Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 아니요 | aniyo | [a̠nijo] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 아뇨 | anyo | [a̠ɲo] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 아니 | ani | [a̠ni] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The primary usage of these forms is to express disagreement or negation as a particle. Note that if you wish to express that something does not exist (the meaning "not any"), you should use the related term 없다.
Which one should you use?
The different forms are categorized by their level of politeness and how they are used in speech. 아니요 is the standard polite form, while 아뇨 is a common contraction of 아니요 used frequently in spoken conversation. 아니 is the casual form used in informal settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
아니요 is the polite way to say no and is suitable for most social situations. 아뇨 is an informal and colloquial contraction often heard in speech.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word as a predicate within a sentence to mean "it is not," the informal form 아니야 is used. Additionally, when speaking to someone of higher status or in a professional setting, it is essential to use honorifics such as –습니다 (seumnida) or –요 (yo) alongside your speech.
How do you pronounce it?
aniyo
Did you know?
- A Korean speaker might answer 아니요 to a question but then proceed to agree with the statement. This occurs when they are negating the premise of the question rather than the fact itself.
- When someone gives a compliment, it is a common cultural custom to respond with 아니에요 ('no it isn't') to show modesty, even if the compliment is factually true.
- The casual form 아니 is frequently used as an exclamation at the start of a sentence to express surprise, similar to saying 'No way!' in English.
Examples in context
- 아니야, 새 남자친구가 아니야.No, he's not my new boyfriend.This example shows the use of 아니 to negate a person's identity.Tatoeba #7965120 by EstasKorea, translation #1427 by LittleBoy
- 천문학은 결코 신생 과학이 아니야.Astronomy is by no means a new science.This example shows the use of 아니 to negate a description of a science.Tatoeba #8363689 by Eunhee, translation #278982 by CS
- "지난 주에 티비 봤어?" "아니.""Did you watch television last week?" "No."This example shows the use of 아니 as a standalone response to a question.Tatoeba #8533885 by Eunhee, translation #8533313 by sundown
- 실례지만, 그건 안 될 것 같습니다.Excuse me, but that doesn't seem possible.
- 정말 죄송하지만 그건 좀 어려울 것 같습니다.I'm really sorry, but that seems a bit difficult.
- 죄송합니다만, 그건 제가 할 수 없을 것 같아요.I'm sorry, but I don't think I can do that.
- 미안하지만, 그건 안 돼.Sorry, but that won't work.
- 아냐, 좀 그렇겠다.Nah, I'm not really up for that.
- 그건 아니야.That's not it.
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hyunwoo asks Minji if she has eaten lunch.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지 씨, 점심 먹었어요?Minji ssi, jeomsim meogeosseoyo?Minji, did you eat lunch?
- 민지 Min-ji아니요, 아직 안 먹었어요.aniyo, ajik an meogeosseoyo.No, I haven't eaten yet.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그럼 같이 먹으러 갈까요?geureom gachi meogeureo galkkayo?Then shall we go eat together?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 좋아요!ne, joayo!Yes, I'd love to!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no” translations and entries 아니요, 아뇨, 아니, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
