Phrase in 30 Seconds
A polite and essential way to tell someone 'Don't worry' or 'No problem' in Korean.
- Means: 'Please do not worry' or 'Don't be anxious.'
- Used in: Comforting friends, responding to apologies, or reassuring colleagues.
- Don't confuse: With '괜찮아요' (It's okay), which describes a state rather than an instruction.
आपके स्तर पर व्याख्या:
मतलब
Advising someone not to be anxious or distressed.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
Reassurance is often paired with food. If someone is worried, a Korean might say '걱정 마세요' followed by '밥 먹으러 가요' (Let's go eat), as sharing a meal is the ultimate form of comfort. In Korean companies, saying '걱정 마세요' to a boss can be risky if you haven't actually solved the problem. It's better to provide a status update first. On platforms like Instagram or KakaoTalk, users often use '걱정 ㄴㄴ' (No No), where 'ㄴㄴ' stands for 'No No' in Korean slang. Parents often say '걱정 마' to children to show strength, even when things are difficult. It's a way of maintaining the family hierarchy of protection.
The 'Banmal' Shortcut
If you're with friends, just say '걱정 마'. It's punchy and sounds very native.
Don't be too dismissive
If someone is really crying, saying '걱정 마세요' too quickly can seem like you're not listening. Pair it with a hug or a listening ear.
The 'Banmal' Shortcut
If you're with friends, just say '걱정 마'. It's punchy and sounds very native.
Don't be too dismissive
If someone is really crying, saying '걱정 마세요' too quickly can seem like you're not listening. Pair it with a hug or a listening ear.
The 'Fighting' Connection
Often used with '화이팅!' (Fighting!). '걱정 마세요! 화이팅!' is the ultimate encouragement combo.
Shortening the Verb
Remember that '걱정 마세요' is the shortened version of '걱정하지 마세요'. Both are correct, but the short one is more common in speech.
खुद को परखो
Fill in the blank to make the sentence polite.
미안해요. 제가 늦었어요. / 아니에요, 걱정 (____).
Since the first person used '미안해요' (polite), the response should also be polite.
Which phrase is most appropriate for a close friend?
Friend: '나 시험 떨어지면 어떡하지?' (What if I fail the exam?)
With close friends, the informal 'Banmal' form '걱정 마' is the most natural.
Complete the dialogue in a professional setting.
Client: '프로젝트가 제시간에 끝날까요?' / Manager: '네, (____). 저희 팀이 열심히 하고 있습니다.'
In a formal business context with a client, the '-십시오' ending is most professional.
Match the response to the situation.
Someone spilled water on your desk and is very sorry.
The first option addresses the spill ('I can just wipe it').
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
Formality Levels
अभ्यास बैंक
5 अभ्यास미안해요. 제가 늦었어요. / 아니에요, 걱정 (____).
Since the first person used '미안해요' (polite), the response should also be polite.
Friend: '나 시험 떨어지면 어떡하지?' (What if I fail the exam?)
With close friends, the informal 'Banmal' form '걱정 마' is the most natural.
Client: '프로젝트가 제시간에 끝날까요?' / Manager: '네, (____). 저희 팀이 열심히 하고 있습니다.'
In a formal business context with a client, the '-십시오' ending is most professional.
Someone spilled water on your desk and is very sorry.
The first option addresses the spill ('I can just wipe it').
🎉 स्कोर: /5
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
12 सवालIt's not rude, but '염려 마십시오' is more respectful and professional.
'걱정' is native Korean and used in daily life. '염려' is Hanja-based and sounds more formal/literary.
Yes, but it's less common than '걱정 마세요' and can sound slightly informal or soft.
You can say '걱정 ㄴㄴ' (Gok-jeong No-No) in texts.
Yes, but it can also mean 'No problem' or 'It's fine' when responding to an apology.
The verb '말다' is irregular. When it meets '-(으)세요', the 'ㄹ' drops out.
No, for fear use '무서워하지 마세요'. '걱정' is for anxiety/worry.
Yes, '걱정하지 마십시오' or '염려하지 마십시오'.
Say '걱정돼요' (Gok-jeong-dwae-yo).
Yes, use '걱정 마' (informal).
Yes, the phrase is common across the peninsula, though they may have different preferred honorifics.
Yes, if they seem worried or apologize to you, it is very polite.
संबंधित मुहावरे
괜찮아요
similarIt's okay / I'm fine
염려 마세요
specialized formPlease don't be concerned
안심하세요
similarPlease set your mind at ease
신경 쓰지 마세요
similarDon't pay it any mind
다 잘 될 거예요
builds onEverything will be fine
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
Late for a meeting
A: 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다!
B: 아니에요, 걱정 마세요. 이제 막 시작했어요.
Before a big test
A: 시험 너무 떨려... 어떡하지?
B: 너 공부 많이 했잖아. 걱정 마!
Ordering at a restaurant
A: 이 음식 많이 매워요?
B: 안 맵게 해드릴게요. 걱정 마세요.
Losing an item
A: 제 열쇠 보셨어요? 없어진 것 같아요.
B: 걱정 마세요. 제가 같이 찾아줄게요.
Spilling a drink
A: 어머, 죄송해요! 옷에 커피가...
B: 괜찮아요. 금방 지워질 거예요. 걱정 마세요.
Job Interview Nerves
A: 면접 잘 볼 수 있을까요?
B: 준비 많이 했으니까 걱정 마세요. 잘 될 거예요.
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Think of 'Gok-jeong' as 'Go-Away-Jeong'. Tell the worry to go away!
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a giant eraser wiping away a dark cloud (the worry) above someone's head.
Rhyme
Gok-jeong maseyo, keep the stress away-o!
Story
A small bird named Gok-jeong was crying. A kind Korean grandmother patted its head and said 'Maseyo' (Don't do that). Now the bird is happy.
In Other Languages
Similar to 'No te preocupes' in Spanish or 'Don't worry' in English. In Japanese, 'Shinpai shinaide' (心配しないで) is almost a direct structural match.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Try saying '걱정 마세요' to three different people today: a friend, a shopkeeper, and yourself in the mirror.
Review this phrase on day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the 'ㄹ' drop in '말다' -> '마세요'.
उच्चारण
The 'ㄱ' at the end of '걱' makes the 'ㅈ' in '정' sound like a double 'ㅉ'.
Simple and flat intonation.
औपचारिकता का स्तर
결과는 걱정 마십시오. (Exam results)
결과는 걱정 마세요. (Exam results)
결과는 걱정 마. (Exam results)
결과? 1도 걱정 마. (Don't worry even 1%) (Exam results)
The word '걱정' is a native Korean word. Some etymologists suggest it may have evolved from the Middle Korean word '걱뎡', which referred to a state of mental distress or a 'knot' in the mind.
रोचक तथ्य
There is a famous Korean folk character named 'Im Kkeok-jeong' (임꺽정), a Robin Hood-like figure. His name is often joked about in relation to the word for worry.
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
Reassurance is often paired with food. If someone is worried, a Korean might say '걱정 마세요' followed by '밥 먹으러 가요' (Let's go eat), as sharing a meal is the ultimate form of comfort.
“걱정 마세요. 제가 맛있는 거 사줄게요.”
In Korean companies, saying '걱정 마세요' to a boss can be risky if you haven't actually solved the problem. It's better to provide a status update first.
“보고서 다 작성했으니 걱정 마십시오.”
On platforms like Instagram or KakaoTalk, users often use '걱정 ㄴㄴ' (No No), where 'ㄴㄴ' stands for 'No No' in Korean slang.
“오늘 시험? 걱정 ㄴㄴ!”
Parents often say '걱정 마' to children to show strength, even when things are difficult. It's a way of maintaining the family hierarchy of protection.
“엄마가 다 알아서 할게. 걱정 마.”
बातचीत की शुरुआत
내일 한국어 시험이 있어서 너무 떨려요.
지갑을 잃어버린 것 같아요. 어떡하죠?
제가 약속 시간에 조금 늦을 것 같아요. 죄송합니다.
이 요리가 너무 매울까 봐 걱정돼요.
सामान्य गलतियाँ
걱정하지 마요
걱정하지 마세요 / 걱정 마세요
L1 Interference
걱정 마십시오 (to a close friend)
걱정 마
L1 Interference
걱정하지 마 (to a teacher)
걱정 마세요 / 염려 마세요
L1 Interference
걱정하지 않으세요
걱정하지 마세요
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
No te preocupes
Korean has distinct levels (마세요 vs 마) while Spanish uses Tú/Usted.
Ne t'inquiète pas
French requires the 'ne...pas' structure which is more rigid than the shortened Korean '걱정 마'.
Mach dir keine Sorgen
German feels slightly more active ('Don't make worries') compared to the Korean prohibitive ('Stop the worry').
心配しないで (Shinpai shinaide)
Japanese often adds 'kudasai' for politeness, similar to Korean 'maseyo'.
لا تقلق (La taqlaq)
Arabic usage is often tied to religious expressions of fate, whereas Korean is more focused on social harmony.
别担心 (Bié dānxīn)
Chinese lacks the complex honorific endings found in Korean 'maseyo'.
Não se preocupe
The placement of 'se' can change based on Brazilian vs European Portuguese, unlike the stable Korean 'maseyo'.
Don't worry
Korean '걱정 마세요' is almost always perceived as warm due to the polite ending.
Spotted in the Real World
“그대여 아무 걱정 하지 말아요”
A famous song often sung to comfort the nation during hard times. It was the main OST for the drama 'Reply 1988'.
“걱정 마시오. 내가 지켜줄 테니.”
The North Korean captain reassures the protagonist. He uses '마시오', a specific North Korean/archaic style of politeness.
“아들아, 너는 계획이 다 있구나. 걱정 마라.”
The father tells his son not to worry because they have a plan (even if it's a bad one).
“월요일이지만 걱정 마세요! 곧 주말이 와요.”
A caption on a Monday morning post to encourage followers.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Learners might think this means 'Don't worry' because of the '해요' ending.
This actually means 'I worry' or 'Please worry.' Always look for the '마' (don't).
Both involve negative emotions.
'무서워' is for fear/scary things, '걱정' is for anxiety/future events.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (12)
It's not rude, but '염려 마십시오' is more respectful and professional.
usage contexts'걱정' is native Korean and used in daily life. '염려' is Hanja-based and sounds more formal/literary.
basic understandingYes, but it's less common than '걱정 마세요' and can sound slightly informal or soft.
grammar mechanicsYou can say '걱정 ㄴㄴ' (Gok-jeong No-No) in texts.
practical tipsYes, but it can also mean 'No problem' or 'It's fine' when responding to an apology.
usage contextsThe verb '말다' is irregular. When it meets '-(으)세요', the 'ㄹ' drops out.
grammar mechanicsNo, for fear use '무서워하지 마세요'. '걱정' is for anxiety/worry.
comparisonsYes, '걱정하지 마십시오' or '염려하지 마십시오'.
grammar mechanicsSay '걱정돼요' (Gok-jeong-dwae-yo).
basic understandingYes, use '걱정 마' (informal).
cultural usageYes, the phrase is common across the peninsula, though they may have different preferred honorifics.
cultural usageYes, if they seem worried or apologize to you, it is very polite.
practical tips
