Lesson 17 · Beginner 2 · A2

Saying No: Negative Sentences

부정문

Being able to say what you don't like, don't want or can't do is essential, especially for food and travel. This lesson explains the difference between 안 ("don't") and 못 ("can't") and how to answer negative questions the Korean way.

🎯 Learning goals

After this lesson you will be able to:

  • Say what you don't do and what you can't do
  • Answer negative questions correctly

💬 Key phrases

  • 고기를 안 먹어요

    gogireul an meogeoyo

    I don't eat meat

  • 술을 못 마셔요

    sureul mot masyeoyo

    I can't drink alcohol

  • 오늘은 안 바빠요

    oneureun an bappayo

    I'm not busy today

  • 수영을 못해요

    suyeongeul motaeyo

    I can't swim

  • 매운 음식을 좋아하지 않아요

    maeun eumsigeul joahaji anayo

    I don't like spicy food

  • 아직 안 했어요

    ajik an haesseoyo

    I haven't done it yet

  • 잘 몰라요

    jal mollayo

    I don't really know

  • 한국어를 잘 못해요

    hangugeoreul jal motaeyo

    I'm not good at Korean

  • 별로 안 비싸요

    byeollo an bissayo

    It's not that expensive

  • 그건 안 돼요

    geugeon an dwaeyo

    That's not allowed

📐 Grammar

안 / 못 / -지 않아요

"don't" and "can't"

Put 안 ("don't", a choice) or 못 ("can't", ability or circumstances) directly before the verb: 안 가요, 못 가요. A longer, slightly more formal pattern adds -지 않아요 / -지 못해요 to the stem: 가지 않아요. With 하다 verbs, the negative goes right before 하다: 운동 안 해요 (✕ 안 운동해요).

Base form안 / 못 / -지 않아요
가요안 가요 · 못 가요 · 가지 않아요
먹어요안 먹어요 · 못 먹어요
공부해요공부 안 해요 · 공부 못 해요
좋아해요안 좋아해요 · 좋아하지 않아요

Example

  • 저는 커피를 안 마셔요.

    jeoneun keopireul an masyeoyo.

    I don't drink coffee (by choice).

  • 다리가 아파서 못 걸어요.

    dariga apaseo mot georeoyo.

    My leg hurts, so I can't walk.

  • 오늘은 운동 안 해요.

    oneureun undong an haeyo.

    I'm not working out today.

🗣 Dialogue

A

이거 좀 드세요. 떡볶이예요.

igeo jom deuseyo. tteokbokkiyeyo.

Have some of this. It's tteokbokki.

B

고마워요. 그런데 많이 매워요?

gomawoyo. geureonde mani maewoyo?

Thanks. But is it very spicy?

A

조금 매워요. 매운 음식 못 먹어요?

jogeum maewoyo. maeun eumsik mot meogeoyo?

A little. Can't you eat spicy food?

B

네, 매운 건 잘 못 먹어요.

ne, maeun geon jal mot meogeoyo.

Right, I can't really handle spicy food.

A

그럼 이 김밥은 어때요? 안 매워요.

geureom i gimbabeun eottaeyo? an maewoyo.

Then how about this gimbap? It's not spicy.

B

와, 정말 맛있어요!

wa, jeongmal masisseoyo!

Wow, it's really delicious!

✏️ Grammar practice

Choose the word that completes each sentence.

✅ Quick quiz

Choose the correct meaning.

Practice these with flashcards

Updated: November 2026