How do you express inability in Korean? Both 못 + Verb and Verb + -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 mean “cannot”, but their tones and feelings differ:
- 못 + Verb (Short, Spoken, Casual & Direct): - Super common in daily spoken Korean. - 예: 수영 못해요 (I can't swim), 매운 거 못 먹어요 (I can't eat spicy food). - -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 (Clear, Formal, Explanatory): - Clearly highlights objective constraints or reasons. - 예: 약속이 있어서 갈 수 없어요 (I cannot go because I have an appointment). - 안 + Verb (Refusal / Choice): - “I don't (choose not to)”, NOT inability! - 예: 안 먹어요 (I am not eating / I don't eat), vs 못 먹어요 (I can't eat).
못 먹어요Personal inability (cannot eat) · 매운 거 못 먹어요 · I can't eat spicy food
먹을 수 없어요Objective inability / circumstance · 시간이 없어서 먹을 수 없어요 · Can't eat due to lack of time
안 먹어요Personal choice / refusal (won't eat) · 지금은 배불러서 안 먹어요 · I choose not to eat right now
Never mix up 안 해요 (I choose not to do it) with 못해요 (I lack the ability to do it)! If someone offers you delicious Korean food and you decline because you can't eat spicy food, say 못 먹어요, not 안 먹어요!
한국어를 조금 알지만 아직 유창하게 말할 수는 없어요.I know a little Korean, but I cannot speak fluently yet. (-(으)ㄹ 수 없다)
저는 운전을 못해요.I can’t drive. (못 + verb lack of skill)
다리를 다쳐서 운동할 수 없어요.I hurt my leg, so I cannot exercise. (Physical constraint)
연습 Practice
이 레슨에는 풀어 보는 문제가 6개 있습니다. 앱에서 하나씩 맞히며 넘어갑니다. 6 exercises come with this lesson — open it to work through them.
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