Soho Korean
  1. Grammar
  2. Life in Korea
  3. Saying no softly

Korean grammar · Life in Korea

N은/는 좀 · -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 · -아/어서 못 V

Saying no softly

Taught in Life in Korea, Unit 8: Making plans, saying no, being invited

Koreans do not often say 'no' straight. A refusal has a shape — sorry, soft word, reason, next time — and if you know the shape you can turn down an invitation without hurting anyone, and you can hear the 'no' inside someone else's soft sentence.

Example

  • 미안해요, 그날은 약속이 있어서 못 가요.

    Sorry, I've got plans that day, so I can't go.

The full explanation is in the unit · part of the Life in Korea Pass, opening soon · Life in Korea, Unit 8

Making plans, saying no, being invited

The rule with a table, Sori’s tips, practice that checks itself, a review room and a one-page cheat sheet.

See the unit preview →

Also in this unit