-지 않다 is the long/formal negation form. More emphatic and formal than 안, often used in writing and formal speech.
Formal negation - Written and polite contexts
Emphatic denial - Stronger than 안
Works with all verbs/adjectives - No position rules like 안
I do not eat meat.
Conjugate 않다 for tense and politeness: 않아요 (polite), 않았어요 (past), 않습니다 (formal).
Attach to verb/adjective STEM
- 먹다 → 먹지 않다
- 예쁘다 → 예쁘지 않다
No special rules for 하다 verbs
- ✅ 공부하지 않아요 (correct)
- This is easier than 안 which requires splitting
I will not go today.
This food is not spicy.
I do not exercise.
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