Learn Korean for Free | Beginner Korean Grammar #11
Sometimes you need to say that you do not eat meat, a place is not far, or today is not busy. The pattern -지 않아요 makes a polite negative sentence without changing for vowels or consonants.
What Does A/V-지 않아요 Mean?
Attach -지 않아요 to an adjective or verb stem to mean “do not,” “does not,” or “is not.” It is especially useful when you want the negative action or state to be clear.
The Rule
Remove 다 from the dictionary form and add 지 않아요: 먹다 → 먹지 않아요, 가다 → 가지 않아요, 바쁘다 → 바쁘지 않아요. Write 않아요 as a separate word from the -지 form.
Useful Korean Words
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 먹다 | to eat |
| 마시다 | to drink |
| 가다 | to go |
| 비싸다 | to be expensive |
| 멀다 | to be far |
| 바쁘다 | to be busy |
| 어렵다 | to be difficult |
| 좋아하다 | to like |
Korean Grammar Examples
저는 고기를 먹지 않아요.
I do not eat meat.
오늘은 커피를 마시지 않아요.
I am not drinking coffee today.
학교가 멀지 않아요.
The school is not far.
이 식당은 비싸지 않아요.
This restaurant is not expensive.
한국어 공부가 어렵지 않아요.
Studying Korean is not difficult.
A Short Dialogue
A: 오늘 도서관에 가요? — Are you going to the library today?
B: 아니요, 오늘은 가지 않아요. 집에서 공부해요. — No, I’m not going today. I study at home.
A Common Mistake to Avoid
Do not attach 안 and -지 않아요 together. 안 먹어요 and 먹지 않아요 are both negative, but 안 먹지 않아요 normally creates a different, double-negative meaning. Also remember that noun sentences use N이/가 아니에요, not N지 않아요.
Quick Quiz 🎯
Change each sentence into a polite negative sentence: ① 커피를 마셔요. ② 방이 커요. ③ 주말에 일해요. ④ 음식이 매워요.
Answers and Explanation
① 커피를 마시지 않아요. ② 방이 크지 않아요. ③ 주말에 일하지 않아요. ④ 음식이 맵지 않아요. Start from the stem: 마시-, 크-, 일하-, 맵-. Then add 지 않아요.
Try It in Your Own Life
Say or write two original sentences with A/V-지 않아요. Use a person, place, food, class, or daily routine that is real for you. Then change one detail and say the new sentence aloud. This small change helps you practice the grammar as a speaking tool rather than memorizing only one example.
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