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Short Form Negation: 안 / 못

Keywords
안/못
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Grammar
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TL;DR 🦄
  • 안\color{purple}{\text{안}} [an] means do not / not.
  • 못\color{purple}{\text{못}} [mot] means cannot / be unable to.
  • Short negation goes before the verb: 안 가요\color{purple}{\text{안 가요}} [an ga-yo], 못 가요\color{purple}{\text{못 가요}} [mot ga-yo].
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to compare 안 가요\color{purple}{\text{안 가요}} and 못 가요.\color{purple}{\text{못 가요}}.
 

🌈 The Big Picture

Short negation is fast and tiny. Put 안\color{purple}{\text{안}} or 못\color{purple}{\text{못}} right before the verb.
  • 안 가요\color{purple}{\text{안 가요}} [an ga-yo] = I do not go.
  • 못 가요\color{purple}{\text{못 가요}} [mot ga-yo] = I cannot go.
 

🧩 The Core Negation Family

  • 가요\color{purple}{\text{가요}} → 안 가요\color{purple}{\text{안 가요}} / 못 가요\color{purple}{\text{못 가요}}
  • 와요\color{purple}{\text{와요}} → 안 와요\color{purple}{\text{안 와요}} / 못 와요\color{purple}{\text{못 와요}}
  • 먹어요\color{purple}{\text{먹어요}} → 안 먹어요\color{purple}{\text{안 먹어요}} / 못 먹어요\color{purple}{\text{못 먹어요}}
  • 공부해요\color{purple}{\text{공부해요}} → 공부 안 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 안 해요}} / 공부 못 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 못 해요}}
 

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • 안\color{purple}{\text{안}} does not mean “cannot.”
  • 못\color{purple}{\text{못}} sounds like inability, not just preference.
  • For 공부해요\color{purple}{\text{공부해요}}, use 공부 안 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 안 해요}}, not 안 공부해요\color{purple}{\text{안 공부해요}}, for this lesson pattern.
 

Try this exercise

Instructions
Fill each blank with 안\color{purple}{\text{안}} for simple “not” or 못\color{purple}{\text{못}} for “cannot / be unable to.” 🎯
1. 저는\color{purple}{\text{저는}} ＿＿＿＿ 가요.\color{purple}{\text{가요.}}
[jeo-neun ＿＿＿＿ ga-yo] — I do not go.
Answer
안 — simple negation.
2. 저는\color{purple}{\text{저는}} ＿＿＿＿ 가요.\color{purple}{\text{가요.}}
[jeo-neun ＿＿＿＿ ga-yo] — I cannot go.
Answer
못 — inability.
3. 오늘\color{purple}{\text{오늘}} ＿＿＿＿ 와요.\color{purple}{\text{와요.}}
[o-neul ＿＿＿＿ wa-yo] — I do not come today.
Answer
안 — simple “do not.”
4. 오늘\color{purple}{\text{오늘}} ＿＿＿＿ 와요.\color{purple}{\text{와요.}}
[o-neul ＿＿＿＿ wa-yo] — I cannot come today.
Answer
못 — “cannot come.”
5. 공부\color{purple}{\text{공부}} ＿＿＿＿ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{해요.}}
[gong-bu ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] — I do not study.
Answer
안 — for this lesson pattern, use 공부 안 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 안 해요}}.
6. 공부\color{purple}{\text{공부}} ＿＿＿＿ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{해요.}}
[gong-bu ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] — I cannot study.
Answer
못 — 공부 못 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 못 해요}}.
7. 저는\color{purple}{\text{저는}} ＿＿＿＿ 먹어요.\color{purple}{\text{먹어요.}}
[jeo-neun ＿＿＿＿ meo-geo-yo] — I do not eat.
Answer
안 — simple negation.
8. 오늘\color{purple}{\text{오늘}} ＿＿＿＿ 먹어요.\color{purple}{\text{먹어요.}}
[o-neul ＿＿＿＿ meo-geo-yo] — I cannot eat today.
Answer
못 — inability.
9. 일\color{purple}{\text{일}} ＿＿＿＿ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{해요.}}
[il ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] — I do not work.
Answer
안 — simple negation.
10. 일\color{purple}{\text{일}} ＿＿＿＿ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{해요.}}
[il ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] — I cannot work.
Answer
못 — inability.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 안\color{purple}{\text{안}} [an] → not / do not
  • 못\color{purple}{\text{못}} [mot] → cannot / be unable to
  • 가요\color{purple}{\text{가요}} → go
  • 와요\color{purple}{\text{와요}} → come
  • 먹어요\color{purple}{\text{먹어요}} → eat
  • 공부해요\color{purple}{\text{공부해요}} → study
  • 일해요\color{purple}{\text{일해요}} → work
  • 오늘\color{purple}{\text{오늘}} → today
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Short Form Negation: 안 / 못
 
Fill each blank with 안\color{purple}{\text{안}} for simple “not” or 못\color{purple}{\text{못}} for “cannot.”
 

Exercise 1 — 안: Simple Negation

 
A. 저는 ____ 가요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 \_\_\_\_ 가요.}} [jeo-neun ＿＿＿＿ ga-yo] (I do not go.)
Answer
안
B. 오늘 ____ 와요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 \_\_\_\_ 와요.}} [o-neul ＿＿＿＿ wa-yo] (I do not come today.)
Answer
안
C. 저는 ____ 먹어요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 \_\_\_\_ 먹어요.}} [jeo-neun ＿＿＿＿ meo-geo-yo] (I do not eat.)
Answer
안
D. 오늘 ____ 가요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 \_\_\_\_ 가요.}} [o-neul ＿＿＿＿ ga-yo] (I do not go today.)
Answer
안
E. 저는 ____ 와요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 \_\_\_\_ 와요.}} [jeo-neun ＿＿＿＿ wa-yo] (I do not come.)
Answer
안
F. 오늘 ____ 먹어요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 \_\_\_\_ 먹어요.}} [o-neul ＿＿＿＿ meo-geo-yo] (I do not eat today.)
Answer
안
G. 공부 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{공부 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} [gong-bu ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] (I do not study.)
Answer
안
H. 일 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{일 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} [il ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] (I do not work.)
Answer
안
I. 오늘 공부 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 공부 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} [o-neul gong-bu ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] (I do not study today.)
Answer
안
J. 오늘 일 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 일 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} [o-neul il ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] (I do not work today.)
Answer
안
 

Exercise 2 — 못: Inability

A. 저는 ____ 가요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 \_\_\_\_ 가요.}} [jeo-neun ＿＿＿＿ ga-yo] (I cannot go.)
Answer
못
B. 오늘 ____ 와요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 \_\_\_\_ 와요.}} [o-neul ＿＿＿＿ wa-yo] (I cannot come today.)
Answer
못
C. 저는 ____ 먹어요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 \_\_\_\_ 먹어요.}} [jeo-neun ＿＿＿＿ meo-geo-yo] (I cannot eat.)
Answer
못
D. 오늘 ____ 가요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 \_\_\_\_ 가요.}} [o-neul ＿＿＿＿ ga-yo] (I cannot go today.)
Answer
못
E. 저는 ____ 와요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 \_\_\_\_ 와요.}} [jeo-neun ＿＿＿＿ wa-yo] (I cannot come.)
Answer
못
F. 오늘 ____ 먹어요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 \_\_\_\_ 먹어요.}} [o-neul ＿＿＿＿ meo-geo-yo] (I cannot eat today.)
Answer
못
G. 공부 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{공부 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} [gong-bu ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] (I cannot study.)
Answer
못
H. 일 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{일 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} [il ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] (I cannot work.)
Answer
못
I. 오늘 공부 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 공부 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} [o-neul gong-bu ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] (I cannot study today.)
Answer
못
J. 오늘 일 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 일 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} [o-neul il ＿＿＿＿ hae-yo] (I cannot work today.)
Answer
못
 

Exercise 3 — 안 or 못?

A. I do not go today. → 오늘\color{purple}{\text{오늘}} ＿＿＿＿ 가요.\color{purple}{\text{가요.}}
Answer
안 — simple “do not.”
B. I cannot go today. → 오늘\color{purple}{\text{오늘}} ＿＿＿＿ 가요.\color{purple}{\text{가요.}}
Answer
못 — cannot / be unable to.
C. I do not eat. → 저는\color{purple}{\text{저는}} ＿＿＿＿ 먹어요.\color{purple}{\text{먹어요.}}
Answer
안 — simple negation.
D. I cannot come. → 저는\color{purple}{\text{저는}} ＿＿＿＿ 와요.\color{purple}{\text{와요.}}
Answer
못 — inability.
E. I do not study. → 공부\color{purple}{\text{공부}} ＿＿＿＿ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{해요.}}
Answer
안 — 공부 안 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 안 해요}}.
F. I cannot study. → 공부\color{purple}{\text{공부}} ＿＿＿＿ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{해요.}}
Answer
못 — 공부 못 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 못 해요}}.
G. I do not come. → 저는\color{purple}{\text{저는}} ＿＿＿＿ 와요.\color{purple}{\text{와요.}}
Answer
안 — simple “do not.”
H. I cannot eat today. → 오늘\color{purple}{\text{오늘}} ＿＿＿＿ 먹어요.\color{purple}{\text{먹어요.}}
Answer
못 — cannot eat.
I. I do not work. → 일\color{purple}{\text{일}} ＿＿＿＿ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{해요.}}
Answer
안 — 일 안 해요\color{purple}{\text{일 안 해요}}.
J. I cannot work. → 일\color{purple}{\text{일}} ＿＿＿＿ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{해요.}}
Answer
못 — 일 못 해요\color{purple}{\text{일 못 해요}}.
 

Exercise 4 — 하다 Verb Placement

A. 공부 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{공부 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} (I do not study.)
Answer
안
B. 공부 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{공부 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} (I cannot study.)
Answer
못
C. 일 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{일 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} (I do not work.)
Answer
안
D. 일 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{일 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} (I cannot work.)
Answer
못
E. 오늘 공부 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 공부 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} (I do not study today.)
Answer
안
F. 오늘 공부 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 공부 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} (I cannot study today.)
Answer
못
G. 오늘 일 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 일 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} (I do not work today.)
Answer
안
H. 오늘 일 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 일 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} (I cannot work today.)
Answer
못
I. ❌ 안 공부해요\color{purple}{\text{안 공부해요}} → ✅
Answer
공부 안 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 안 해요}}
J. ❌ 못 공부해요\color{purple}{\text{못 공부해요}} → ✅
Answer
공부 못 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 못 해요}}
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery

A. 안\color{purple}{\text{안}} means ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
not / do not
B. 못\color{purple}{\text{못}} means ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
cannot / be unable to
C. For “cannot,” use ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
못
D. For simple “not,” use ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
안
E. 저는 ____ 가요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 \_\_\_\_ 가요.}} (I cannot go.)
Answer
못
F. 저는 ____ 가요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 \_\_\_\_ 가요.}} (I do not go.)
Answer
안
G. 오늘 ____ 먹어요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 \_\_\_\_ 먹어요.}} (I cannot eat today.)
Answer
못
H. 오늘 ____ 와요.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 \_\_\_\_ 와요.}} (I do not come today.)
Answer
안
I. 공부 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{공부 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} (I do not study.)
Answer
안
J. 공부 ____ 해요.\color{purple}{\text{공부 \_\_\_\_ 해요.}} (I cannot study.)
Answer
못
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Vocabulary Box
  • 안\color{purple}{\text{안}} → not / do not
  • 못\color{purple}{\text{못}} → cannot / be unable to
  • 저는\color{purple}{\text{저는}} → I
  • 오늘\color{purple}{\text{오늘}} → today
  • 가요\color{purple}{\text{가요}} → go
  • 와요\color{purple}{\text{와요}} → come
  • 먹어요\color{purple}{\text{먹어요}} → eat
  • 해요\color{purple}{\text{해요}} → do
  • 공부\color{purple}{\text{공부}} / 공부해요\color{purple}{\text{공부해요}} → study
  • 일\color{purple}{\text{일}} / 일해요\color{purple}{\text{일해요}} → work
  • 공부 안 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 안 해요}} → I do not study
  • 공부 못 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 못 해요}} → I cannot study
  • 일 안 해요\color{purple}{\text{일 안 해요}} → I do not work
  • 일 못 해요\color{purple}{\text{일 못 해요}} → I cannot work
Tip 💡 안 = simple negation. 못 = inability.