Korean Pattern ~지 않다: How to Say "do not ~ (long negation)"

Verb/Adj stem + 지 않다. Long-form negation. More formal than 안 + verb (short form).

The Rule

~지 않다 = "do not ~ (long negation)" Verb/Adj stem + 지 않다. Long-form negation. More formal than 안 + verb (short form). This is one of the essential Korean grammar patterns. Mastering it unlocks the ability to express "do not ~ (long negation)" naturally in conversation — something you'll need almost every day.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

In English, "do not ~ (long negation)" is expressed with separate words (auxiliary verbs, modals). In Korean, ~지 않다 is a grammatical ENDING attached to the verb stem. You can't just translate word-by-word. The common mistake: trying to combine Korean words the way English does instead of attaching the pattern to the verb stem. Korean grammar works by stacking endings, not by adding separate helper words.

How It Works

Formation: Verb stem + 지 않다 Verb/Adj stem + 지 않다. Long-form negation. More formal than 안 + verb (short form). Step by step: 1. Take any verb (e.g., 가다 = to go) 2. Remove 다 to get the stem (가) 3. Add the pattern: 가지 않다 This works with virtually any Korean verb.

Real Examples

• 오늘은 바쁘지 않아요. (oneureun bappeuji anayo.) — "I'm not busy today." • 매운 음식을 좋아하지 않아요. (maeun eumsikeur johahaji anayo.) — "I don't like spicy food."

Common Mistakes

❌ Trying to translate "do not ~ (long negation)" word-by-word from English ✅ Use the pattern ~지 않다 attached to the verb stem → Korean expresses "do not ~ (long negation)" as a single grammatical construction, not separate words. ❌ Forgetting vowel harmony or consonant rules ✅ Check if the verb stem ends in a vowel or consonant — the pattern may change form → Pay attention to the verb stem's final sound when attaching the pattern.

Quick Tip

Practice ~지 않다 with 5 verbs you already know. Write them out: • 가다 (go) → 가지 않다 • 먹다 (eat) → 먹지 않다 Repetition with familiar verbs builds the pattern into muscle memory. Once automatic, you can use it with ANY verb.

~지 않다 = "do not ~ (long negation)"

Examples

오늘은 바쁘지 않아요. — oneureun bappeuji anayo. — I'm not busy today.

매운 음식을 좋아하지 않아요. — maeun eumsikeur johahaji anayo. — I don't like spicy food.