In this post, I'll show you how to ban action in Korean using the 지 말다 grammar. Since it is quite big, I made a separate post for the most common version to use. If you are a beginner, please click here and check out that post first.
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1. 지 말다 Grammar
지 말다 is an expression to show a prohibition of an action. This expression is used to ban others from doing something. You can translate it as "Don't V" in English.
For example, we can ban someone from opening the window by conjugating 지 말다 to the command form (으)세요 and say 지 마세요.
Prohibiting an action is a command. Generally, commanding is seen as impolite and is typically something a person of higher status does to someone of lower status. Therefore, regardless of your politeness level, using 지 말다 with someone significantly older or of higher status is considered rude. If you need to "ban" something for those people, you'll employ a more indirect suggestion rather than a direct command. (We'll talk about that as well in the following sections!)
2. Conjugation Information
The 지 말다 grammar is made up of two components: 지 and 말다. Fortunately, 지 can be added to a verb stem without any complex rules. Regardless of whether there is a final consonant, you will attach 지.
The verb 말다 can be conjugated in various ways based on speech levels and tones. For the tone-wise, we will use "command" or "suggestion" versions. It is because 지 말다 itself means "command."
Formal
지 마십시오: Formal command
In a formal situation, for example, like in a museum or art gallery, you will be able to see the signs. Here are some examples that you can see.
떠들다 to chat → 떠들지 마십시오. Don't chat.
밟다 to step on → 밟지 마십시오. Don't step on.
사진을 찍다 to take pictures → 사진을 찍지 마십시오. Don't take pictures.
지 맙시다: Formal suggestion
We can also suggest not to do something. Then, we will use 지 맙시다 version. It is used in formal situations to encourage someone slightly lower in rank or an equal listener to do something together.
떠들다 to chat → 떠들지 맙시다. Let's not chat.
가다 to go → 가지 맙시다. Let's not go.
Informal Polite
지 마세요: Informal polite - command form
You can use this version in everyday conversation!
먹다 to eat → 먹지 마세요.
마시다 to drink → 마시지 마세요.
가다 to go → 가지 마세요.
지 마요: Informal polite
Of course, you can use the normal polite version as well. It is because the 아/어/여요 grammar can mean all four sentence types; statement, question, command, and suggestion. 마세요 sounds a bit politer than 마요. (Still, you can't use both of them when you need to 'ask' someone a way older than you.)
먹다 to eat → 먹지 마요. "Don't eat," or "Let's not eat."
마시다 to drink → 마시지 마요. "Don't drink," or "Let's not drink."
가다 to go → 가지 마요. "Don't go," or "Let's not go."
To specify the meaning, you can add some context. For example, if you add 우리(we/our/us), then you can make sure to say "Let's not V."
우리 저거 먹지 마요. Let's not eat that.
우리 거기 가지 마요. Let's not go there.
Informal Casual
지 마: Informal casual command
떠들다 to chat → 떠들지 마. Don't chat.
오다 to come → 오지 마. Don't come.
먹다 to eat → 먹지 마. Don't eat.
지 말자: Informal casual suggestion
떠들다 to chat → 떠들지 말자. Let's not chat.
오다 to come → 오지 말자. Let's not come.
먹다 to eat → 먹지 말자. Let's not eat.
3. Sentence Information
Then, how can we ask someone of a higher position not to do something? We can combine "어 주다" grammar. 어 주다 expression shows "give help." So, instead of commanding, you are asking for a favor not to do that action.
So, the two grammatical expressions 지 말다 and 아/어/여 주다 need to be combined. The stem of the "말다" is "말." The vowel of it is ㅏ. So, by the regular conjugation rule, we need to attach 아 주다.
You can use this not only to a higher person but to others as well. "지 말아 주다" is more round and soft. So, to say "Please don't touch the picture," you can say like the below.
Formal: 그림을 만지지 말아 주십시오.
Informal polite: 그림을 만지지 말아 주세요.
Informal casual: 그림을 만지지 말아 줘.
4. Examples
1
그거 먹지 마세요. Don't it that.
그거 came from 그것(that/it). It is supposed to be attached with the object marker 을/를. 그것을 먹지 마세요. However, when talking, people like to say things quickly. So, we can omit the object marker and use the shorter version.
2
여기에 주차하지 마십시오. Do not park here.
여기 is here. 주차하다 means "to park". We combine the formal form "지 마십시오" to the stem "주차하" to ban "parking."
3
The light is red. Don't cross the street.
Informal polite: 빨간불이에요. 길을 건너지 마세요.
Informal casual: 빨간불이야. 길 건너지 마.
빨간불-the red light, 길 street or road, 건너다 to cross.
4
비가 와요. 등산을 가지 마세요. It's raining. Don't go hiking.
비 is a noun, rain. It combines with 오다 (to come) to say "to rain." If you are curious more about the weather-related words and expressions in Korean, please click here.
5
수업 시간에 졸지 마세요. Please do not fall asleep during class.
수업 is a class and 시간 means time. So, 수업 시간 is a class time. 졸다 is to doze off. I hope you don't fall asleep during the class time! 😉
6
잔디를 밟지 마십시오. Do not step on the grass.
잔디 is grass. 밟다 means to step.
5. Wrap-up & Worksheet
지 말다 is an expression to ban an action. You can directly attach 지 to a verb stem and conjugate the 말다 part with various speech tones. No matter what tone, since 지 말다 itself is a command, you can't use it for someone with a higher social status.
I prepared the free and printable worksheet for you! You can find the answers throughout the lesson. Once you solve the lesson, please come back to this lesson and check your answers!
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