Making Appointments with Friends

How to say you know how to do something

Step 1: Drop the 다 [da]. 읽다 [ilk-da] to read → 읽 [ilk]

Step 2: Add -을 [eul] / -ㄹ [l] 줄 알아요 [jul a-ra-yo]. 읽 [ilk] → 읽을 줄 알아요 [il-geul jul a-ra-yo]

When the verb stem ends in a CONSONANT sound,
we use -을 줄 알아요 [eul jul a-ra-yo]

• 읽- [ilk-]
• 먹- [meok-]

When the verb stem ends in a VOWEL sound,
we use -ㄹ 줄 알아요 [-l jul a-ra-yo]

• 영화를 보- [yeong-hwa-reul bo-]
• 피아노를 치- [pi-a-no-reul chi-]

읽을 줄 알아요. [il-geul jul a-ra-yo]
I know how to read.

• 읽다 [ilk-da] means "to read"
• -줄 알아요 [jul a-ra-yo] means "know how to.."

피아노를 칠 줄 알아요? [pi-a-no-reul chil jul a-ra-yo?]
Do you know how to play piano?

• Step 1: 피아노를 치다 [pi-a-no-reul chi-da] to play piano → 피아노를 치 [pi-a-no-reul chi]
• Step 2: 피아노를 치 [pi-a-no-reul chi] → 피아노를 칠 줄 알아요 [pi-a-no-reul chil jul a-ra-yo]

The opposite of 알아요 [a-ra-yo] is 몰라요 [mol-ra-yo]

피아노를 칠 줄 몰라요. [pi-a-no-reul chil jul mol-ra-yo]
I don't know how to play piano.

• -줄 몰라요 [jul mol-ra-yo] means "don't know how to.."

수영할 줄 몰라요. [su-yeong-hal jul mol-ra-yo]
I don't know how to swim.

• Step 1: 수영하다 [su-yeong-ha-da] to swim → 수영하 [su-yeong-ha]
• Step 2: 수영하 [su-yeong-ha] → 수영할 줄 몰라요 [su-yeong-hal jul mol-ra-yo]

• A: 수영할 줄 알아요?
  Do you know how to swim?
• B: 네, 수영할 줄 알아요. [ne, su-yeong-hal jul a-ra-yo]
  Yes, I know how to swim.
• A: 오~ 전 수영할 줄 몰라요…
  Oh~ I don't know how to swim..
• B: 피아노를 칠 줄 알아요? [pi-a-no-reul chil jul a-ra-yo?]
  Do you know how to play the piano?
• A: 네, 피아노를 칠 줄 알아요.
  Yes, I know how to play the piano.