지 마세요
When you want to tell someone "please don't" do something in Korean, you can use the grammatical pattern "지 마세요" (ji maseyo).
You attach "지 마세요" to the end of a verb stem.
For example, if the verb is "가다" (gada) meaning "to go," the verb stem is "가" (ga).
So, "가지 마세요" (gaji maseyo) means "please don't go."
This is a polite way to tell someone not to do something.
You'll often encounter the grammatical pattern '지 마세요' when someone wants you to stop doing something or to not do something. It's a polite way to prohibit an action.
The structure is straightforward: you attach '지 마세요' directly to the stem of a verb. For instance, if the verb is '가다' (to go), the stem is '가', so to say 'please don't go', you'd say '가지 마세요'.
This pattern is commonly used in everyday situations, like in public signs, instructions, or when giving advice. It's important to remember that it's a direct prohibition, so use it appropriately.
While '지 마세요' is polite, you might also hear just '지 마' among close friends or when speaking to someone younger, which is a more informal prohibition.
When you want to tell someone not to do something in Korean, you can use the grammatical pattern -지 마세요.
This is a very common and practical way to express a prohibition or to ask someone politely to refrain from an action. It's often used in everyday situations, from giving instructions to making requests.
You attach -지 마세요 directly to the stem of a verb. For example, if the verb is 가다 (to go), it becomes 가지 마세요 (please don't go). If the verb is 먹다 (to eat), it becomes 먹지 마세요 (please don't eat).
It's a polite form, suitable for most general interactions. For a less formal or more casual prohibition, you could use -지 마 (informal plain form) or -지 마요 (informal polite form).
지 마세요 (ji maseyo) is a polite and common way to tell someone not to do something. It's formed by attaching -지 마세요 to the stem of a verb. For example, if the verb is 하다 (hada - to do), it becomes 하지 마세요 (haji maseyo - please don't do it).
This pattern is suitable for most everyday situations when you want to politely prohibit an action. You might hear it in public spaces, like 지하철에서 뛰지 마세요 (jihacheoreseo ttwiji maseyo - please don't run in the subway), or from a friend, like 걱정하지 마세요 (geokjeonghaji maseyo - please don't worry).
When Koreans want to tell someone not to do something, they often use the grammatical pattern -지 마세요. This is a very common and polite way to express prohibition, making it suitable for everyday situations.
It directly translates to "please don't" or "do not," and it's attached to the stem of a verb. For example, if you want to say "please don't go," you would take the verb "to go" (가다), remove 다, and add 지 마세요, resulting in "가지 마세요."
This pattern is widely used and understood, making it an essential phrase for learners to grasp early on. While there are other ways to express prohibition, -지 마세요 is often the most straightforward and commonly accepted in general conversation, especially when you want to be polite.
Understanding and using -지 마세요 correctly will significantly help you navigate social interactions in Korea, ensuring your requests are both clear and respectful.
§ Understanding 지 마세요
The grammatical pattern 지 마세요 is a straightforward and essential way to express prohibition or to ask someone politely not to do something in Korean. It's equivalent to 'please don't' or 'do not' in English.
- Structure
- Verb Stem + 지 마세요
You attach 지 마세요 directly to the stem of a verb. It doesn't matter if the verb stem ends in a vowel or a consonant. This makes it very easy to use!
가지 마세요.
- Translation hint
- Please don't go.
먹지 마세요.
- Translation hint
- Please don't eat.
§ Similar Expressions and Nuances
While 지 마세요 is a versatile phrase, Korean has other ways to express prohibition or give negative commands. Understanding these will help you choose the most appropriate expression for different situations.
-지 마 (informal, plain speech): This is the casual, informal version of 지 마세요. You'd use this with close friends, family members, or people younger than you. It can sound a bit strong if used incorrectly, so be careful!
울지 마.
- Translation hint
- Don't cry.
-지 마십시오 (formal, polite): This is the highly formal and very polite version, often heard in official announcements, public signs, or when addressing a large audience. It carries a strong sense of respect and authority.
쓰레기를 버리지 마십시오.
- Translation hint
- Please do not litter (literally, 'throw away trash').
-면 안 돼요 (if you do X, it's not allowed/good): This expression implies that an action is not allowed or would be problematic. It's less of a direct command and more of a statement about the inappropriateness or impermissibility of an action. It's often used when explaining why something shouldn't be done.
사진을 찍으면 안 돼요.
- Translation hint
- You shouldn't take pictures (literally, 'If you take pictures, it's not allowed/good').
-지 말아 주세요 (softer, more pleading 'please don't'): This is a slightly softer and more polite way to say 'please don't', adding the element of 'for me' or 'I ask you'. It's often used when you're making a request that you hope the other person will honor, implying a bit more personal appeal.
걱정하지 말아 주세요.
- Translation hint
- Please don't worry (for me).
§ When to Use Each
The choice among these expressions depends heavily on the context, your relationship with the person you're speaking to, and the level of politeness or formality required.
Use 지 마세요 for general polite prohibitions in everyday conversations. It's your go-to standard for 'please don't'.
Use 지 마 with close friends, younger siblings, or people of similar or lower status when you need to be direct and informal.
Reserve 지 마십시오 for highly formal situations, public announcements, or when you need to show extreme respect and authority.
Opt for -면 안 돼요 when you want to explain that an action is not allowed or would be inappropriate, rather than just giving a direct command.
Choose 지 말아 주세요 when you want to make a softer, more pleading request not to do something, often implying a personal appeal.
How Formal Is It?
"거기에 앉지 마십시오. (Please don't sit there.)"
"뛰지 마세요. (Please don't run.)"
"만지지 마. (Don't touch.)"
"하지 마, 안 돼. (Don't do it, no.)"
"잔소리하지 마라. (Stop nagging.)"
Exemples par niveau
시끄럽게 떠들지 마세요.
Please don't be noisy.
여기에 주차하지 마세요.
Please don't park here.
사진 찍지 마세요.
Please don't take pictures.
늦게 오지 마세요.
Please don't come late.
걱정하지 마세요. 다 괜찮을 거예요.
Please don't worry. Everything will be fine.
손대지 마세요. 뜨거워요.
Please don't touch. It's hot.
제발 거짓말하지 마세요.
Please don't lie.
혼자 가지 마세요. 위험해요.
Please don't go alone. It's dangerous.
Souvent confondu avec
This negates a verb, meaning 'do not' or 'not', but it's a statement, not a command. '안 가요' (I'm not going) vs. '가지 마세요' (Please don't go).
Similar to '안 + verb', this is a more formal way to negate a verb, making a statement. '가지 않습니다' (I am not going) vs. '가지 마세요' (Please don't go).
This means 'there isn't' or 'I don't have', referring to existence or possession, not prohibiting an action. For example, '돈 없어요' (I don't have money) is not a command.
Expressions idiomatiques
"눈 깜짝할 사이에"
In the blink of an eye; very quickly.
눈 깜짝할 사이에 다 먹어 버렸어요.
neutral"발 벗고 나서다"
To actively step forward to help; to go out of one's way to help.
어려움에 처한 친구를 위해 발 벗고 나섰어요.
neutral"귀가 얇다"
To be easily swayed by others' words; gullible.
그는 귀가 얇아서 남의 말을 잘 믿어요.
neutral"손이 크다"
To be generous; to have a big hand (in cooking, spending, etc.).
우리 할머니는 손이 커서 음식을 항상 많이 만드세요.
neutral"입이 짧다"
To be a picky eater; to have a small appetite.
우리 아이는 입이 짧아서 먹는 게 힘들어요.
neutral"배가 아프다"
To be jealous; to have a stomachache (literal).
친구가 좋은 성적을 받아서 배가 아팠어요.
neutral"어깨가 무겁다"
To feel a heavy burden or responsibility.
새로운 프로젝트를 맡아서 어깨가 무거워요.
neutral"발목을 잡다"
To hold someone back; to hinder someone.
예상치 못한 문제가 발목을 잡았어요.
neutral"찬물을 끼얹다"
To pour cold water on someone's plans/mood; to dampen enthusiasm.
열심히 준비했는데 찬물을 끼얹는 말을 들었어요.
neutral"눈감아 주다"
To overlook something; to turn a blind eye to something.
이번 한 번만 눈감아 주세요.
neutralFacile à confondre
Often confused with '가지 않습니다' (I am not going). The '지 마세요' structure is specifically for prohibitions.
'가지 마세요' means 'please don't go', a direct command. '가지 않습니다' is a statement 'I am not going'.
지금 가지 마세요. (Please don't go now.)
Learners might use '안 먹어요' for prohibition, which means 'I don't eat' or 'I'm not eating'.
'먹지 마세요' is a polite command not to eat something. '안 먹어요' is a statement about one's eating habits or current action.
그 음식은 먹지 마세요. (Please don't eat that food.)
Can be mistaken for a statement about not crying, rather than a request to stop crying.
'울지 마세요' means 'please don't cry'. It's an empathetic request to stop an action. '안 울어요' means 'I'm not crying'.
괜찮아요, 울지 마세요. (It's okay, please don't cry.)
Similar to '울지 마세요', learners might confuse it with a statement of not worrying.
'걱정하지 마세요' means 'please don't worry'. It's a comforting prohibition. '안 걱정해요' (less common, usually '걱정 안 해요') means 'I don't worry'.
너무 걱정하지 마세요. (Please don't worry too much.)
The difference between 'don't touch' and 'I'm not touching' can be subtle for new learners.
'만지지 마세요' is a direct instruction not to touch. '안 만져요' means 'I'm not touching'.
전시품은 만지지 마세요. (Please don't touch the exhibits.)
Astuces
Basic use of '지 마세요'
To tell someone not to do something, you attach '지 마세요' directly to the verb stem. For example, '가다' (to go) becomes '가지 마세요' (Please don't go).
Informal version: '지 마'
For friends or people younger than you, you can use the informal '지 마'. For example, '먹지 마' (Don't eat) instead of '먹지 마세요'.
More polite: '지 마십시오'
If you need to be very polite or formal, especially in official settings, use '지 마십시오'. This is often seen in public signs or announcements.
Common usage in everyday life
You'll often hear '지 마세요' in situations where someone is giving a direct instruction or warning. Think about signs like '만지지 마세요' (Please don't touch).
Don't use with adjectives
'지 마세요' is only for verbs. You cannot use it to tell someone 'don't be' an adjective. For example, you can't say '예쁘지 마세요' (Don't be pretty – grammatically incorrect).
Practice with common verbs
Practice forming sentences with common verbs like '하다' (to do) -> '하지 마세요', '보다' (to see) -> '보지 마세요', '읽다' (to read) -> '읽지 마세요'. This helps with fluency.
Using '지 마세요' for requests
You can use '지 마세요' to make a request for someone to stop an action or to not start one. For instance, '걱정하지 마세요' (Please don't worry).
Tone matters with '지 마세요'
While '지 마세요' means 'please don't', the tone can still be direct or firm. Always consider the context and your relationship with the person you're speaking to.
Other prohibition expressions
As you advance, you'll learn other ways to express prohibition, such as '~으면 안 돼요' (you shouldn't/can't) or '금지' (prohibition, often on signs). '지 마세요' is a fundamental starting point.
Listen for '지 마세요'
Pay attention to when and how '지 마세요' is used in Korean dramas, movies, or conversations. This will help you understand its natural application and nuances.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of '지' as 'don't GE-t involved' and '마세요' as 'MA-ke sure you don't do it'.
Association visuelle
Imagine a red stop sign with the Korean characters '지 마세요' written on it, visually representing prohibition.
Word Web
Défi
Try to create five sentences using '지 마세요' with different verbs. For example, '공부하지 마세요' (Please don't study) or '말하지 마세요' (Please don't talk).
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
telling someone not to do something politely
- 가지 마세요 (Please don't go)
- 만지지 마세요 (Please don't touch)
- 걱정하지 마세요 (Please don't worry)
giving instructions or rules
- 뛰지 마세요 (Please don't run)
- 소리 지르지 마세요 (Please don't shout)
- 사진 찍지 마세요 (Please don't take pictures)
expressing disapproval or a request to stop
- 울지 마세요 (Please don't cry)
- 화내지 마세요 (Please don't get angry)
- 늦지 마세요 (Please don't be late)
warning someone about a potential negative outcome
- 잊지 마세요 (Please don't forget)
- 포기하지 마세요 (Please don't give up)
- 실수하지 마세요 (Please don't make a mistake)
offering comfort or reassurance
- 슬퍼하지 마세요 (Please don't be sad)
- 놀라지 마세요 (Please don't be surprised)
- 부끄러워하지 마세요 (Please don't be shy)
Amorces de conversation
"어디 가지 마세요. (Please don't go anywhere.)"
"이거 만지지 마세요. (Please don't touch this.)"
"너무 걱정하지 마세요. (Please don't worry too much.)"
"여기서 뛰지 마세요. (Please don't run here.)"
"제발 잊지 마세요. (Please don't forget, please.)"
Sujets d'écriture
오늘 하지 마세요라고 들은 것이 있나요? (Was there anything you were told 'please don't do' today?)
다른 사람에게 '하지 마세요'라고 말해야 했던 순간이 있었나요? (Was there a moment you had to say 'please don't do' to someone else?)
하지 마세요라고 듣는 것을 어떻게 생각하나요? (How do you feel about being told 'please don't do'?)
한국에서 '하지 마세요'라는 표현을 사용할 수 있는 상황을 상상해 보세요. (Imagine a situation in Korea where you could use the expression '지 마세요'.)
어떤 행동을 '하지 마세요'라고 말하고 싶나요? (What action would you like to say 'please don't do' to?)
Teste-toi 66 questions
Which sentence means 'Please don't go'?
The pattern '지 마세요' is used to express prohibition. '가지 마세요' combines the verb stem '가' (to go) with '지 마세요' to mean 'please don't go'.
How would you tell someone 'Please don't eat'?
To tell someone 'please don't eat', you attach '지 마세요' to the verb stem '먹' (to eat).
Choose the correct way to say 'Please don't do it'.
The verb '하다' means 'to do'. To make it a prohibition, you remove '다' and add '지 마세요', resulting in '하지 마세요'.
The phrase '읽지 마세요' means 'Please don't read'.
'읽다' means 'to read'. Attaching '지 마세요' makes it a prohibition.
'앉으세요' is a polite way to say 'Please don't sit'.
'앉으세요' means 'Please sit'. To say 'Please don't sit', you would use '앉지 마세요'.
You can use '지 마세요' with any verb stem to tell someone not to do something.
The '지 마세요' grammatical pattern is versatile and can be applied to almost all verb stems to form a negative command or request.
This sentence means 'Please don't go to school.' The order is 'Place + to go (negative imperative)'.
This sentence means 'Please don't touch this.' The order is 'Object + to touch (negative imperative)'.
This sentence means 'Please don't eat this.' The order is 'Object + to eat (negative imperative)'.
What is the speaker saying?
What is being prohibited?
What advice is given?
Read this aloud:
눕지 마세요.
Focus: 눕지 마세요
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
뛰지 마세요.
Focus: 뛰지 마세요
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
늦지 마세요.
Focus: 늦지 마세요
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You are in a library. Someone is talking loudly on the phone. Write a polite request telling them not to talk loudly.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
여기 도서관입니다. 크게 말씀하지 마세요. (This is a library. Please don't speak loudly.)
You see a sign that says 'Do not touch'. Write this phrase in Korean.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
만지지 마세요. (Please don't touch.)
Your friend wants to eat unhealthy food late at night. Advise them not to eat late at night.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
밤늦게 먹지 마세요. 건강에 안 좋아요. (Please don't eat late at night. It's not good for your health.)
What is the passage advising you not to do?
Read this passage:
길을 건널 때 휴대폰을 보지 마세요. 위험합니다.
What is the passage advising you not to do?
'휴대폰을 보지 마세요' means 'please don't look at your phone'. The full sentence is about crossing the street.
'휴대폰을 보지 마세요' means 'please don't look at your phone'. The full sentence is about crossing the street.
What should you NOT do in this place?
Read this passage:
여기에 쓰레기를 버리지 마세요. 깨끗하게 사용해 주세요.
What should you NOT do in this place?
'쓰레기를 버리지 마세요' means 'please don't throw away trash'.
'쓰레기를 버리지 마세요' means 'please don't throw away trash'.
What is the student being told not to do during class?
Read this passage:
수업 시간에 자지 마세요. 선생님 말씀을 들으세요.
What is the student being told not to do during class?
'자지 마세요' means 'please don't sleep'.
'자지 마세요' means 'please don't sleep'.
'담배' (cigarette) + '피우지 마세요' (please don't smoke) means 'Please don't smoke.'
'늦게' (late) + '오지 마세요' (please don't come) means 'Please don't come late.'
'걱정하지' (don't worry) + '마세요' (please don't) means 'Please don't worry.'
Choose the correct sentence using '지 마세요'.
All options correctly use '지 마세요' to express prohibition: 'Please don't go.', 'Please don't eat.', 'Please don't sit.'
Which sentence means 'Please don't worry'?
'걱정하지 마세요' uses the verb '걱정하다' (to worry) with the '지 마세요' pattern to express prohibition.
Select the sentence that prohibits talking loudly.
'크게 말하지 마세요' combines '크게 말하다' (to talk loudly) with '지 마세요' to forbid the action.
The sentence '울지 마세요' means 'Please don't cry.'
'울지 마세요' is formed from '울다' (to cry) and '지 마세요', correctly translating to 'Please don't cry.'
'앉지 마세요' means 'Please sit down.'
'앉지 마세요' means 'Please don't sit down.' The '지 마세요' pattern indicates prohibition, not a positive command.
You can use '지 마세요' with adjectives to prohibit a state.
'지 마세요' is primarily used with action verbs to prohibit actions. For adjectives, different grammatical structures are used.
Someone is asking you to be quiet.
A reminder about waking up on time.
Someone is trying to comfort you.
Read this aloud:
제발 저를 귀찮게 하지 마세요.
Focus: 귀찮게 하지 마세요
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
잊지 마세요. 우리는 8시에 만날 거예요.
Focus: 잊지 마세요
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
아무것도 만지지 마세요. 박물관 규칙이에요.
Focus: 만지지 마세요
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Listen for the instruction about making noise in a study environment.
Listen for advice on how to approach a problem.
Listen for a request to avoid misunderstanding.
Read this aloud:
그렇게 쉽게 포기하지 마세요. 아직 기회는 충분합니다.
Focus: 포기하지 마세요
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
개인적인 질문은 삼가주세요. 업무와 관련된 내용만 다루도록 합시다.
Focus: 삼가주세요
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
누구를 비난하지 마세요. 문제 해결에 집중하는 것이 더 중요합니다.
Focus: 비난하지 마세요
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'Please don't throw trash here.' The typical Korean sentence structure places the location ('여기에') first, followed by the object ('쓰레기를'), then the verb with the prohibition ('버리지 마세요').
This sentence translates to 'Please don't swim without a swimsuit.' The order follows a logical flow: condition/method ('수영복 없이') before the prohibited action ('수영하지 마세요').
This sentence means 'Please don't use your phone during class.' The time phrase ('수업 시간에') comes first, followed by the object ('휴대폰을') and then the prohibition ('사용하지 마세요').
저는 그에게 다시는 그런 식으로 말하지 말라고 ___.
이 문맥에서는 '말하지 말라고' 하는 강한 금지의 의미와 어울리는 '명령했다'가 가장 적절합니다.
회사의 기밀을 외부에 발설하지 말 것을 모든 직원에게 엄중히 ___.
'말 것을'과 함께 쓰여 강하게 요청하거나 신신당부하는 의미를 전달하는 '당부했다'가 가장 적절합니다.
정부는 시민들에게 불필요한 외출을 삼가 달라고 ___.
시민들에게 협조를 구하며 간곡히 부탁하는 의미의 '호소했다'가 가장 자연스럽습니다.
그는 나에게 개인적인 질문은 더 이상 하지 말아 달라고 ___.
개인적인 질문을 멈춰달라는 절박하거나 정중한 요청을 나타내는 '간청했다'가 가장 적합합니다.
전문가들은 환경 오염을 더 이상 악화시키지 말아야 한다고 한목소리로 ___.
환경 오염의 심각성을 알리며 더 이상 악화시키지 말 것을 촉구하는 의미의 '경고했다'가 문맥상 가장 어울립니다.
그는 주변 사람들에게 자신의 사생활에 대해 함부로 언급하지 말 것을 ___.
자신의 사생활에 대해 언급하지 말아 달라고 정중하게 부탁하는 의미의 '요청했다'가 가장 자연스럽습니다.
What is being prohibited?
What action should not be done with trash?
What is prohibited in this location?
Read this aloud:
지각하지 마세요.
Focus: 지 마세요
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
걱정하지 마세요.
Focus: 지 마세요
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
실망하지 마세요.
Focus: 지 마세요
Tu as dit :
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Basic use of '지 마세요'
To tell someone not to do something, you attach '지 마세요' directly to the verb stem. For example, '가다' (to go) becomes '가지 마세요' (Please don't go).
Informal version: '지 마'
For friends or people younger than you, you can use the informal '지 마'. For example, '먹지 마' (Don't eat) instead of '먹지 마세요'.
More polite: '지 마십시오'
If you need to be very polite or formal, especially in official settings, use '지 마십시오'. This is often seen in public signs or announcements.
Common usage in everyday life
You'll often hear '지 마세요' in situations where someone is giving a direct instruction or warning. Think about signs like '만지지 마세요' (Please don't touch).
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비정상이다
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에 대해서
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누적되다
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몸살
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몸살나다
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쑤시다
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에취
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급성적이다
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급성이다
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