-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다
Used specifically to express whether someone has the acquired skill, knowledge, or method to do something. It literally means 'to know/not know the way to do [verb]'.
Summary
Equivalent
To know how to / Not know how to
Also: -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다 (Can/Cannot)
Example
My friend knows how to do Taekwondo.
제 친구는 태권도를 할 줄 알아요.
Grammar rules
- Use 'ㄹ 줄 알다' for vowel stems and '을 줄 알다' for consonant stems.
- Replace '알다' with '모르다' to mean 'do not know how to'.
- While '-(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다' can refer to both general ability and circumstantial possibility, '-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다' refers ONLY to the knowledge/method of doing something.
운전할 줄 알지만 차가 없어서 운전할 수 없어요. (I know how to drive, but I cannot drive because I don't have a car.)
Patterns
Verbs (Consonant)
N/A · Verb Stem + 을 줄 알다/모르다
Verbs (Vowel/ㄹ)
N/A · Verb Stem (drop ㄹ) + ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다
Example sentences
My friend knows how to do Taekwondo.
제 친구는 태권도를 할 줄 알아요.
I don't know how to ride a bicycle.
자전거를 탈 줄 몰라요.
Do you know how to play the piano?
피아노를 칠 줄 아세요?
Conversation
A: Do you know how to make bulgogi?
불고기 만들 줄 알아요?
B: No, I don't know how to make it.
아니요, 만들 줄 몰라요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct form indicating knowing/not knowing how to perform an action.
Cooking skill.
Driving skill.