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부정
Geunjeongjeon.jpg · Asadal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

부정

Saying no — 안, -지 않다, 못

Don’t vs can’t, and the short 안 that you will hear constantly.

안 is the workhorse

before the verb: 안 가요 “I’m not going.” is inability or circumstantial “can’t”: 못 가요. Long form -지 않아요 is a bit more written or emphatic.

Noun negation uses 아니에요: 학생이 아니에요.

고기 안 먹어요.
gogi an meogeoyo.
I don’t eat meat.
한국어 잘 못 해요.
hangugeo jal mot haeyo.
I can’t speak Korean well.

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