Usage
i) -지 않다 – Long negation
학교에 가지 않았다.
I didn’t go to school.
ii) -지 않아도 되다 – ‘Don’t have to X’
설명하지 않아도 돼.
You don’t have to explain.
iii) -지 않으면 안 되다 – ‘Must X’
숙제를 하지 않으면 안 돼요.
You must do your homework.
iv) -지 않을 수가 없다 – ‘Have no choice but to X’
궁금하지 않을 수가 없다
can’t help but wonder
v) -지 않고 있다 – In negative state X
사용되지 않고 있다
not being used
vi) -지 않고는 – ‘Unless X’
매일 연습을 하지 않고는 늘 수 없어요.
vii) -지 않고서(는) – ‘Unless X’
계란을 깨지 않고서는 오믈렛을 만들 수가 없어요.
You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs.
viii) 여간(만) -지 않다 – ‘Not just any ordinary X’
걔가 여간 예쁘지 않다.
She’s really beautiful.
ix) 못지 않게 – ‘As good as X’
철수는 요리사 못지 않게 요리를 잘 해.
철수 cooks as well as a chef.
x) 그렇지 않아도 – ‘Even without (saying) X’
그렇지 않아도 나도 너한테 물어보려고 했어.
I was just about to ask you the same thing.
xi) -M다지 않냐? – ‘Isn’t it said that X?’
한가위 달을 보면서 진심으로 소원을 빌면 이루어진다지 않냐?
Don’t they say a sincere wish upon the 한가위 moon will come true?
Conjugation
| Type | Example | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| AV (vowel) | 하다 | 하지 않다 |
| AV (cons.) | 듣다 | 듣지 않다 |
| DV (vowel) | 빠르다 | 빠르지 않다 |
| DV (cons.) | 어둡다 | 어둡지 않다 |
Where:
AV = action verb / processive verb.
DV = descriptive verb / ‘adjective’.
Contents
Introduction
i) -지 않다 – Long negation
ii) -지 않아도 되다 – ‘Don’t have to X’
iii) -지 않으면 안 되다 – ‘Must X’
iv) -지 않을 수가 없다 – ‘Have no choice but to X’
v) -지 않고 있다 – In negative state X
vi) -지 않고는 – ‘Unless X’
vii) -지 않고서(는) – ‘Unless X’
viii) 여간(만) -지 않다 – ‘Not just any ordinary X’
ix) 못지 않게 – ‘As good as X’
x) 그렇지 않아도 – ‘Even without (saying) X’
xi) -M다지 않냐? – ‘Isn’t it said that X?’
Additional details
Associated grammar
See also
Bibliography
User examples
Introduction
The form -지 않다 is attached to verbs and adjectives to make them negative actions or states. It is used in both declarative and interrogative sentences.
-지 않다 is an abbreviation of -지 아니하다 and negates the verb/adjective marked by -지. This -지 is historically a nominaliser, and the negative counterpart of -기.
-지 않다 is used in several grammatical forms, most notably -잖아(요) which progressed from negative questions.
i) -지 않다 – Long negation
The long negation pattern -지 않다 is used to create negative statements and questions. Here -지 attaches to the verb stem and 않다 follows after a space.
아직 결혼하지 않았다
not yet married
학교에 가지 않았다.
I didn’t go to school.
한글 맞춤법은 쉽지 않은가?
Isn’t 한글 spelling easy?
여자들은 달콤한 음식을 좋아하지 않냐?
Don’t girls like sweet things?
왜 이제까지 아무도 나에게 말해주지 않았을까요?
Why hasn’t anybody told me this before?
딱 봐도 성형한 티 많이 나지 않아?
Isn’t it obvious she got surgery?
This form negates both action and descriptive verbs. The only verb it can not negate is the positive copula (이다) which has its own negative form (아니다). -지 않다 is generally interchangeable with ‘안’ but with some differences. 안 is considered more colloquial whereas -지 않다 is more bookish. 안 can sound like an abrupt negation, while -지 않다 can be perceived as more formal. The choice between the two negation forms often comes down the speaker preference or rhythm and cadence. Finally, only -지 않다 tends to be used with -답다, -스럽다, -롭다 descriptive forms.
아름답지 않다
not beautiful
자연스럽지 않다
not natural
여유롭지 않다
not enough
-지도 않다
Particle 도 (meaning ‘even’) can attach to -지 to express ‘not even X’.
걔는 이쁘지도 않다.
She’s not even pretty.
이제 내 말은 듣지도 않아.
He doesn’t even listen to what I say now.
너는 농구를 잘하지도 않으면서 왜 경기에 출전했니?
Why did you even enter the basketball competition if you can’t play well?
-지는 않다
Particle 는 can attach to -지 to give contrast or emphasis.
걔는 이쁘지는 않다.
She’s not pretty (but has other qualities).
말대꾸를 하지는 않는데 말이야.
He doesn’t talk back at least (but he doesn’t listen)
내 동생이 머리가 좋긴 한데 공부를 잘하지는 않아.
Even though my brother is smart he doesn’t study well (like he should).
운동을 열심히 하지만 재능이 있지는 않다.
He plays hard but doesn’t have the talent.
-지가 않다
Particle 가 (with its emphatic effect) can attach to -지 to express ‘so NOT X’.
걔는 이쁘지가 않다.
She’s so not pretty.
난 아직도 그 사실이 믿기지가 않는다.
I still don’t believe that.
이 게임은 재밌지가 않다.
This game is really no fun.
-지를 않다
Particle 를 (with its emphatic effect) can attach to -지 to express ‘disappointment in X’.
걔는 이쁘지를 않다.
She’s not pretty (and I’m disappointed by that).
말을 듣질 않아.
He doesn’t listen.
-지만 않다
Particle 만 (meaning ‘only’) can attach to -지 to express ‘not only X’.
걔는 이쁘지만 않다.
She’s not just pretty (there’s even more).
Furthermore, particle 은/는 (with its emphatic effect) can be added to -만 for additional emphasis.
걔는 이쁘지만은 않다.
She’s not just pretty (there’s EVEN MORE).
Questions with -지 않아
• Details in this sub-section are largely taken from (From Kim 2016)
Questions with -지 않아 can be interpreted in three ways, basically.
철수가 학교에 가지 않아?
a) 철수 doesn’t go to school?
b) Doesn’t 철수 go to school?
c) 철수 goes to school, doesn’t he?
In a), the speaker is simply asking a negative question.
In b), the speaker is asking a positive question while requesting confirmation.
In c), the speaker is asking a positive question while requesting agreement.
By far, the most common use of -지 않아 questions is c), and the least common is a). This is important because most of the time, speakers aren’t asking true questions with -지 않아. Instead, they believe their assumption to be true and are seeking agreement from the other person.
While this break down the sentence may seem over-exacting, the differences between a), b) and c) are illustrative of both -지(요) and -잖아. These grammar points have been suggested to relate to speaker certainty and understanding of knowledge between speakers, respectively. This is seen in the continuum from a) to c), where the speaker is least certain with a) and most certain with c).
ii) -지 않아도 되다 – ‘Don’t have to X’
The ending -지 않아도 되다 combines -지 않다 with the permissive construction -어도 되다 to mean ‘don’t have to (do something)’.
설명하지 않아도 돼.
You don’t have to explain.
-어도 되다 Example:
사진을 찍어도 돼요?
Can I take a picture?
This pattern is not so much a negative of -어도 되다 (may do), but rather the opposite of -어야 되다 (have to). The basic meaning is ‘do not have to’. Here the speaker expresses a condition as being not necessary. A more literal meaning of this ending is ‘even if you don’t do X, that is okay’.
줄 서지 않아도 됩니다.
You don’t have to stand in line.
공부를 그렇게 열심히 하지 않아도 된다.
You don’t need to study so hard.
다 먹지 않아도 돼.
It’s okay not to eat it all.
iii) 지 않으면 안 되다 – ‘Must X’
The ending -지 않으면 안 되다 combines -지 않다 with the conditional construction -(으)면 안 되다 to mean ‘must (do something)’.
숙제를 하지 않으면 안 돼요.
You must do your homework.
-(으)면 안 되다 Example:
일찍 가면 안 돼요.
You cannot go early.
While –(으)면 안 되다 means ‘cannot (do something)’, -지 않으면 안 되다 is the opposite and means ‘must (do something)’. Here the speaker expresses a condition as being necessary. A more literal meaning of this ending is ‘if you don’t do X, that is not okay’.
운전 시에는 속도를 지키지 않으면 안 된다.
You must stick to the speed limit on the driving test.
선생님 말씀을 잘 듣지 않으면 안 된다.
You have to listen carefully to the teacher.
내일 시험이니 공부를 열심히 하지 않으면 안 된다.
The test is tomorrow so you need to study hard.
횡단보도를 건널 때 좌우를 보지 않으면 안 된다.
You have to look left and right when at the pedestrian crossing.
iv) -지 않을 수가 없다 – ‘Have no choice but to X’
The ending -지 않을 수(가) 없다 combines -지 않다 with the inability construction -ㄹ 수(가) 없다 to mean ‘have no choice but to (do something)’.
궁금하지 않을 수가 없다
can’t help but wonder
-ㄹ 수(가) 없다 Example:
믿을 수가 없어.
I can’t believe it.
While –ㄹ 수(가) 없다 means ‘unable to (do something)’, -지 않을 수(가) 없다 means ‘I can’t help it but to (do something). Here the speaker expresses what they are not unable to do. With this double negative comes the meaning of ‘I have no choice/option other than to do X’. Particle 가 is optionally used for emphatic effect, or for rhythmic purposes (where it rolls off the tongue).
놀라지 않을 수 없었다
couldn’t help but be surprised
부탁을 들어 주지 않을 수가 없어요.
I can’t help doing the favour.
난 그를 보면 웃지 않을 수 없어.
I can’t help but laugh when I see him.
옷이 너무 예뻐서 사지 않을 수가 없다.
The clothes were so beautiful that I had to buy them.
철수는 어리석다고 하지 않을 수 없어요.
철수 is very foolish.
There is no way of not saying 철수 is foolish.
v) -지 않고 있다 – In negative state X
-지 않고 있다 can simply be used to describe something as being in a constant negative state.
사용되지 않고 있다
not being used
아빠가 아직 안와서 밥을 먹지 않고 있다.
We’re not eating because Dad isn’t here yet.
Additionally, -지 않고 있다 can (at times) be used to present an implication upon something in a negative state.
Compare:
아기가 자고 있지 않는다.
The baby isn’t sleeping.
아기가 자지 않고 있다.
The baby isn’t sleeping (though it needs rest it isn’t falling asleep).
-지 않고 있다 is the less common variant because negation tends to happen at the very end. This can be used to imply the baby should be sleeping, but isn’t. The implication in these sentences can be either positive or negative.
철수가 공부를 하지 않고 있어요.
철수 isn’t studying (he must feel confident about the test tomorrow |or| even though he has a test tomorrow).
화를 내지 않고 있다.
I’m not angry (though a lesser person would be |or| but am boiling inside).
영희는 아직 결혼하지 않고 있어.
영희 still isn’t married (she seems to be doing well for herself |or| I’m worried about my daughter).
vi) -지 않고는 – ‘Unless X’
The connective ending -지 않고는 combines -지 않다 with the emphatic sequential construction -고는 to mean ‘unless X happens’.
매일 연습을 하지 않고는 늘 수 없어요.
You cannot improve unless you practice every day.
-고는 Example:
일어서고는 노래를 부르기 시작했다.
Stood up and began to sign.
This pattern gets its ‘unless’ meaning from -지 않다 (meaning ‘without’) and the sequencing with -고 + emphatic 는. It basically means that following event/state cannot occur without the prior event/state. Here the speaker expresses what cannot happen next unless X occurs.
아침을 먹지 않고는 일 할 수가 없다.
You cannot work without having breakfast.
비행기를 타지 않고는 하와이에 갈 수가 없다.
You cannot go abroad without taking an aeroplane.
직접 해보지 않고는 모른다.
Can’t tell without witnessing it first-hand.
vii) -지 않고서(는) – ‘Unless X’
This connective ending is very similar in meaning to -지 않고는; but with a stronger sense of ‘X is absolutely necessary for Y to occur’. Here 않고서(는) combines -지 않다 with the emphatic sequential construction -고서(는) to mean ‘unless X happens’.
계란을 깨지 않고서는 오믈렛을 만들 수가 없어요.
You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs.
-고서(는) Example:
아침을 급하게 먹고서는 서둘러 출근했다.
Quickly ate breakfast and went to work.
This pattern gets its ‘unless’ meaning from -지 않 (meaning ‘without’) and the sequencing with -고서. Note that the addition of 서 to -고 ’tightens’ the relationship between entities. Optional use of emphatic 는 heightens the effect of this. Here the speaker expresses what absolutely must happen for Y to occur.
교복도 입지 않고서 학교에 왔다
You cannot go to school without your uniform.
경험해보지 않고서는 이 일이 얼마나 힘든지 모른다.
You cannot tell how difficult this task is without the experience.
노력하지 않고서 성공하기 어렵다.
You cannot attain success without the effort.
viii) 여간(만) -지 않다 – ‘Not just any ordinary X’
The ending -여간(만) -지 않다 combines 여간 (如干) meaning ‘ordinarily’ with -지 않다 to mean ‘not just any ordinary X’.
걔가 여간 예쁘지 않다.
(She’s not JUST beautiful) She’s REALLY beautiful.
여간 Example:
여간 아닌 미인
a rare beauty
This pattern is used to describe anything out of the ordinary. Particle 만 can be added to 여간 to heighten something as being extremely out of the ordinary.
이불 빨래는 여간 힘들지 않다.
Washing the bedding is really difficult.
• While this pattern is for verb/adjectives, nouns can be expressed with 여간(만) ㅁㅁ이/가 아니다.
ix) 못지 않게 – ‘As good as X’
The comparative ending -못지 않게 combines -못하다 meaning ‘poor at’, ‘not as good as’ and -지 않다 to create a double negative to mean ‘as good as X’. -게 is used here to create an adverbial-like ending.
철수는 요리사 못지 않게 요리를 잘 해.
철수 cooks as well as a chef.
Here the subject is being described as being as good as, or better than, whatever it is compared with.
• Note that 못지않다 is a verb in its own right and perhaps because of this, 못지 않게 is most often spelt without a space.
전문가 못지 않게 실력이 있다.
She’s as good as an expert.
철수 못지않게 영희도 영어를 잘한다.
영희 is just as good at English as 철수.
탐은 한국인 못지 않게 한국어를 잘 사용한다.
Tom can use Korean as good as a Korean.
걔는 화가 못지 않게 그림을 잘 그린다.
She can paint as good as an artist.
너희 반도 우리 반 못지 않게 잘했잖아.
Your class did just as well as ours.
x) 그렇지 않아도 – ‘Even without (saying) X’
This phrase is used by speakers to express their intention — which they had in mind even before they were given a coincidental feed.
그렇지 않아도 나도 너한테 물어보려고 했어.
I was just about to ask you the same thing.
Here 그렇지 refers to the prior context X (an event or something said). -지 않다 combines with -어도 (even though) to mean ‘even without’.
-어도 Example:
비가 와도 갈 거야.
I’ll go even if it’s raining.
Together this creates a phrase meaning ‘Even without X occurring’, or ‘Even without saying X’. This used to describe what one originally intended to do, even before a prior context occurred.
그렇지 않아도 이제 막 전화하려고 했는데.
I was just about to call you now.
그렇지 않아도 나도 그런 생각을 했어.
That’s just what I was thinking.
xi) -M다지 않냐? – ‘Isn’t it said that X?’
This pattern creates a negative question with the meaning of ‘Isn’t it so?’. The quotative pattern -M다고 하다 is usually abbreviated here to -M다 하다.
한가위 달을 보면서 진심으로 소원을 빌면 이루어진다지 않냐?
Don’t they say a sincere wish upon the 한가위 moon will come true?
Here it is like saying: “Isn’t it well known that X (and therefore what reason is there to disagree with me)?”. The quotative form is used here to obviate further discussion.
팔은 안으로 굽는다지 않냐?
Don’t they say arms bend inwards?
People favour those who are close to them (arms bend inwards) rather than extending beyond their circles (extend outwards).
철수가 이번에 중국에 갔다왔다지 않냐?
Didn’t you say 철수 went to China this time?
Additional details
General
• 않다 is an abbreviation of 아니하다 which existed until the late 19th century.
Associated grammar
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See also
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Bibliography
Affiliate links help support uK.
— Chang, S.J. (1996). Korean. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
— Cho, H., Kim, U., Kwon, J., Jeong, H., Lee, S., Son, J., & Kim, K. (2008). Master Korean 4-2 Intermediate. Paju-si: Darakwon
— Choo, M., & Kwak, H. (2008). Using Korean: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. New York: Cambridge University Press.
— Ihm, H.B., Hong, K.P., & Chang, S.I. (2001). Korean Grammar for International Learners. Seoul: Yonsei University Press.
— Lee, K. (1993). A Korean Grammar on Semantic-Pragmatic Principles. Seoul: Hanʼguk Munhwasa.
— Kim, A. Revisiting Korean long form negative question: A usage-based perspective. (2016). Linguistic Research, 33(3), 371–394.
— Sells, P. (2015). Negation and Negative Polarity Items. In L. Brown & J. Yeon (Eds.), The Handbook of Korean Linguistics. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
— Yeon, J., & Brown, L. (2008). Korean: A Comprehensive Grammar. New York: Routledge.