In English, a negative question is often used when the speaker assumes a “Yes” answer, is seeking confirmation, or is expressing surprise/disapproval. It is very similar in Korean, except that Koreans sometimes ask negative questions to nicely ask for something or politely request, even when English speakers would simply use a positive question in such a situation:
- 돌아와 줄 수 없나요? Can you come back, please? [Literally, -ㄹ 수 없나요 means “can’t you …?” which is a negative question. But when Koreans say this way, it is more of a polite request, a borderline imploration, than what the English “can’t you …?” implies. A correct translation of this Korean “negative” question would be an English positive question + “please” == “Can you…, please?” ]
More importantly, Koreans answer a negative question with “네/예” or “아니요” in the way opposite to how an English speaker would answer it:
- Don’t you want to go? 가고 싶지 않아요?
- Yes, (I want to go) ==> 아니요, (가고 싶어요.)
- No, (I don’t want to go) ==> 네, (가고 싶지 않아요.)
- 돌아와 줄 수 없나요? Can’t you come back? [literal translation]
- 아니요, 돌아올 수 있어요 Yes, I can come back.
- 네, 돌아올 수 없어요 No, I can’t come back.
Monobility® Group
