neoneun suyeonghal jul ara?

Do you know how to swim?

Breakdown of neoneun suyeonghal jul ara?

• ~는: topic particle
• 너: you
• 수영할 줄 알다: to know how to swim

Questions & Answers about neoneun suyeonghal jul ara?

What does the element 줄 mean in this sentence?

줄 is a bound noun meaning roughly the way/method/ability. With verbs in the attributive -(으)ㄹ form, V-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다 means to know/don’t know how to V (i.e., to have the skill). So 수영할 줄 알아? = “Do you know how to swim?”

Why is it 수영할 줄 and not 수영하는 줄?

For the “know how to” meaning, Korean uses the prospective/attributive form -(으)ㄹ before 줄: V-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다. If you say V-는 줄 알다, it usually means “I thought/assumed (that) V,” which is a different construction. Example:

• 수영하는 줄 알았어 = “I thought (he/you) was swimming.”

What’s the difference between 수영할 줄 알아? and 수영할 수 있어?

• V-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 focuses on skill/know-how.
• V-ㄹ 수 있다 focuses on ability/possibility (including situational permission). For swimming, both are common, but:
• 수영할 줄 알아? = Do you know how to swim (skill)?
• 수영할 수 있어? = Can you swim (are you able/allowed to swim now)?

Is 너는 necessary? Can I drop it?

You can drop it. Korean often omits pronouns when context is clear.

• 수영할 줄 알아? is perfectly natural. Using 너는 adds a contrastive “as for you” nuance and is used only with close peers.

Is 너는 polite? How do I make this polite or honorific?

너는 is informal and can be rude to seniors/strangers. Polite options:

• Polite: 수영할 줄 알아요?
• Honorific (to/about someone deserving respect): 수영할 줄 아세요? If addressing a specific person respectfully, use their title/name + 은/는:
• 선생님은 수영할 줄 아세요?

How do I answer this naturally?

• Informal: 응, 알아. / 아니, 몰라.
• Polite: 네, 알아요. / 아니요, 몰라요. Note: The negative of 알다 is usually 모르다, not 안 알아.

Why isn’t the negative simply 안 알아?

With 줄 알다 meaning “know how to,” native usage prefers the suppletive negative 모르다:

• ✅ 수영할 줄 몰라(요).
• ❌ 수영할 줄 안 알아요. (unidiomatic here)

What’s the role of 는 on 너는?

는/은 marks a topic. 너는 = “as for you.” It can sound contrastive (e.g., “others don’t, but do you?”). If you want a subject focus, you might use 네가/니가:

• 니가 수영할 줄 알아? = “Are you the one who knows how to swim?” (focus on “you” as subject)

Is there a difference between 너는 and 넌?

넌 is just the contracted, very common spoken form of 너는. Both are informal.

Can I say 수영을 할 줄 알아? instead of 수영할 줄 알아?

Yes. Both are acceptable. When 하다 combines with a Sino-Korean noun like 수영, speakers freely use either 수영하다 or 수영을 하다 in this construction. No real change in meaning.

Are there other natural ways to ask the same thing?

• 수영할 수 있어(요)? (ability/possibility)
• 수영하는 법 알아(요)? (know the method/way; slightly more literal/formal)
• Using a native verb: 헤엄칠 줄 알아(요)?

How is this pronounced naturally?

• 알아 often sounds like [아라] because ㄹ between vowels is a flap.
• 수영할 줄 keeps clear syllable boundaries: [수영할 줄]. There’s no need to tense ㅈ.
• Overall: [너는 수영할 줄 아라?] in casual speech rhythm.

What’s the exact breakdown of the sentence?

• 너는 = you + topic marker
• 수영할 = “to swim” in attributive/prospective form modifying
• 줄 = bound noun “way/ability”
• 알아? = “know?” (informal present) Together: “As for you, do you know how (to swim)?”

Can I use this with objects that take 을/를, like “play the piano” or “read Korean”?

Yes. Examples:

• 피아노 칠 줄 알아요? or 피아노를 칠 줄 알아요?
• 한글(을) 읽을 줄 알아요? Including 을/를 is optional; include it if the object is specific or for clarity.

How do I say “I don’t know how to swim” and “I can’t swim” differently?

• Lack of know-how: 수영할 줄 몰라(요).
• Inability (for any reason): 수영(을) 못 해(요). The first stresses skill; the second stresses inability (could be skill, injury, circumstances).

Is there any tricky ambiguity with past tense like 알았어?

Yes. V-는/ㄴ/을 줄 알았다 often means “I thought/assumed (that)…” For past know-how, ambiguity can arise:

• 수영할 줄 알았어 is usually read as “I thought (someone) knew how to swim.” To express former ability, add time context or double past:
• 예전에는 수영할 줄 알았었어. / 전에 는 수영할 줄 알았는데…

Is 당신 a good replacement for 너는?

Generally no. 당신 is rarely used for a specific “you” in everyday questions; it can sound confrontational or spousal. Prefer dropping the pronoun or using a name/title + -은/는 with the appropriate verb politeness.

Could 수영하는 줄 알아? ever be correct?

Yes, but it means something else: “Do you think (someone) is swimming?” or “Do you believe it’s the case that (he) is swimming?” That’s the “assume/think” use of 줄 알다, not the “know how to” use.

Any quick set of mini-answers I can memorize?

• Yes, a little: 응, 조금 알아. / 네, 조금 알아요.
• Not really: 아니, 잘 몰라. / 아니요, 잘 몰라요.
• I’m learning: 지금 배우는 중이야. / 지금 배우고 있어요.
• I can, but not well: 할 줄은 알아, 근데 잘 못 해. / 할 줄은 알아요, 근데 잘 못 해요.