is not” a noun, use 아니다.

The basic pattern is:

noun + 이/가 아니다

In polite speech, 아니다 usually becomes 아니에요. The National Institute of Korean Language’s Korean-English Learners’ Dictionary defines 아니다 as a word used to negate a fact or statement.

For example:

저는 학생이 아니에요.
I am not a student.

민수 씨는 의사가 아니에요.
Minsu is not a doctor.

이것은 제 가방이 아니에요.
This is not my bag.

Use 이 or 가 before 아니다

The noun being negated is usually marked with the subject particle 이/가.

• Use 이 after a consonant.
• Use 가 after a vowel.

In casual conversation, particles may sometimes be omitted:

저 학생 아니에요.
I am not a student.

However, beginners should learn the full pattern noun + 이/가 아니에요 first.

Do not use 안이다

A common error is:

학생 안이에요. ❌

The correct form is:

학생이 아니에요.
I am not a student.

아니다 is already a negative word. It does not require 안.

How to use 없다 for “there is no” and “do not have”

Korean uses 없다 as the natural opposite of 있다.

Depending on context:

• 있다 can mean “to exist” or “to have.”
• 없다 can mean “not to exist” or “not to have.”

For example:

오늘 시간이 없어요.
I do not have time today.

지갑에 돈이 없어요.
There is no money in my wallet.

교실에 아무도 없어요.
There is nobody in the classroom.

Do not normally form the negative of 있다 by adding 안:

시간이 안 있어요. ❌

Use:

시간이 없어요.
I do not have time.

How to say “please do not” with -지 마세요

Use -지 마세요 to tell someone politely not to perform an action.

Attach it to the verb stem:

verb stem + 지 마세요

For example:

여기에 앉지 마세요.
Please do not sit here.

문을 열지 마세요.
Please do not open the door.

너무 걱정하지 마세요.
Please do not worry too much.

Different speech levels

The ending changes according to the relationship and degree of politeness.

Examples:

가지 마.
Do not go.

가지 마세요.
Please do not go.

들어가지 마십시오.
Do not enter.

Use the casual form only with people with whom casual speech is appropriate.

Do not use 안 for a direct negative command

To tell someone not to do something, -지 마세요 is normally the correct pattern.

먹지 마세요.
Please do not eat it.

Avoid treating 안 먹어요 as a command. It normally means:

I do not eat it. / Someone does not eat it.

The sentence describes a negative action rather than directly asking another person to stop.

Negative sentences in different tenses

Korean negative forms can be used in the present, past, and future.

안 in different tenses

With 안, conjugate the main verb normally.

어제 학교에 안 갔어요.
I did not go to school yesterday.

내일은 밖에 안 나갈 거예요.
I will not go outside tomorrow.

-지 않다 in different tenses

With -지 않다, conjugate 않다.

못 in different tenses

With 못, conjugate the main action verb.

어제 너무 바빠서 못 갔어요.
I was too busy, so I could not go yesterday.

다음 주에는 여행을 못 갈 거예요.
I will not be able to travel next week.

-지 못하다 in different tenses

With -지 못하다, conjugate 못하다.

These patterns are regular once you know which final word carries the tense.

Negative words in Korean

Korean also uses negative expressions such as 아무도, 아무것도, and 전혀.

These words commonly appear together with a negative predicate.

아무도 for “nobody”

아무도 means “nobody” or “not anyone” when used with a negative verb.

아무도 안 왔어요.
Nobody came.

아무도 몰라요.
Nobody knows.

아무도 만나지 않았어요.
I did not meet anyone.

The negative meaning comes from the combination of 아무도 and the negative predicate.

아무것도 for “nothing”

아무것도 means “nothing” or “not anything” when followed by a negative predicate.

아무것도 안 먹었어요.
I did not eat anything.

아무것도 보이지 않아요.
I cannot see anything. / Nothing is visible.

아무것도 하지 마세요.
Please do not do anything.

전혀 for “not at all”

전혀 strengthens a negative statement and means “not at all.”

전혀 어렵지 않아요.
It is not difficult at all.

저는 전혀 몰라요.
I do not know at all.

그 음식은 전혀 맵지 않았어요.
That food was not spicy at all.

별로 for “not particularly”

별로 commonly appears with a negative predicate and means “not particularly” or “not very.”

별로 안 비싸요.
It is not particularly expensive.

그 영화는 별로 재미있지 않았어요.
That movie was not very interesting.

Because 별로 naturally expects a negative predicate in this meaning, avoid saying:

별로 재미있어요. ❌

Use:

별로 재미없어요.
It is not very interesting.

Common mistakes with Korean negation

Mistake 1: Confusing 안 and 못

저는 매운 음식을 안 먹어요.
I do not eat spicy food.

저는 매운 음식을 못 먹어요.
I cannot eat spicy food.

Use 안 for a choice, habit, or simple negative fact. Use 못 when something prevents the action.

Mistake 2: Placing 안 incorrectly with 하다 verbs

Avoid:

안 공부해요. △

Prefer:

공부 안 해요.

Or:

공부하지 않아요.

Mistake 3: Using 안 with a noun

Avoid:

학생 안이에요. ❌

Use 아니다:

학생이 아니에요.
I am not a student.

Mistake 4: Saying 안 있어요 instead of 없어요

Avoid:

시간이 안 있어요. ❌

Use:

시간이 없어요.
I do not have time.

Mistake 5: Using 못 with descriptive verbs

못 normally expresses inability to perform an action. It is not generally used to negate a quality.

Avoid:

이 가방은 못 비싸요. ❌

Use:

이 가방은 안 비싸요.

Or:

이 가방은 비싸지 않아요.

Both mean that the bag is not expensive.

Mistake 6: Forgetting the negative predicate after 아무도

Avoid:

아무도 왔어요. ❌

To mean “Nobody came,” use:

아무도 안 왔어요.

Or:

아무도 오지 않았어요.

Mistake 7: Using -지 마세요 to describe your own action

-지 마세요 is a request or command directed at another person.

커피를 마시지 마세요.
Please do not drink coffee.

To say “I do not drink coffee,” use:

저는 커피를 안 마셔요.

Or:

저는 커피를 마시지 않아요.

Everyday Korean dialogues

Deciding not to go

가: 오늘 영화 보러 갈 거예요?
Are you going to see a movie today?

나: 아니요, 오늘은 안 가요.
No, I am not going today.

Being unable to attend

가: 내일 모임에 올 수 있어요?
Can you come to the gathering tomorrow?

나: 미안하지만 일이 있어서 못 가요.
I am sorry, but I cannot go because I have work.

Talking about food

가: 고기 드세요?
Do you eat meat?

나: 아니요, 고기는 안 먹어요.
No, I do not eat meat.

가: 알레르기가 있어요?
Do you have an allergy?

나: 네, 그래서 못 먹어요.
Yes, so I cannot eat it.

Asking someone not to worry

가: 시험 결과가 걱정돼요.
I am worried about the test result.

나: 너무 걱정하지 마세요. 잘했을 거예요.
Please do not worry too much. You probably did well.

Correcting an identity

가: 저분이 선생님이에요?
Is that person the teacher?

나: 아니요, 선생님이 아니에요. 학생이에요.
No, that person is not the teacher. They are a student.

Practice quiz

Test your understanding of Korean negation before moving on.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest way to make a Korean sentence negative?

For many verbs and descriptive verbs, place 안 before the predicate.

가요 → 안 가요
go → do not go

비싸요 → 안 비싸요
is expensive → is not expensive

For separable 하다 action verbs, place 안 before 하다:

공부해요 → 공부 안 해요

What is the difference between 안 and 못?

안 means that an action does not happen, often because of a choice, habit, or plan.

못 means that the subject is unable to perform the action.

오늘 안 가요.
I am not going today.

오늘 못 가요.
I cannot go today.

Is -지 않다 more formal than 안?

It can sound more structured, deliberate, or formal, but it is also used in ordinary conversation.

In many contexts, 안 가요 and 가지 않아요 have the same basic meaning. The shorter form is especially common in casual speech, while the longer form is useful in writing and complex sentences.

Can 못 be used with descriptive verbs?

Normally, no. 못 expresses inability to perform an action, so it is mainly used with action verbs.

To negate a quality, use 안 or -지 않다:

안 비싸요.
It is not expensive.

비싸지 않아요.
It is not expensive.

How do I negate a noun in Korean?

Use 아니다 with 이/가:

학생이 아니에요.
I am not a student.

Do not place 안 directly before the noun.

Why is “I do not have time” 시간이 없어요?

Korean uses 없다 as the natural opposite of 있다.

시간이 있어요.
I have time.

시간이 없어요.
I do not have time.

The form 시간이 안 있어요 is not the standard expression.

How do I tell someone not to do something?

Attach -지 마세요 to the verb stem:

가지 마세요.
Please do not go.

먹지 마세요.
Please do not eat it.

걱정하지 마세요.
Please do not worry.

Final thoughts

Korean negation becomes much easier when you connect each form with one clear purpose.

Use 안 or -지 않다 when an action or quality is simply negative. Use 못 or -지 못하다 when someone is unable to perform an action. Use 아니다 to negate a noun, 없다 to express absence, and -지 마세요 when asking someone not to do something.

The most useful contrast to practice is:

안 가요.
I am not going.

못 가요.
I cannot go.

That single distinction helps prevent one of the most common beginner mistakes.

Rather than memorizing the forms in isolation, practice them as complete sentence pairs:

• 먹어요 → 안 먹어요
• 가요 → 못 가요
• 학생이에요 → 학생이 아니에요
• 시간이 있어요 → 시간이 없어요
• 문을 열어요 → 문을 열지 마세요

As these patterns become familiar, you will be able to express choices, limitations, absence, disagreement, and negative requests much more naturally in Korean.