How to Negate Verbs/Adjectives in Korean by using -지 않다

This pattern is added to verbs and adjectives to negate an action or state. It is similar to ‘not’ in English. It can be formed by adding 안 to the front of verbs and adjectives or -지 않아요 to the end of verb and adjective stems.

How to negate the verb 가다 (to go):

안 +가다 -> 안 가요

가다 + -지 않아요 -> 가지 않아요

How to negate the adjective 크다 (big):

안 +크다 -> 안 커요

크다 + -지 않아요 -> 크지 않아요

Since verbs that end in 하다 are comprised of ‘Noun + 하다’， they are negated by adding 안 to the front of the verb 하다, forming ‘Noun 안 하다’. Adjectives, on the other hand, are negated by adding 안 to the front, as in ‘안 + Adjective'.

How to negate the verb 일하다 (to work):

안 + 일하다 -> 일 안 해요

일하다 + -지 않아요 -> 일하지 않아요

Please note, how to negate verbs 좋아하다 (to like) and 싫어하다 (to dislike):

좋아하다 -> 안 좋아하다

좋아하다 -> 좋아하지 않다

싫어하다 ->  안 싫어하다

싫어하다 ->  싫어하지 않다

Because both 좋아하다 (to like) and 싫어하다 (to dislike) are not verbs in the form of ‘Noun + 하다’, they are indivisible, single verbs.

How to negate the adjective 친절하다 (friendly):

안 + 친절하다 -> 안 친절해요 

친절하다 + -지 않아요 -> 친절하지 않아요

Although 안 and -지 않다 can be used in declarative and interrogative sentences, they cannot be used in imperative or propositive sentences.

For imperative or propositive sentences, e.g.:

Please don’t go. = 가지 마십시오.

What’s the difference between -지 안 않아/어요 and -지 못해요?