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Learn Hardcore Korean: chinguneun suyeonghal jul mollayo. - My friend doesn’t know how to swim.

Hardcore Korean
/Lesson 29
/chinguneun suyeonghal jul mollayo.

chinguneun suyeonghal jul mollayo.

Word

친구는 수영할 줄 몰라요.chinguneun suyeonghal jul mollayo.

Meaning

My friend doesn’t know how to swim.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Korean

Lesson

Breakdown of chinguneun suyeonghal jul mollayo.

수영할 줄 모르다suyeonghal jul moreuda

to not know how to swim

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Questions & Answers about chinguneun suyeonghal jul mollayo.

Why is it 친구는 and not 친구가?

는/은 marks the topic and often adds a contrastive or “as for …” nuance: 친구는 = “as for my friend…”
이/가 marks the grammatical subject and is neutral, often introducing new info: 친구가 수영할 줄 몰라요 is a plain statement “(My) friend doesn’t know how to swim.”
Using 친구는 can imply contrast (e.g., “My friend doesn’t, but I do”) or that “friend” is already known in the discourse.

What does 수영할 줄 몰라요 literally mean?

The pattern -ㄹ/을 줄 알다/모르다 means “to know/don’t know how to (do something).”
Breakdown: 수영하다 (to swim) → 수영할 (attributive/“able-to-do” form) + 줄 (way/knack/skill) + 모르다 (to not know) → “doesn’t know the way/knack of swimming,” i.e., “doesn’t know how to swim.”

How is -ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다 different from -ㄹ 수 있다/없다?

-ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다 focuses on learned skill/know-how. Example: 수영할 줄 알아요 = “(They) know how to swim.”
-ㄹ 수 있다/없다 is broader “can/cannot” (ability, possibility, permission, circumstances). 수영할 수 없어요 could mean “can’t swim (now)” due to an injury, no pool, etc., not necessarily lacking the skill.
In conversation, both can imply ability, but 줄 알다/모르다 is the clearest for “know how.”

Can I just say 수영을 못 해요 instead?

수영을 못 해요 = “(They) can’t swim” (could be lack of skill or other reasons).
수영할 줄 몰라요 specifically says “doesn’t know how to swim.” If you mean lack of know-how, use 줄 몰라요 for precision.

Why is it 수영할 줄 and not 수영을 할 줄?

The -ㄹ 줄 pattern attaches directly to a verb. With 하다-type verbs, treat 수영하다 as a single verb: 수영할 줄 is the most natural.
수영을 할 줄 몰라요 is heard, but it’s redundantly inserting the object marker and is less idiomatic. Prefer 수영할 줄 몰라요.

What exactly does 줄 mean here?

줄 is a native noun meaning “the way/knack/method” in this idiom.
It’s not “line/rope” here, even though it’s the same spelling.
You may see 줄(을) with an object particle: …줄을 몰라요. The 을/를 is optional and often dropped in speech.

Could I say 수영하는 법을 몰라요 instead of 수영할 줄 몰라요?

Yes. …하는 법을 몰라요 also means “don’t know how to …” and is perfectly natural: 수영하는 법을 몰라요.
Nuance: -ㄹ 줄 is a set idiom for know-how; …하는 법 feels a touch more literal (“the method/law of doing”) or explanatory.

How does 모르다 become 몰라요?

모르다 is an “르-irregular” verb. With -아/어요, the 르 changes: 모르 + 아요 → 몰라요.
Other forms:
- Polite formal: 모릅니다
- Plain: 모른다
- Casual: 몰라
- Honorific: 모르세요

What politeness level is 몰라요?

-아요/어요 is polite informal. Alternatives:
- Formal: 모릅니다
- Casual: 몰라
- Honorific (about a respected subject): 모르세요

Any pronunciation tips for 수영할 줄 몰라요?

할 줄 often sounds like [할쭐] due to tensification of ㅈ after ㄹ.
몰라요 is [몰라요] (note the “르” irregular already resolved).
Say it smoothly as: su-yeong-hal-jjul mol-la-yo.

If I drop 친구는, what does 수영할 줄 몰라요 mean?

Without a stated subject, Korean relies on context. 수영할 줄 몰라요 could mean “I don’t know how to swim” or “(he/she) doesn’t know how to swim,” depending on who is being discussed.
If you need to be explicit: 저는 수영할 줄 몰라요 (I), 그 사람은 수영할 줄 몰라요 (that person), 제 친구는 … (my friend).

Do I need to say 제 친구는 instead of 친구는?

제 친구는 explicitly means “my friend (polite).”
In casual talk, 친구는 is often understood as “my friend” from context. For clarity or in formal settings, prefer 제 친구는 (polite) or 내 친구는 (casual).

Is there an honorific version if the subject is someone I should respect?

Yes: 선생님은 수영할 줄 모르세요.
If referring politely to someone else’s friend: 친구분은 수영할 줄 모르세요.
Use … 모르세요 (honorific -시-), not 모르시세요.

Does the -ㄹ in 수영할 indicate future time?

No. Here -ㄹ/을 is the attributive form used in ability/potential patterns like -ㄹ 줄 알다. It doesn’t mark future tense.
Tense comes from 알다/모르다:
- …줄 알아요 (know now)
- …줄 알았어요 (knew before) / can also mean “I thought (that) …” depending on context.

How do I ask, “Does your friend know how to swim?”

친구는 수영할 줄 알아요? (topic/contrast nuance)
친구가 수영할 줄 알아요? (neutral subject marking)
More explicit: 제 친구는 수영할 줄 알아요?

Is 수영을 모르다 acceptable?

Generally no for this meaning. 수영을 모르다 would sound like “to not know (what) swimming (is),” which is odd.
Use 수영할 줄 모르다 for “not know how to swim,” or 수영을 못 하다 for “can’t swim.”

Can I add 은/는 after 줄 for emphasis, like 수영할 줄은 몰라요?

Yes. …줄은 몰라요 adds contrast/emphasis: “(They) don’t know how to swim (even if they might know other things).”

Is there any ambiguity with -ㄹ 줄 알다 meaning “to think/assume that”?

-ㄹ 줄 알다 can also mean “to think/assume that (something would happen).”
With skills, 수영할 줄 알아요 unambiguously means “know how to swim.”
Past form can be ambiguous: 수영할 줄 알았어요 can mean “I thought (someone) could swim.” Context resolves it. If you want to be clear about mistaken belief, add context: 그가 수영할 줄 알았어요 (I thought he could swim).

Could I use 헤엄치다 instead of 수영하다?

Yes: 친구는 헤엄칠 줄 몰라요 is correct. 수영하다 is more common in everyday speech; 헤엄치다 can feel a bit literary or is often used for animals, but it’s fine for people too.

What other verbs can I use with -ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다?

Any action you can “know how to do,” for example:
- 운전할 줄 알아요 (know how to drive)
- 요리할 줄 몰라요 (don’t know how to cook)
- 한글을 읽을 줄 알아요 (know how to read Hangul)
- 피아노 칠 줄 알아요 (know how to play the piano)

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