🇰🇷 Korean phrases

How to Say "No" in Korean

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
아니요
"No" in Korean · say it like ah-nee-yoh

The most natural way to say "No" in Korean is 아니요. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

아니
used in casual conversations among friends
안 돼요
means 'not allowed' and can be used as a refusal

When to use it

Use '아니요' when you want to politely decline or disagree with something. It is appropriate in both formal and informal settings. In casual situations, you can simply say '아니'.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "No" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Korean

KoreanEnglish
아니요, 그건 맞지 않아요.No, that's not correct.
아니요, 저는 그걸 원하지 않아요.No, I don't want that.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse '아니요' with '아니', using the latter in formal situations, which is incorrect.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear 아니요, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Korean with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

When should I use '아니요' instead of '아니'?

'아니요' is more polite and should be used in formal situations, while '아니' is casual.

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