안 돼
andwae
it's not allowed / you can't (prohibition)
아니요
aniyo
no (negation answer)
안 돼 vs 아니요: You Can't vs No — Different Ways to Refuse in Korean
안 돼 (andwae) means something is not permitted or possible, while 아니요 (aniyo) is a plain negative response meaning 'no.'
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 안 돼 (andwae) | 아니요 (aniyo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Prohibition or impossibility — 'you can't,' 'it won't work' | Negative answer to a yes/no question |
| Formality | Casual (안 돼) / Polite (안 돼요) | Polite — 아니요 is already the formal form; casual is 아니 |
| Root Verb | 되다 (dweda) — to work out / to be okay | 아니다 (anida) — to not be (negation of identity) |
| Example Trigger | Telling someone to stop, or something won't work | Answering 'Is this yours?' or 'Did you eat?' with 'No' |
| Common Written Spelling | 안 돼 (two words, 돼 not 되) | 아니요 (one word, ends in 요) |
Examples in Context
Telling a child they cannot have candy before dinner — using 안 돼
저녁 먹기 전에 사탕은 안 돼.
No candy before dinner — that's not allowed.
Saying a plan won't work — using 안 돼
그 방법은 안 돼요. 다른 방법을 찾아봅시다.
That method won't work. Let's find another way.
Answering whether something belongs to you — using 아니요
이 가방 네 거야? — 아니요, 제 거 아니에요.
Is this bag yours? — No, it's not mine.
Declining a question about eating — using 아니요
밥 먹었어요? — 아니요, 아직이요.
Have you eaten? — No, not yet.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Writing 안 돼 as 안 되 — 되 and 돼 are different. When it stands alone as a sentence ('you can't!'), it must be 돼.
- ✗Using 아니요 to tell someone they cannot do something — 아니요 is just 'no,' not a prohibition. Use 안 돼요 to prohibit.
- ✗Saying 아니요 in a very casual context — among close friends, drop the 요 and just say 아니 or 아니야.
- ✗Confusing 안 돼 with 안 해 (I won't do it / I'm not doing it) — 안 해 expresses refusal of action, while 안 돼 means something is not permitted or possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it 안 돼 and not 안 되?
돼 is the contracted form of 되어. When 되다 conjugates as a sentence-ending statement (되어 → 돼), you need the ㅣ vowel. 되 alone is not a valid sentence ending here.
What is the polite way to say 'no, you can't'?
Say 안 돼요 (andwaeyo). For very formal situations, 하시면 안 됩니다 (you must not do that) is more appropriate.
Is 아니 the same as 아니요?
아니 is the casual, informal version. Use it with close friends. 아니요 adds 요 to make it polite, suitable for strangers or seniors.
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