27. Korean Grammar: How to Use 지 말다 (Don't)

Korean Grammar: How to Use 지 말다 (Don't)

In this post, we'll learn how to use the Korean grammar 지 말다, which is used to tell someone not to do something. This is a very common and useful expression in everyday conversations. Let's break it down with examples and compare it with similar expressions like 안 and 지 않다.

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1. What is 지 말다?

The expression 지 말다 means “don’t” in English. It’s used when you want to tell someone not to do something. This form is often used with 세요 to make polite requests.

How to Use 지 말다:

1. Take the verb stem and add 지 말다.
2. To make it polite, use 지 마세요 (Please don’t...).

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Examples of 지 말다:

1. 늦지 마세요.
   (Please don’t be late.)
2. 여기서 사진 찍지 마세요.
   (Please don’t take photos here.)
3. 걱정하지 마세요.
   (Don’t worry.)
4. 쓰레기를 버리지 마세요.
   (Don’t throw away trash.)
5. 소리 지르지 마세요.
   (Don’t shout.)

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2. 지 말다 and 세요

• 지 말다 is often used with 세요 for polite requests.
  • 운전 중에 전화하지 마세요.
    (Please don’t call while driving.)

Without 세요, it sounds more like a command and can be rude:

• 가지 마! (Don’t go!) – Informal and strong.

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3. Comparing 지 않다, 지 말다, and 안

Expression Meaning Usage Example

안 + Verb	Not doing something	Neutral statement	안 먹어요. (I don’t eat.)
Verb + 지 않다	Not doing something	Slightly formal/neutral	먹지 않아요. (I don’t eat.)
Verb + 지 말다	Telling someone NOT to do	Used for giving instructions/orders	먹지 마세요. (Please don’t eat.)

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Key Differences:

• 안/지 않다: Describes what you or someone does not do.
  • 안 가요. (I’m not going.)
  • 가지 않아요. (I’m not going.)
• 지 말다: Tells someone else not to do something.
  • 가지 마세요. (Please don’t go.)

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4. Vocabulary from Examples

Korean English

늦다	To be late
사진 찍다	To take a photo
걱정하다	To worry
쓰레기	Trash
버리다	To throw away
소리 지르다	To shout/yell
운전	Driving
전화하다	To call

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5. Quick Quiz (Test Yourself!)

1️⃣ Fill in the blanks with 지 말다:

1. 수업 시간에 자___세요. (Please don’t sleep in class.)
2. 도서관에서 떠들___세요. (Don’t make noise in the library.)
3. 비밀이에요. 아무한테도 말하___세요. (It’s a secret. Don’t tell anyone.)
4. 길에 쓰레기를 버리___세요. (Don’t throw trash on the street.)
5. 너무 걱정하___세요. (Don’t worry too much.)

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2️⃣ Choose the Correct Expression (안, 지 않다, 지 말다):

1. 저는 고기를 ___ 먹어요. (I don’t eat meat.)
2. 여기서 담배를 피우___세요. (Please don’t smoke here.)
3. 그는 약속을 지키___아요. (He doesn’t keep promises.)
4. 늦___ 마세요! (Don’t be late!)
5. 저는 커피를 ___ 마셔요. (I don’t drink coffee.)

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3️⃣ Translate into Korean:

1. Please don’t call me late at night.
2. I don’t study on weekends.
3. Don’t forget your umbrella.
4. She doesn’t go to school on Fridays.
5. Don’t touch that!

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Try answering these questions and see how much you’ve learned! 😊✏️