Can and Can't In Korean

Can And Can’t In Korean

In this Korean lesson, you will learn how to say can and can’t in Korean. Being able to say that you can do something or can’t do something can be super useful when communicating in Korean. Below, you’ll learn how to say can and can’t in Korean and how to ask and answer questions about ability in Korean.

β€˜Can’ In Korean: -(으)γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€

Can In Korean

To say β€˜can’ in Korean you attach –(으)γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€ to an action verb to indicate that you can do that action. For example, 읽닀 (to read) plus (으)γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€ (can) is 읽을 수 μžˆλ‹€ (can read).

Conjugation

When attaching (으)γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€ to a verb stem which ends in a consonant, 을 수 μžˆλ‹€ is added. Here are some examples:

  • λ¨Ήλ‹€ (to eat) + 을 수 μžˆλ‹€ = 먹을 수 μžˆλ‹€ (can eat)
  • 읽닀 (to read) + 을 수 μžˆλ‹€ = 읽을 수 μžˆλ‹€ (can read)

When attaching (으)γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€ to a verb stem which ends in a vowel, 으 is dropped and γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€ is added. Here are some examples:

  • ν•˜λ‹€ (to do) + γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€ = ν•  수 μžˆλ‹€ = (can do)
  • κ°€λ‹€ (to go) + γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€ = 갈 수 μžˆλ‹€ = (can go)

Exceptions: When attaching (으)γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€ to verb stems which end in γ„Ή, it follows a different conjugation rule. This is because all verbs ending with γ„Ή are irregular. When you want to conjugate a γ„Ή irregular verb with an ending which starts with (으)γ„Ή,Β you must drop (으)γ„Ή from the ending.

For example, μ‚΄λ‹€ (to live) + (으)γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€ = μ‚΄ 수 μžˆλ‹€ (can live). This is because 을 is dropped from the ending. So, it becomes μ‚΄λ‹€ + 수 μžˆλ‹€ which then becomes μ‚΄ 수 μžˆλ‹€.

Learn more about γ„Ή irregular verbs.

β€˜Can’t’ In Korean: -(으)γ„Ή 수 μ—†λ‹€

Can't in Korean

To say β€˜can’t’ in Korean you attach -(으)γ„Ή 수 μ—†λ‹€ to an action verb to indicate that you can’t do that action. For example, 읽닀 (to read) plus –(으)γ„Ή 수 μ—†λ‹€ (can’t) = 읽을 수 μ—†λ‹€ (can’t read).

Conjugation

When attaching -(으)γ„Ή 수 μ—†λ‹€ to a verb stem which ends in a consonant, 을 수 μ—†λ‹€ is added. Here are some examples:

  • λ¨Ήλ‹€ (to eat) + 을 수 μ—†λ‹€ = 먹을 수 μ—†λ‹€ (can’t eat)
  • 읽닀 (to read) + 을 수 μ—†λ‹€ = 읽을 수 μ—†λ‹€ (can’t read)

When attaching (으)γ„Ή 수 μ—†λ‹€ to a verb stem which ends in a vowel, 으 is dropped and γ„Ή 수 μ—†λ‹€ is added. Here are some examples:

  • ν•˜λ‹€ (to do) + γ„Ή 수 μ—†λ‹€ = ν•  수 μ—†λ‹€ = (can’t do)
  • κ°€λ‹€ (to go) + γ„Ή 수 μ—†λ‹€ = 갈 수 μ—†λ‹€ = (can’t go)

Exceptions: Again, with verbs that end in γ„Ή, the above rules don’t apply because γ„Ή verbs are irregular. As was mentioned above, when you want to conjugate a γ„Ή irregular verb with an ending which starts with (으)γ„Ή,Β you must drop (으)γ„Ή from the ending. So, when adding (으)γ„Ή 수 μ—†λ‹€ to a verb which ends in γ„Ή, 을 is dropped and you simply add 수 μ—†λ‹€. For example, μ‚΄λ‹€ (to live) + (으)γ„Ή 수 μ—†λ‹€ = μ‚΄ 수 μ—†λ‹€ (can’t live).

β€˜Can’t’ In Korean: λͺ»

Another way to say β€˜can’t’ in Korean is to use the word λͺ» [mot]. λͺ» is more common in spoken language as it is shorter and easier to say. To use λͺ» to say you cannot do something, you simply add λͺ» [mot] before a verb. Let’s look at some examples.

갈 수 μ—†λ‹€ = can’t go
λͺ» κ°€λ‹€ = can’t go

읽을 수 μ—†λ‹€ = can’t read
λͺ» 읽닀 = can’t read

Example Sentences

Here are some example sentences with questions and answers using β€˜can’ and can’t’ in Korean. (These sentences are all in the present tense.)

EnglishKoreanListen
Can you read Hangul?ν•œκΈ€μ„ 읽을 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”?
Yes. I can read Hangul.λ„€. ν•œκΈ€μ„ 읽을 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”.
Can you drive?μš΄μ „ν•  수 μžˆμ–΄μš”?
No. I can’t drive.μ•„λ‹ˆμš”. μš΄μ „ν•  수 μ—†μ–΄μš”.
Can you eat spicy food?맀운 μŒμ‹ 먹을 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”?
Yes. I can. I like spicy food.λ„€. 먹을 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”. 맀운 μŒμ‹μ„ μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”.

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