Saying No in Korean: 안, -지 않아요, 못, and 아니에요

Being able to say "no," "I don't," and "I can't" is essential in any language. Korean has several ways to negate a sentence, and each one carries a slightly different meaning. The good news is that there are only a handful to learn, and they are very regular.

안: short negation

Put 안 directly before the verb to say "don't" or "not." This is the most common form in everyday speech.

• 커피 안 마셔요.

  [keopi an masyeoyo]

  I don't drink coffee.

• 오늘은 안 바빠요.

  [oneureun an bappayo]

  I'm not busy today.

• 어제 운동 안 했어요.

  [eoje undong an haesseoyo]

  I didn't exercise yesterday.

With 하다 verbs made from a noun, such as 운동하다 (to exercise) or 공부하다 (to study), 안 goes between the noun and 하다: 운동 안 해요, not 안 운동해요.

-지 않아요: long negation

Attach -지 않아요 to the verb stem. The meaning is the same as 안, but it sounds a little more careful and is common in writing and polite speech.

• 커피를 마시지 않아요.

  [keopireul masiji anayo]

  I don't drink coffee.

• 별로 맵지 않아요.

  [byeollo maepji anayo]

  It's not very spicy.

• 그렇게 어렵지 않아요.

  [geureoke eoryeopji anayo]

  It's not that difficult.

Many speakers use 안 in quick conversation and -지 않아요 when they want to sound a little more measured.

못: can't

못 means "cannot" or "unable to." It expresses that something is not possible, rather than that you choose not to do it.

• 저는 수영 못 해요.

  [jeoneun suyeong mot haeyo]

  I can't swim.

• 매운 음식을 못 먹어요.

  [maeun eumsigeul mot meogeoyo]

  I can't eat spicy food.

• 어제 잠을 못 잤어요.

  [eoje jameul mot jasseoyo]

  I couldn't sleep last night.

The long form is -지 못해요.

• 오늘은 가지 못해요.

  [oneureun gaji motaeyo]

  I can't go today.

Choosing between 안 and 못 matters socially. If a friend invites you out and you say 안 가요, it sounds like "I'm not going (because I don't want to)." Saying 못 가요 means "I can't go," which is gentler because it implies circumstances prevent you.

• 미안해요, 오늘은 못 가요.

  [mianhaeyo oneureun mot gayo]

  Sorry, I can't make it today.

아니에요: it's not

To say that something is not a certain thing, use 이/가 아니에요. It is the negative of 이에요/예요 ("it is").

• 저는 학생이 아니에요.

  [jeoneun haksaengi anieyo]

  I'm not a student.

• 이거 제 가방이 아니에요.

  [igeo je gabangi anieyo]

  This isn't my bag.

On its own, 아니에요 also works as a modest reply to thanks or praise, similar to "not at all."

• 한국어 잘하시네요!

  [hangugeo jalhasineyo]

  You speak Korean well!

• 아니에요, 아직 많이 부족해요.

  [anieyo ajik mani bujokaeyo]

  Not at all, I still have a long way to go.

없어요: there isn't / I don't have

The opposite of 있어요 (there is, I have) is 없어요. You do not use 안 with 있다; instead, you switch to 없다.

• 시간이 없어요.

  [sigani eopseoyo]

  I don't have time.

• 여기에 화장실이 없어요.

  [yeogie hwajangsiri eopseoyo]

  There's no restroom here.

Quick summary

• 안 + verb: don't / not (by choice or fact)
• verb stem + 지 않아요: the same meaning, slightly more formal
• 못 + verb: can't
• 이/가 아니에요: is not (a thing)
• 없어요: there isn't / don't have

Negation is a small topic with big social impact. Practice these forms in real situations, and you will be able to decline, disagree, and clarify with confidence.