-지 않다
do not, is not — long negation
The same meaning as 안, built the opposite way: instead of a word in front, an ending on the stem. Longer, steadier, and the default in writing.
Build it
Pick a verb
When to use it
Attach -지 to the plain stem and conjugate 않다 at the end: 가 + 지 않다 gives 가지 않아요. There is no vowel harmony and no consonant rule — every verb and adjective behaves the same way.
The one advantage over 안 is structural: 하다 verbs do not split. Where 안 forces 공부 안 해요, this ending gives the clean 공부하지 않아요. That regularity is part of why writing prefers it.
Both forms are equally polite. 안 is shorter and dominates speech; -지 않다 sounds more measured and turns up in essays, reports, and news, and in speech when someone is being emphatic or careful.
How to attach it
| Stem type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Any verb | -지 않다 | 가다 → 가지 않아요 |
| Any adjective | -지 않다 | 좋다 → 좋지 않아요 |
| 하다 verbs | no splitting | 공부하지 않아요 |
| Past | -지 않았다 | 가지 않았어요 |
| Formal | -지 않습니다 | 먹지 않습니다 |
| 있다, 알다 | use 없다, 모르다 | 없어요, 몰라요 |
In use
이 문제는 어렵지 않아요.
This problem isn’t difficult.
아직 결정하지 않았습니다.
I haven’t decided yet.
그 사람은 오지 않을 거예요.
He won’t be coming.
생각만큼 비싸지 않네요.
It isn’t as expensive as I thought.
담배를 피우지 않습니다.
I don’t smoke.
별로 어울리지 않는 것 같아요.
I don’t think it suits you very well.
Compared with
안
Identical meaning, different rhythm. 안 wins in conversation; -지 않다 wins in writing and whenever a 하다 verb would otherwise have to split.
공부 안 해요. (speech) / 공부하지 않아요. (writing)
-지 못하다
Swap 않다 for 못하다 and the meaning shifts from “do not” to “cannot.” The construction is otherwise the same.
가지 않았어요. (chose not to) / 가지 못했어요. (was unable to)
-지 말다
For telling someone not to do something, negation moves to 말다. 않다 cannot form a command.
가지 않아요. (I don’t go) / 가지 마세요. (please don’t go)
Watch out
저는 공부 하지 않아요.
저는 공부하지 않아요.
Unlike 안, this ending leaves 하다 verbs whole. Splitting them is a habit carried over from the short form.
시간이 있지 않아요.
시간이 없어요.
있다 has its own opposite. The same applies to 알다 and 모르다, whichever negation pattern you are using.
여기에서 담배를 피우지 않으세요.
여기에서 담배를 피우지 마세요.
않다 states a fact and cannot give an order. Requests and prohibitions use -지 말다.
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