Korean for Beginners: Using “Noun + 이/가 아닙니다” to Say “Not” Politely

Hi, it’s Ayakim 👋
Today, we’re learning how to say “is not / are not” in Korean.

Previously, we learned the affirmative forms:

• Noun + 입니다 (“~ is” / formal)
• Noun + 이에요/예요 (“~ is” / polite spoken)

If you haven’t reviewed those yet (or if you forgot), start with this lesson first.

Alright—let’s get started! 🚀

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How to Make Statements and Questions with “Noun + 이/가 아닙니다” (not to be)

Let’s learn how to form sentences using today’s grammar pattern.
Here, we’ll look at both statements and questions.

The good news?
It’s simple — just attach the ending to the noun to express “is not / are not.”

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Statements (Negative form)

To make a negative statement, attach 이 아닙니다 / 가 아닙니다 to the noun.
Use a falling intonation, just like when making a regular statement in Korean.

A lower tone signals that you’re giving information, not asking a question.

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Questions

To form a question, change the ending to 이 아닙니까? / 가 아닙니까?

The ending ~ㅂ니까? is a formal question marker in Korean.
Use a rising intonation at the end to clearly show it’s a question.

가 or 이 — Which one should you use?

Before 아닙니다, you must attach either 가 or 이 to the noun.
So how do you know which one is correct?

The key point is: check whether the noun ends with a final consonant (받침).

Let’s walk through it step by step with examples.

5. Practice Exercises

That’s everything for today’s lesson!
Next, we’ll move on to the practice exercises.

The more you practice, the faster it will stick — so let’s keep going! 💪✨

A. Writing Practice (Make sentences using “Noun + 가/이 아닙니다” / “~ is not”)

Hints are provided for each sentence.

1. This is not water.
   Hint: 이것 / 물
2. I am not a student.
   Hint: 저는 / 학생
3. This place is not the restroom.
   Hint: 여기는 / 화장실
4. This person is not a singer.
   Hint: 이 사람은 / 가수
5. That building is not a café.
   Hint: 저 건물은 / 카페

B. Translation Practice (Korean → English)

6. 이것은 커피가 아닙니다.
   → English:
7. 저는 한국 사람이 아닙니다.
   → English:
8. 여기는 콘서트장이 아닙니다.
   → English:

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5. Answers with Romanization

A. Writing Practice (Noun + 가/이 아닙니다)

1. 이것은 물이 아닙니다.
   (igeoseun muri animnida)
   → This is not water.
2. 저는 학생이 아닙니다.
   (jeoneun haksaeng-i animnida)
   → I am not a student.
3. 여기는 화장실이 아닙니다.
   (yeogineun hwajangsil-i animnida)
   → This place is not the restroom.
4. 이 사람은 가수가 아닙니다.
   (i sarameun gasu-ga animnida)
   → This person is not a singer.
5. 저 건물은 카페가 아닙니다.
   (jeo geonmureun kape-ga animnida)
   → That building is not a café.

B. Translation Practice (Korean → English)

6. 이것은 커피가 아닙니다.
   (igeoseun keopi-ga animnida)
   → This is not coffee.
7. 저는 일본 사람이 아닙니다.
   (jeoneun ilbon saram-i animnida)
   → I am not Japanese.
8. 여기는 콘서트장이 아닙니다.
   (yeogineun konseoteu-jang-i animnida)
   → This is not the concert venue.

Summary

Today, we practiced the Korean formal negative form.
Next week, we’ll learn how to make the negative form of Noun + 이에요/예요 (“is/are”) — so stay tuned!

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Alright then — annyeong for now! 👋💜

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