잘(jal)
Indicates doing something skillfully or positively
When to use
Skillful action, Positive evaluation, Emphasizing ability
The nuance
Used before verbs to emphasize skillfulness or positive degree of the action
잘 vs 못: Skillfulness vs Negation
잘 (jal) · 못 (mos)
'잘' expresses positive skill or proficiency, while '못' indicates lack of ability or impossibility.
Word-by-word breakdown
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
못(mos)
Indicates inability or impossibility to do an action negatively
When to use
Lack of ability, Impossible situation, Negative evaluation
The nuance
Used before verbs to express inability, impossibility, or negative emphasis on the action
Real-world examples
저는 한국어를 잘 말해요.
jeo-neun han-guk-eo-reul jal mal-hae-yo., jeo neun han guk eo reul jal mal hae yo.
'잘' correctly expresses skillfulness here.
저는 한국어를 못 말해요.
jeo-neun han-guk-eo-reul mos mal-hae-yo., jeo neun han guk eo reul mos mal hae yo.
'못' correctly expresses inability here.
그는 일을 잘 못해요.
geu-neun il-eul jal mos-hae-yo., geu neun il eul jal mos hae yo.
'잘 못' combined emphasizes poor skill or inability.
그는 일을 못 잘해요.
geu-neun il-eul mos jal-hae-yo., geu neun il eul mos jal hae yo.
'못' must precede '잘' for correct expression.
저는 운동을 잘 못해요.
jeo-neun un-dong-eul jal mos-hae-yo., jeo neun un dong eul jal mos hae yo.
Natural sentence expressing lack of skill.
저는 운동을 못 잘해요.
jeo-neun un-dong-eul mos jal-hae-yo., jeo neun un dong eul mos jal hae yo.
Incorrect word order makes sentence unnatural.
그녀는 요리를 잘해요.
geu-nyeo-neun yo-ri-reul jal-hae-yo., geu nyeo neun yo ri reul jal hae yo.
Correct sentence expressing proficiency.
그녀는 요리를 못해요.
geu-nyeo-neun yo-ri-reul mos-hae-yo., geu nyeo neun yo ri reul mos hae yo.
Correct sentence expressing inability.
Quick quiz
To express skill in “저는 수영을 ___ 해요,” which word fits?
“저는 수영을 ___ 해요.”에서 능숙함을 표현하려면?(“jeo-neunsu-yeong-eul___hae-yo.”e-seoneung-suk-ham-eulpyo-hyeon-ha-ryeo-myeon?, “jeoneunsuyeongeul___haeyo.”eseoneungsukhameulpyohyeonharyeomyeon?)Which word fits: “그는 피아노를 ___ 칠 수 없어요.”?
“그는 피아노를 ___ 칠 수 없어요.”에서 올바른 단어는?(“geu-neunpi-a-no-reul___chilsueop-eo-yo.”e-seool-ba-reundan-eo-neun?, “geuneunpianoreul___chilsueopeoyo.”eseoolbareundaneoneun?)Is the sentence “그녀는 영어를 ___ 못해요.” correct?
“그녀는 영어를 ___ 못해요.” 문장은?(“geu-nyeo-neunyeong-eo-reul___mos-hae-yo.”mun-jang-eun?, “geunyeoneunyeongeoreul___moshaeyo.”munjangeun?)
More comparisons to explore
- 려고 vs 러 vs 고 싶어서: Comparing Intentions and Reasons
- 거의 vs 대체로 vs 웬만큼: Understanding Subtle Differences
- 피동 vs 사동: Who is the Subject?
- 즐겨찾기 vs 최근: Key Differences Between 즐겨찾기 and 최근
- 아직 vs 여전히 vs 계속: Subtle Differences in Time and State
- 시제 vs 서법: Time vs Mood in Korean Verbs
- Declarative vs Interrogative vs Exclamatory Sentences: Mastering Sentence Types
- 뒤쪽 vs 뒤 vs 후방: Mastering Position Expressions