가능하다 vs 불가능하다: The Difference Between Possible and Impossible

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  이 문제는 해결 가능하다.

  i mun-je-neun hae-gyeol ga-neung-ha-da., i mun je neun hae gyeol ga neung ha da.

  This sentence correctly expresses the positive possibility of solving the problem.

• ⭕

  이 문제는 해결 불가능하다.

  i mun-je-neun hae-gyeol bul-ga-neung-ha-da., i mun je neun hae gyeol bul ga neung ha da.

  This sentence correctly expresses the negative possibility of not being able to solve the problem.

• ⭕

  그 일은 가능하지 않다.

  geu il-eun ga-neung-ha-ji an-da., geu il eun ga neung ha ji an da.

  Negative form of ‘가능하다’, correctly expressing impossibility.

• ⭕

  그 일은 불가능하지 않다.

  geu il-eun bul-ga-neung-ha-ji an-da., geu il eun bul ga neung ha ji an da.

  Negative form of ‘불가능하다’, indirectly expressing possibility naturally.

• ❌

  이 계획은 불가능하다 할 수 있다.

  i gye-hoek-eun bul-ga-neung-ha-da hal su iss-da., i gye hoek eun bul ga neung ha da hal su iss da.

  ‘불가능하다’ and ‘할 수 있다’ have opposite meanings, so using them together is contradictory.

• ❌

  그는 가능하지 않다.

  geu-neun ga-neung-ha-ji an-da., geu neun ga neung ha ji an da.

  ‘가능하다’ is mainly used for situations or actions; directly negating a person is inappropriate.

• ⭕

  시험에 합격하는 것은 불가능하다.

  si-heom-e hap-gyeok-ha-neun geos-eun bul-ga-neung-ha-da., si heom e hap gyeok ha neun geos eun bul ga neung ha da.

  Clearly expresses that passing the exam is impossible.

• ⭕

  시험에 합격하는 것은 가능하지 않다.

  si-heom-e hap-gyeok-ha-neun geos-eun ga-neung-ha-ji an-da., si heom e hap gyeok ha neun geos eun ga neung ha ji an da.

  Negative form of ‘가능하다’, naturally conveying that passing the exam is difficult.

1. Which word is appropriate when something can be done?

   어떤 일이 할 수 있을 때 적절한 단어는?(eo-tteonil-ihalsuiss-eulttaejeok-jeol-handan-eo-neun?, eotteonilihalsuisseulttaejeokjeolhandaneoneun?)
   • 가능하다(ga-neung-ha-da, ganeunghada)
   • 불가능하다(bul-ga-neung-ha-da, bulganeunghada)
   • 불가능하지 않다(bul-ga-neung-ha-jian-da, bulganeunghajianda)

2. Which word is appropriate to express something absolutely cannot be done?

   어떤 일이 절대 할 수 없음을 표현할 때 적절한 단어는?(eo-tteonil-ijeol-daehalsueop-eum-eulpyo-hyeon-halttaejeok-jeol-handan-eo-neun?, eotteonilijeoldaehalsueopeumeulpyohyeonhalttaejeokjeolhandaneoneun?)
   • 가능하다(ga-neung-ha-da, ganeunghada)
   • 불가능하다(bul-ga-neung-ha-da, bulganeunghada)
   • 가능하지 않다(ga-neung-ha-jian-da, ganeunghajianda)

3. Which sentence correctly uses the negative form of ‘불가능하다’?

   ‘불가능하다’의 부정형으로 올바른 문장은?(‘bul-ga-neung-ha-da’uibu-jeong-hyeong-eu-rool-ba-reunmun-jang-eun?, ‘bulganeunghada’uibujeonghyeongeuroolbareunmunjangeun?)
   • 그 일은 불가능하지 않다.(geuil-eunbul-ga-neung-ha-jian-da., geuileunbulganeunghajianda.)
   • 그 일은 불가능다.(geuil-eunbul-ga-neung-da., geuileunbulganeungda.)
   • 그 일은 가능하지 않다.(geuil-eunga-neung-ha-jian-da., geuileunganeunghajianda.)