[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"pubgrp:kg-negation:ko:en":3},{"type":4,"slug":5,"title":6,"level":7,"goal":8,"image_path":9,"is_locked":10,"is_daily_free":10,"formula":11,"gloss":8,"desc":15,"desc_audio":9,"voices":16,"examples":17,"fills":54,"choices":55},"grammar","kg-negation","Negation (안 \u002F 못 \u002F -지 않다)","elementary","Three ways to say \"not\" in Korean: 안, 못, and ~지 않다",null,false,[12,13,14],"Verb + 안 (simple negation)","Verb + 못 (inability\u002Finability to complete)","Noun\u002FVerb + ~지 않다 (formal negation)","English speakers are used to a single negation tool: **\"not\"** works the same way regardless of context. You say \"I don't eat meat,\" \"I can't run fast,\" and \"I don't like rain\" all with the same negation structure. Korean, however, distinguishes **three different negation systems** based on the *reason* or *nature* of the negation—and this distinction reflects how Korean speakers think about what's being denied.\n\n**The core difference:** In English, negation is about objective truth (something is not the case). In Korean, negation is about **why** something isn't happening—is it a choice, an inability, or a state? This is a fundamental mindset difference.\n\n**`안` (ahn)** means \"I choose not to\" or \"I refuse to.\" It's the negation of **will\u002Fintention**. You eat meat → I *choose not to* eat meat. You speak Korean → I *choose not to* speak Korean. The action is possible, but the speaker rejects it. **`안` is about volitional refusal.**\n\n**`못` (mot)** means \"I cannot\" or \"I lack the ability\u002Fcircumstance.\" It's the negation of **ability or possibility**. You can run fast → I *cannot* run fast (I'm not fast enough). You understand Chinese → I *cannot* understand Chinese (I don't have that skill). The action would be nice, but external circumstances or personal inability prevent it. **`못` is about obstruction—something blocks you.**\n\n**`지 않다`** is a more formal, literary, or emphatic way to negate. It's often used in written Korean, formal speech, or when you want to emphasize the negation itself. It can apply to either `안` or `못` contexts, but it feels more objective and detached—like stating a fact rather than expressing a personal stance.\n\n**Why this matters for learners:** When English speakers say \"I don't eat meat,\" they might mean \"I choose not to\" OR \"I can't eat it (allergic).\" Korean forces you to be specific. This reflects a cultural\u002Flinguistic priority: **Korean pays attention to agency and causation.** Is the negation under your control (choice) or beyond it (inability)? This tiny distinction shows up constantly in natural Korean and reveals how the language is built on specificity about human agency.",[],[18,24,30,36,42,48],{"en":19,"ko":20,"ko_audio":21,"audio":22,"audios":23},"저는 커피를 안 마셔요.","I don't drink coffee. (by choice\u002Fpreference)","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Ftrans_audio\u002F791938c3-b41e-4be1-af05-86fa1f733be2.mp3","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Fblock_audio\u002F444882db-40f2-4e13-856c-74dfdd0fc30e.mp3",{},{"en":25,"ko":26,"ko_audio":27,"audio":28,"audios":29},"지금 시간이 없어서 못 가요.","I can't go right now because I don't have time. (circumstances prevent it)","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Ftrans_audio\u002F9e2cb4a5-e92e-4be5-90b7-16ed7fa49db9.mp3","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Fblock_audio\u002F66066c53-92c4-4303-8c27-bf75620a3d1f.mp3",{},{"en":31,"ko":32,"ko_audio":33,"audio":34,"audios":35},"고양이는 물을 좋아하지 않아요.","Cats don't like water. (formal\u002Fneutral statement of fact)","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Ftrans_audio\u002F37f3c69f-fa0d-451a-8c38-af773b50858e.mp3","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Fblock_audio\u002Ffb11c0ea-880c-485d-9c70-87d104e40283.mp3",{},{"en":37,"ko":38,"ko_audio":39,"audio":40,"audios":41},"오늘은 일이 많아서 영화를 못 봐요.","I can't watch a movie today because I have a lot of work. (unable to complete due to circumstances)","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Ftrans_audio\u002F848f8683-36f1-4da6-a10b-ba753af0efff.mp3","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Fblock_audio\u002F58c9e780-096d-44a5-b498-959a15eed718.mp3",{},{"en":43,"ko":44,"ko_audio":45,"audio":46,"audios":47},"우리 엄마는 매운 음식을 안 먹어요.","My mom doesn't eat spicy food. (won't, by choice\u002Fhabit)","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Ftrans_audio\u002Fc441f9cf-d3cf-487b-9a5a-cc7a7249f59c.mp3","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Fblock_audio\u002Fd9e3d5c7-7f00-4cbb-b1ba-78d4ac8703f8.mp3",{},{"en":49,"ko":50,"ko_audio":51,"audio":52,"audios":53},"그 영화는 재미있지 않아요.","That movie is not interesting. (formal\u002Fneutral negation of a state)","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Ftrans_audio\u002Fe0ccc60d-c789-4609-be61-5f7cd0845e10.mp3","https:\u002F\u002Fpub-96bedcbbfd0f4e5d82c4505745cced9c.r2.dev\u002Fblock_audio\u002F53d1281f-477e-434d-965e-5aaaaf3788fe.mp3",{},[],[56,68,79],{"ko":57,"options":58},"Which negation would you use if someone asks 'Do you like sushi?' and you answer because you choose not to eat it?",[59,62,64,66],{"t":60,"ok":61},"좋아하지 않아요 (using ~지 않다)",true,{"t":63,"ok":10},"좋아하지 못해요 (using 못)",{"t":65,"ok":10},"좋아하지 안 해요 (incorrect usage)",{"t":67,"ok":10},"싫어해요 (using a different word—'hate')",{"ko":69,"options":70},"Your friend asks if you can come to the party, but you have to work late. Which negation fits best?",[71,73,75,77],{"t":72,"ok":10},"안 갈 거예요 (I won't go—by choice)",{"t":74,"ok":61},"못 갈 거예요 (I can't go—due to circumstances)",{"t":76,"ok":10},"~지 않을 거예요 (technically correct but too formal)",{"t":78,"ok":10},"싫어해요 (I hate it—too negative)",{"ko":80,"options":81},"Your younger sibling refuses to eat vegetables. How do you describe this habit to a friend?",[82,84,86,88],{"t":83,"ok":10},"못 먹어요 (can't eat)",{"t":85,"ok":61},"안 먹어요 (won't eat, by choice)",{"t":87,"ok":10},"먹지 않는다 (too formal\u002Fwritten)",{"t":89,"ok":10},"먹어야 한다 (should eat—opposite meaning)"]