LEARN + KOREAN / 16 of 125 TOPIK I

I Can't, Not Won't 못 vs 안

You’re invited out, but you have no time: 오늘은 시간이 없어서 못 가요. Compare 안 가요, which simply negates going. Both sit before the verb; 못 specifically points to an obstacle or inability. 안 can negate an action or state without itself explaining the reason.

jeoneun uyureul an masyeoyo.

I don't drink milk.

jeoneun uyureul mot masyeoyo.

I can't drink milk.

Hint · 힌트

안 마셔요 says someone does not drink; it does not by itself specify why. 못 마셔요 presents drinking as something the person cannot manage. The obstacle may be skill, circumstances, or a personal difficulty. Let the context supply the reason rather than reading a medical explanation into the grammar alone.

jeoneun suyeongeul mot haeyo.

I can't swim.

tteokbokkireul mot meogeoyo.

I can't eat tteokbokki (too spicy).

pyoga eopseoseo konseoteue mot gayo.

I can't go to the concert, there are no tickets.

Hint · 힌트

없어서 in that last sentence means “because there are none,” built on 없다 plus a reason ending, -아서/-어서. That’s not the grammar point here, it gets its own note later, but it’s common enough that it’s worth spotting on sight before then.

oneul chingureul an mannayo.

I'm not meeting a friend today.

jigeum jeonhwareul an haeyo.

I'm not calling right now.

Vocabulary

Korean	English
수영 suyeong	swimming
콘서트 konseoteu	concert
표 pyo	ticket
전화 jeonhwa	phone call
아르바이트 areubaiteu	part-time job
술 sul	alcohol
담배 dambae	cigarette
운전 unjeon	driving
매운맛 maeunmat	spicy taste
알레르기 allereugi	allergy
힘들다 himdeulda	to be tough, hard (physically or mentally)
피곤하다 pigonhada	to be tired
아프다 apeuda	to be sick, to hurt
괜찮다 gwaenchanta	to be okay, fine
운전면허 unjeonmyeonheo	driver's license
다이어트 daieoteu	diet
채식주의자 chaesikjuuija	vegetarian
극복하다 geukbokhada	to overcome
어쩔 수 없다 eojjeol su eopda	it can't be helped
포기하다 pogihada	to give up

YOUR PROGRESS

Finished this lesson?

Save your place in this course.