13

There are two ways to negate Korean verbs:

  • By prepending 안 ("안 춥다")
  • By appending -지 않다 ("춥지 않다")

Are there rules for which one to use? Or does the method used change the meaning of the sentence?

Improve this question
1
  • Can't use '안' several times. For example can't use '안 안 춥다'. But totally acceptable to use -지 않다 repeatedly. e.g. '춥지 않지 않지 않다' or '안 춥지 않지 않지 않다'
    – MrTanorus
    Mar 27, 2021 at 11:13

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5

안 comes from the shortened form of 아니다

The negation 않 comes from the shortened form of 아니하다

Both work the same way in terms of negating verbs or adjectives, but the longer form ~지 않다 is used more in formal situations

But perhaps another common difference would be the fact that 아니다 can be used as a statement in itself as a negative response. For example,

가: 집에 있어요?
나: 아니예요.

http://organickorean.com/korean-negation-안-지-않다-dont-isnt-vs-못-지-못하다-cant/

Improve this answer
4

Prepending 안 is more casual while appending 지 않다 is more formal. But under many situations you can use them interchangeably.

One another trend is that for long verbs, appending 지 않다 is preferred. For example, the negate form of 거짓말하다 ('to lie') is usually 거짓말하지 않다. In this case 안 거짓말하다 seems really unnatural. On the contrary, short verbs such as 먹다 can comfortably take two forms: 안 먹다 and 먹지 않다.

Improve this answer
6
  • Negating 거짓말하다 would be 거짓말(을) 안 하다, isn't it?
    – 파울울
    Jun 23, 2016 at 7:43
  • 2
    If the original form was 거짓말을 하다 then the negation would be 거짓말을 안 하다, because the verb is 하다. On the other hand in 거짓말하다 the verb is 거짓말하다. So the two are similar but yet different. But I'm not 100% sure about whether there is a rule about negating 거짓말하다 into 거짓말을 안 하다 or not. To my knowledge 거짓말을 안 하다 is only a negation of 거짓말을 하다. I'm sorry that I cannot give you a good explanation about grammar. You know, in any language native speakers are actually very weak about explaning grammars. Excuse me!
    – JSong
    Jun 23, 2016 at 8:02
  • I see. I learned that with 하다 verbs, 안 will usually placed before 하다. Can you give an example when "안 ㅡㅡ하다" could be used? 안 공부했어 sounds awkward doesn't it?
    – 파울울
    Jun 23, 2016 at 10:45
  • 3
    That's a good question! I had to think a lot! These are the examples: 통하다 and 취하다. The negation forms are 안 통하다, 통하지 않다 and 안 취하다, 취하지 않다, respectively. In those cases 통 안하다, 취 안하다 are incorrect.
    – JSong
    Jun 23, 2016 at 15:08
  • @JSong is it legit then to use 거짓말을 않다?
    – busukxuan
    Jun 23, 2016 at 18:37

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.