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Korean grammar - Negating 하다 verbs

Negating 하다 verbs

As we have already seen there are many common verbs in Korean that are formed by joining a noun and the verb 하다 (to do).

To negate these verbs insert or between the noun and 하다. The verb is split.

However there are certain fixed 하다 verbs that are never split in this way. These are not that common and will be covered in a later topic.

Also adjective 하다 verbs are never split. These are covered in the next topic.

Examples:
내일 의사는 일 안 해요.
Tomorrow the doctor is not working.

일해요 (to work) 해요

아기는 아직 말 못 해요!
Baby can't talk yet!

말해요 (to talk) 해요

오늘은 운동 안 해요.
(I) am not exercising today.

운동해요 (to exercise) 운동 해요

아버지는 요리 못 해요.
My father cannot cook.

요리해요 (to cook) 요리 해요

왜 언니는 숙제 안 해요?
Why isn't (my) sister doing homework?

숙제해요 (to do homework) 숙제 해요

매우 시끄러워요. 교수님은 생각 못 해요.
It's very noisy. The professor can't think.

생각해요 (to think) 생각 해요

For high status professions like 교수 (professor) it is common to add the honorific particle .

진수는 오늘 도착 안 해요.
Jinsu isn't arriving today.

도착해요 (to arrive) 도착 해요

수민이는 내일 출발 못 해요.
Sumin can't leave tomorrow.

출발해요 (to leave, to depart) 출발 해요

승희가 결혼 안 해요.
Seunghee is not getting married.

결혼해요 (to get married) 결혼 해요

왜 민수가 걱정 안 해요?
Why isn't Minsu worried?

걱정 해요 (to worry) 걱정해요

시끄러워요! 공부 못 해요!
It's noisy! (I) cannot study.

공부해요 (to study) 공부 해요