Korean word

아예

Pronunciation

Romanizationaye

Meaning

  • adverbnot at all

Example

그는 아예 오지 않았다.keu neun a ye o ji a nat tta

He did not come at all.

Illustration for 아예 (not at all)

More examples

가게에 재고가 아예 없다.ka ge e chae go ga a ye eop tta

The store has no stock at all.

Core concept

Everything is ruled out from the beginning, producing an absolute result rather than a partial one.

Common phrases

  • 아예 못 하다a ye mot ha da

    not be able to do at all

  • 아예 그만두다a ye keu man du da

    quit altogether

  • 아예 없다a ye eop tta

    not exist at all

Similar words

전혀cheonhyeo: Strongly denies any presence, amount, or degree, meaning not at all.
절대cheoldae: Makes a negative statement absolute, leaving no room for exceptions.
하나도hanado: Emphasizes that a quantity is zero, with not even one item present.

Definition in Korean

처음부터 어떤 행동이나 상태가 전혀 일어나지 않음을 강조하는 부사cheo eum bu teo eo tteon haeng dong i na sang tae ga cheon hyeo i reo na ji a neu meul kang jo ha neun pu sa

Word origin

The exact formation of this native Korean adverb is uncertain, but its meaning has become firmly established through long use as an emphatic negative.

Usage tips

  • English completely can describe a whole finished result, while 아예 (aye, "from the outset") can mark an action as excluded before it begins.

Other meanings

  • completelyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word