How to say “Can’t” in Korean? Posted by Soo on Apr 27, 2016 in Uncategorized
Today, you are going to learn how to say can’t in Korean, it is very useful just like “Can” you learned last week. It is very high frequency you need to know when you are learning Korean. The grammar point is “V.S. + 을/ㄹ 수 없다.” You have to use 을 with consonant ending and ㄹ with vowel ending. Please see the examples below with phonetic alphabet.
To meet 만나다
만나+ ㄹ 수 없다/ man nal soo eop da
I can’t meet you now/ 지금 만날 수 없어요/ ji kum man nal soo eop eo yo.
To eat 먹다
먹 + 을 수 없다 / meok eul soo eop da
I can’t eat now/지금 먹을 수 없어요/ ji kum meok eul soo eop eo yo.
To watch 보다
보 + ㄹ 수 없다/ bol soo eop da
I can’t watch now/ 지금 볼 수 없어요/ ji kum bol soo eop eo yo.
To wear 입다
입 + 을 수 없다다/ ip eul soo eop da
I can’t wear the shirt / 그 셔츠 입을 수 없어요/ gu shirt ip eul soo eop eo yo.
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About the Author: Soo
Soo came to America in 2002 for studying English and getting degrees in higher education. He’d never expected to work in America after he finished his college, but he got a great job in construction and had worked with them for three years. He also has working as a FT and PT Korean instructor and tutor for seven years in Korean and America. He got his TESOL certificate in 2011 and finished his master’s degree in 2014.
Comments:
Yet:
I have a couple of questions. I hope you can clarify.
1. I’m quite confused. Sample sentences in English uses ‘can’, but the title page indicates ‘How to say Can’t in Korean’.
2.없어요 – Why is ㅅ not pronounced? Why can’t it be eop-seo-yo?
Thanks!
Soo:
@Yet 1. I am so sorry about your confusion. I just corrected from “can” to “can’t” in the sample sentences.
2. It is pronunciation rule. When there is a Korean consonant “ㅇ” with vowels, the ending consonant links into “ㅇ”. “ㅇ” is not pronounced. So, “ㅇ” became “ㅅ” and it is pronounced. For instance, 없어요 -> /업서요/, 먹어요 -> /머거요/, 있어요-> /이써요/, 놀아요 ->/ 노라요/. Is it clear?
Yebin:
Yet- /업서요/ you can see ㅅ moves next.
Soo- It is correct answer. You already tells Yet’s question.