Negative Commands: Don't do it! (-지 말다)
지 말다 to tell someone to stop or avoid an action in commands and suggestions.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To tell someone not to do something, add -지 말다 to the verb stem.
- Remove the -다 from the verb stem: 먹다 -> 먹.
- Attach -지 말다 to the stem: 먹지 말다.
- Conjugate 말다 based on politeness: 먹지 마세요 (formal), 먹지 마 (informal).
Overview
When you need to tell someone to stop an action, refrain from doing something, or issue a direct prohibition, Korean uses the grammatical pattern Verb Stem + -지 말다. This construction is the primary way to form negative commands, requests, and suggestions. Unlike simple negation patterns such as 안 + Verb or Verb Stem + -지 않다, which merely state that an action is not happening or is not done, -지 말다 carries the explicit meaning of 'do not' or 'stop doing.' It functions as a direct imperative or propositive.
You wouldn't use it to simply say you don't eat apples; instead, you would use it to tell someone, "Don't eat the apples." Its usage is strictly limited to actions that can be commanded or proposed. This makes -지 말다 an essential tool for expressing prohibitions and making strong suggestions in Korean, applicable across various social contexts and politeness levels.
For instance, if you want to tell a friend, "Don't worry," you would use 걱정하다 (to worry) and form 걱정하지 마. Similarly, to instruct a group, "Let's not fight," from 싸우다 (to fight), you would use 싸우지 맙시다. This pattern’s core function is to influence or prevent an action, making it distinct from declarative negative statements.
Understanding this fundamental difference is crucial for correct and natural application of -지 말다.
How This Grammar Works
-지 말다 combines the connective ending -지 with the auxiliary verb 말다. The verb 말다 exclusively expresses prohibition or cessation of an action. It is an auxiliary verb because it always attaches to another verb, specifying that the action of the main verb should not occur.-지 말다 is used only with action verbs (동사). It cannot be directly attached to descriptive verbs or adjectives (형용사) to prohibit a state of being. For example, you cannot say 예쁘지 마 (Don't be pretty) because 'being pretty' is a state, not an action one can stop.슬프다 (sad) becomes 슬퍼하다 (to be sad/feel sad)), then -지 말다 can be applied to the verbalized form. Thus, 슬퍼하지 마 (Don't be sad) is grammatically correct because 슬퍼하다 is an action of feeling or showing sadness.말다 itself undergoes conjugation to indicate politeness levels and sentence types (e.g., imperative, propositive). It is also an ㄹ irregular verb. This means its final ㄹ consonant can drop when followed by certain vowel beginnings or other specific consonants, influencing its conjugated forms.-지 attachment followed by the conjugated 말다 makes the pattern predictable once 말다's conjugation rules are understood. For instance, 먹다 (to eat) + -지 말다 becomes 먹지 마세요 (Please don't eat), where 말다 conjugates to 마세요.Word Order Rules
-지 말다 is straightforward and consistent, making it relatively easy to apply once learned. You will always place the main verb's stem before -지, which is then followed by a conjugated form of 말다. This structure clearly demarcates the action being prohibited and the act of prohibition itself.-지 + [Conjugated 말다]-지. Whether the verb stem ends in a consonant or a vowel, -지 is attached directly without any change or insertion of an intervening vowel. This simplifies the formation process significantly.- For a verb stem ending in a vowel, like
가-(from가다, to go):가-+-지+마세요→가지 마세요(Please don't go). - For a verb stem ending in a consonant, like
먹-(from먹다, to eat):먹-+-지+마세요→먹지 마세요(Please don't eat).
말다 to match the desired politeness level and sentence mood.Formation Pattern
-지 말다 involves three main steps: identifying the verb stem, attaching -지, and then conjugating 말다 according to the desired politeness level and context. The conjugation of 말다 is critical here, particularly its ㄹ irregular nature. Mastering these conjugations is essential for accurate and natural usage.
-다 ending. For example, 하다 (to do) becomes 하-, 읽다 (to read) becomes 읽-, and 만들다 (to make) becomes 만들-.
-지 to the Verb Stem
-지. For example:
하- + -지 → 하지
읽- + -지 → 읽지
만들- + -지 → 만들지
말다 and Attach
ㄹ irregular conjugation rule. The ㄹ in 말다 often drops when followed by certain endings. Below are the most common conjugations:
하다) | Meaning |
해체) | -지 마 (마라 also possible, more archaic) | 하지 마 | Don't do (casual) |
해요체) | -지 마세요 (말아요 is softer) | 하지 마세요 | Please don't do (polite)|
하십시오체) | -지 마십시오 (말라 can be formal too) | 하지 마십시오 | Do not do (formal) |
합시다체)| -지 맙시다 | 하지 맙시다 | Let's not do |
-고) | -지 말고 | 하지 말고 | Don't do A, but do B |
ㄹ Irregularity in 말다:
말다 combines with endings starting with ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ, the ㄹ often drops. You'll commonly see this with:
-세요 (polite imperative): 말- + -으세요 (expected) → 말으세요 (incorrect). The ㄹ drops, and -으세요 becomes -세요, resulting in 마세요. This is the most frequently encountered example (가지 마세요, 먹지 마세요).
-ㅂ시다 (propositive): 말- + -ㅂ시다 → 맙시다. The ㄹ drops, and ㅂ시다 attaches directly to 마-.
-아/어 (casual imperative): 말- + -아 → 마라. More commonly shortened to 마 in spoken casual speech. 말아 is also correct and sometimes used to soften the tone slightly.
-지 form | Casual (해체) | Polite (해요체) | Formal (하십시오체) | Propositive (합시다체) |
가다 (to go) | 가- | 가지 | 가지 마 | 가지 마세요 | 가지 마십시오 | 가지 맙시다 |
먹다 (to eat) | 먹- | 먹지 | 먹지 마 | 먹지 마세요 | 먹지 마십시오 | 먹지 맙시다 |
하다 (to do) | 하- | 하지 | 하지 마 | 하지 마세요 | 하지 마십시오 | 하지 맙시다 |
웃다 (to laugh) | 웃- | 웃지 | 웃지 마 | 웃지 마세요 | 웃지 마십시오 | 웃지 맙시다 |
When To Use It
-지 말다 is a versatile grammar pattern used primarily for expressing prohibitions, giving commands, making requests, or proposing that an action not be done. Its specific nuance changes with the conjugation of 말다 and the context. Understanding these variations allows for precise communication.- 1Direct Prohibition / Command (
-지 마 / -지 마세요 / -지 마십시오)
-지 마(Casual): Used with close friends, family, or people younger than you. It is a direct and informal command.뛰지 마!(Don't run!)걱정하지 마.(Don't worry.)-지 마세요(Polite): Used with strangers, superiors, or in situations requiring general politeness. It softens the command into a polite request.늦지 마세요.(Please don't be late.)담배 피우지 마세요.(Please don't smoke.)-지 마십시오(Formal): Used in very formal settings, public announcements, or when addressing a large audience. It is a strong, official prohibition.출입 금지. 들어가지 마십시오.(Entry prohibited. Do not enter.)음식물 반입 금지. 먹지 마십시오.(No food allowed. Do not eat.)
- 1Proposing Not to Do Something (
-지 맙시다)
늦잠 자지 맙시다.(Let's not oversleep.)싸우지 맙시다.(Let's not fight.)
- 1Connecting Prohibitions with Alternatives (
-지 말고)
-지 말고 is used to say "Don't do X, but rather do Y" or "Instead of doing X, do Y." It establishes a contrast between a prohibited action and a suggested alternative. 말고 here is the connective form of 말다 with -고.울지 말고 웃어요.(Don't cry, smile instead.)커피 마시지 말고 물을 마셔요.(Don't drink coffee, drink water instead.)
- 1Softer/More Emotional Requests (
-지 말아요)
-지 마세요. It conveys a gentler request or plea, frequently heard in songs or dramatic contexts.가지 말아요.(Please don't go. (pleading tone))잊지 말아요.(Please don't forget. (emotional request))
- 1Self-Prohibition/Resolution (Diary entries, internal monologue)
-지 말자 (the casual propositive form) can be used when making a personal resolution or self-admonition, often in diary entries or internal thoughts. It impliesConjugation of -지 말다
| Speech Level | Suffix | Example (가다) |
|---|---|---|
|
Formal High
|
-지 마십시오
|
가지 마십시오
|
|
Formal Polite
|
-지 마세요
|
가지 마세요
|
|
Informal Polite
|
-지 마요
|
가지 마요
|
|
Informal Plain
|
-지 마
|
가지 마
|
|
Intimate
|
-지 마라
|
가지 마라
|
Meanings
Used to express a negative command or prohibition, telling someone not to perform an action.
Direct Prohibition
Giving a direct order to stop or avoid an action.
“가지 마세요.”
“먹지 마.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + 다
|
가다
|
|
Negative Command
|
Verb + 지 말다
|
가지 마세요
|
|
Question
|
Verb + 지 말까요?
|
가지 말까요?
|
|
Past Negative (Rare)
|
Verb + 지 말았어요
|
가지 말았어요
|
|
Suggestion
|
Verb + 지 맙시다
|
가지 맙시다
|
Formality Spectrum
가지 마십시오. (General)
가지 마세요. (General)
가지 마. (General)
가지 마라. (General)
The Negative Command Map
Add
- 지 particle
Add
- 말다 auxiliary
Examples by Level
가지 마세요.
Please don't go.
먹지 마세요.
Please don't eat.
보지 마세요.
Please don't look.
하지 마세요.
Please don't do it.
여기서 떠들지 마세요.
Please don't make noise here.
늦지 마세요.
Please don't be late.
걱정하지 마세요.
Please don't worry.
울지 마세요.
Please don't cry.
너무 무리하지 마세요.
Please don't overwork yourself.
비밀을 말하지 마세요.
Please don't tell the secret.
그렇게 생각하지 마세요.
Please don't think like that.
함부로 버리지 마세요.
Please don't litter carelessly.
결정을 서두르지 마세요.
Please don't rush the decision.
상대방을 비난하지 마세요.
Please don't blame the other party.
기회를 놓치지 마세요.
Please don't miss the opportunity.
편견을 갖지 마세요.
Please don't have prejudices.
과거에 연연하지 마세요.
Don't dwell on the past.
감정에 휘둘리지 마세요.
Don't be swayed by emotions.
현실을 외면하지 마세요.
Don't ignore reality.
타협하지 마세요.
Don't compromise.
본질을 흐리지 마세요.
Don't obscure the essence.
자만하지 마세요.
Don't be arrogant.
안주하지 마세요.
Don't settle (for less).
방심하지 마세요.
Don't let your guard down.
Easily Confused
Both negate verbs.
Common Mistakes
안 가세요
가지 마세요
가세요 마
가지 마세요
가 마세요
가지 마세요
안 먹다
먹지 마세요
가지 마십시요
가지 마십시오
먹지 마라요
먹지 마세요
하지 마세요요
하지 마세요
가지 말아 주세요
가지 마세요
가지 말았어요
가지 마세요
가지 말아라
가지 마세요
가지 마시길 바랍니다
가지 마세요
가지 마는 것이 좋습니다
가지 마세요
가지 마시라
가지 마세요
Sentence Patterns
___지 마세요.
여기서 ___지 마세요.
너무 ___지 마세요.
함부로 ___지 마세요.
Real World Usage
떠들지 마세요.
가지 마!
긴장하지 마세요.
벨 누르지 마세요.
악플 달지 마세요.
들어가지 마세요.
No Adjectives Allowed
예쁘다 or 바쁘다. Use the verb-ified version: 바빠하지 마세요 (Don't act busy).The ㄹ Dropout
말다 + 세요 becomes 마세요. The 'ㄹ' vanishes! If you keep it, you'll sound like you're reading from an old dictionary.Emotional Nuance
지 말아요 is very common. It's softer and more pleading than the standard 지 마세요 used in daily life.Smart Tips
Use -지 마세요 for a polite request.
Drop the -세요 and use -지 마.
Look for -지 마세요 to understand rules.
Use 걱정하지 마세요.
Pronunciation
Linking
The 'j' sound in -지 links to the 'm' in 말다.
Command
가지 마세요↓
Falling intonation for a firm command.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Malda' as 'Ma' (Mom) saying 'No!'.
Visual Association
Imagine a mother holding up a hand saying 'Ma!' to stop you from doing something.
Rhyme
Don't do it, don't do it, just say -지 마!
Story
You are walking toward a cliff. Your friend shouts '가지 마!' (Don't go!). You stop. You realize '가지 마' is the key to safety.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 things you shouldn't do today using -지 마세요.
Cultural Notes
Using -지 마세요 is direct. In hierarchical settings, use softer alternatives.
Derived from the verb 말다 (to stop/cease).
Conversation Starters
내일 비가 오면 갈까요?
이거 먹어도 돼요?
지금 전화할까요?
이 의견에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
여기서 담배를 피우___ 마세요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
안 먹으세요.
가세요.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
마세요 / 가지 / 여기
To a friend, say:
너무 ___지 마세요.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises여기서 담배를 피우___ 마세요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
안 먹으세요.
가세요.
하다 -> ?
마세요 / 가지 / 여기
To a friend, say:
너무 ___지 마세요.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises걱정하___.
Pick the wrong conjugation:
Arrange:
싸우다 (to fight) -> Let's not
Warning: Do not enter.
Match them up:
웃___!
안 가지 마세요.
보다 (to look) -> Casual
Don't buy coffee, buy tea.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Generally no, because adjectives describe states, not actions. Use it with verbs.
It is informal. Use it only with close friends or children.
-지 마십시오 is very formal, used in public announcements or military contexts.
It is very rare. Commands are usually for the future/present.
'An' is for negation of fact. 'Malda' is for negation of volition/action.
Use -지 맙시다 (Let's not).
Some dialects might use different endings, but -지 마세요 is universally understood.
The rule remains the same: stem + 지 + 마세요.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
No + imperative
Korean conjugates the auxiliary.
Ne pas + infinitive
Korean suffixing vs French prefixing.
Nicht + imperative
Korean auxiliary usage.
~naide kudasai
Particle choice.
La + jussive
Word order.
Bie + verb
Pre-verbal vs post-verbal.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
Polite Negation: Saying 'Not' Professionally (-지 않다)
Overview In Korean, expressing negation goes beyond a simple 'no.' The choice between different negative forms often con...
Formal Negation: Cannot (지 못하다)
Overview This grammar pattern, `~지 못하다` (ji mot-hada), is a fundamental construction in Korean used to express **ina...
Korean Long Negation: Using -지 않다 (-ji anh-da)
Overview Korean features distinct methods for expressing negation, signifying what "is not" or "does not happen." For A1...
Short Negation with 안 (Don't/Not)
Overview Korean negation allows you to express what is not, what you don't do, or what isn't true. Among the various neg...
I Can't! Korean Negation with 'Mot' (못)
Overview In Korean, expressing inability or the state of being unable to perform an action due to external circumstances...
