How to use 을/ㄹ 줄 몰라요 in Korean

Pattern: -(으)ㄹ 줄 몰라요

-(으)ㄹ 줄 몰라요 (-(eu)ㄹjulmol-ra-yo, (eu)ㄹjulmolrayo)

-(으)ㄹ 줄 몰라요 expresses not knowing how to do something or lacking the ability naturally.

Korean phrase 을 줄 몰라요 usage explanation

Usage guide

When and how native speakers actually use it.

-(으)ㄹ 줄 몰라요(-(eu)ㄹjulmol-ra-yo, (eu)ㄹjulmolrayo)

Means not knowing how to do something or lacking the ability to do it

When to use

Expressing ability, Not knowing how, Describing negative experience

The nuance

Attach -(으)ㄹ 줄 몰라요 to the verb stem to say 'do not know how to do something' or 'lack the ability.' Use -을 줄 몰라요 if the stem ends with a consonant, -ㄹ 줄 몰라요 if it ends with a vowel.

Real-world examples

  • 저는 수영할 줄 몰라요.

    jeo-neun su-yeong-hal jul mol-ra-yo., jeo neun su yeong hal jul mol ra yo.

    '수영하다' stem ends with vowel, so use '할 줄 몰라요'.

  • 그는 운전할 줄 몰라요.

    geu-neun un-jeon-hal jul mol-ra-yo., geu neun un jeon hal jul mol ra yo.

    '운전하다' stem ends with vowel, so use '할 줄 몰라요'.

  • 나는 요리할 줄 몰라요.

    na-neun yo-ri-hal jul mol-ra-yo., na neun yo ri hal jul mol ra yo.

    '요리하다' stem ends with vowel, so use '할 줄 몰라요'.

  • 저는 노래를 부를 줄 몰라요.

    jeo-neun no-rae-reul bu-reul jul mol-ra-yo., jeo neun no rae reul bu reul jul mol ra yo.

    '부르다' stem plus object particle '를' makes '부를 줄 몰라요' correct.

  • 나는 한국어를 잘 말할 줄 몰라요.

    na-neun han-guk-eo-reul jal mal-hal jul mol-ra-yo., na neun han guk eo reul jal mal hal jul mol ra yo.

    '말하다' stem ends with vowel, so '할 줄 몰라요' is correct.

  • 저는 운전할 줄 몰라요.

    jeo-neun un-jeon-hal jul mol-ra-yo., jeo neun un jeon hal jul mol ra yo.

    '운전하다' stem ends with vowel, so '할 줄 몰라요' is correct.

  • 나는 컴퓨터를 사용할 줄 몰라요.

    na-neun keom-pyu-teo-reul sa-yong-hal jul mol-ra-yo., na neun keom pyu teo reul sa yong hal jul mol ra yo.

    '사용하다' stem ends with vowel, so '할 줄 몰라요' is correct.

Quick quiz

  1. Which sentence is correct?

    다음 중 올바른 문장은?(da-eumjungol-ba-reunmun-jang-eun?, daeumjungolbareunmunjangeun?)
  2. Which is correct for '운전하다'?

    ‘운전하다’에 맞는 표현은?(‘un-jeon-ha-da’emaj-neunpyo-hyeon-eun?, ‘unjeonhada’emajneunpyohyeoneun?)
  3. Which sentence correctly negates '노래하다'?

    ‘노래하다’를 부정할 때 올바른 문장은?(‘no-rae-ha-da’reulbu-jeong-halttaeol-ba-reunmun-jang-eun?, ‘noraehada’reulbujeonghalttaeolbareunmunjangeun?)

More usage guides

View all usage guides →