Korean Dictionary
How to say "Never" in Korean
“Never” in Korean is 절대 (pronounced "jeoldae").
절대
jeoldae
Usage & Context
The word for never, indicating something does not happen at all. This is commonly used in negative statements and emphatic denial.
Example Sentence
나는 절대 거짓말을 하지 않아요.
I never lie.
How to use 절대 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Never” is 절대, romanized as jeoldae.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 절대.
Pronunciation Guide
"절대" (jeoldae) sounds like "juhl-deh". "Jeol" is like "jull" in "jolly" but with a slightly softer 'j' sound, and "dae" is like "day" in "daylight". The 'l' in 'jeol' is a clear 'l' sound.
More Example Sentences
Expressing strong determination not to quit.
나는 절대 포기하지 않을 거야.
I will never give up.
Giving a serious warning about keeping a secret.
그 비밀은 절대 말하면 안 돼.
You must never tell that secret.
An emphatic instruction or warning about punctuality.
절대 늦지 마세요!
Don't ever be late!
Cultural Context
"절대" is a strong adverb meaning "never" or "absolutely not." It almost always appears with a negative verb or expression (e.g., ~지 않다, ~면 안 되다). In K-dramas, you'll often hear characters use "절대 안 돼!" (Absolutely not!) to express strong refusal or prohibition, adding a dramatic flair to their dialogue.
Editorial note
We review entries like 절대 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
절대 안 돼.
Absolutely not.
절대 잊지 않을게.
I will never forget.
절대 비밀이야.
It's an absolute secret.
Related Expressions
결코
gyeol-ko
never (more formal/literary)
절대로
jeol-dae-ro
absolutely, never (emphasized version of 절대)
항상
hang-sang
always (antonym)
절대적으로
jeol-dae-jeok-eu-ro
absolutely, unconditionally (adverbial form of "absolute")
More Numbers and Time Words
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