지 않다 (ji anta) means "not (long negation)".
Long form negation pattern.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Same form after any stem. 않다 anta carries the tense and politeness.
Build it
The forms you need
Not
가지 않아요gaji anayodon't goDidn't
가지 않았어요gaji anasseoyodidn't goFormal
가지 않습니다gaji anseumnidado not goCasual
가지 않아gaji anadon't go (to friends)When to use it
Plain negation
Works with verbs and adjectives.
Careful or written
Sounds more formal than 안 an.
"Isn't it?"
As a question, it expects a yes.
Watch out
Spelled 않 an, with a silent ㅎ.
Nouns take 아니다 anida, not 지 않다 ji anta.
For "not know", Korean uses 모르다 moreuda.
In context
8 examples- 1
먹지 않아요.
Meokji anayo.
I don't eat it.
- 2
맵지 않습니다.
Maepji anseumnida.
It is not spicy.
- 3
그 영화는 별로 재미있지 않았어요.
Geu yeonghwaneun byeollo jaemiitji anasseoyo.
That movie wasn't that fun.
- 4
걱정하지 않아도 돼요.
Geokjeonghaji anado dwaeyo.
You don't need to worry.
- 5
나는 커피를 마시지 않아.
Naneun keopireul masiji ana.
I don't drink coffee.
- 6
그 식당은 생각보다 비싸지 않았어요.
Geu sikdangeun saenggakboda bissaji anasseoyo.
That restaurant wasn't as expensive as I expected.
- 7
오늘 좀 덥지 않아요?
Oneul jom deopji anayo?
Isn't it kind of hot today?
- 8
이 제품은 어린이에게 적합하지 않습니다.
I jepumeun eoriniege jeokapaji anseumnida.
This product isn't suitable for children.
Practice
8 questions저는 의사이지 않아요.
Jeoneun uisaiji anayo.
I'm not a doctor.
지 않다 vs 안
They mean the same thing. 안 an is shorter and sounds more like everyday speech. 지 않다 ji anta sounds more careful, so it's what you'll see in writing, news and formal talk.
- 안 먹어요. an meogeoyo "I don't eat it." Chatty.
- 먹지 않아요. meokji anayo Same meaning, a little more formal.
The long form also saves you from the 하다 hada split: 공부하지 않아요 gongbuhaji anayo is fine as it is. The 안 vs 지 않다 comparison has more.
Not doing vs can't do
지 않다 ji anta is a choice or a fact. Its partner 지 못하다 ji motada means something stopped you:
- 술을 마시지 않아요. sureul masiji anayo "I don't drink." My choice.
- 술을 마시지 못해요. sureul masiji motaeyo "I can't drink." Something stops me.
See the 못 lesson for that one.
Two negatives make a "must"
지 않으면 안 되다 ji aneumyeon an doeda is literally "if you don't, it won't do". It's a strong way to say "have to":
- 오늘 끝내지 않으면 안 돼요. oneul kkeunnaeji aneumyeon an dwaeyo "I absolutely have to finish this today."
For the everyday version, see the 아/어야 하다 lesson.
Compare with similar particles
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 지 않다 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
