beginner
Tells someone not to do something: "don't…", or "let's not…".
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Same form after any verb stem.
- It's only for telling someone not to do something, or for "let's not". For "I don't", use 안 or 지 않다.
Build it
The forms you need
Polite
가지 마세요gaji maseyoplease don't goCasual
가지 마gaji madon't goLet's not
가지 말자gaji maljalet's not goFormal
가지 마십시오gaji masipsiodo not go (signs, announcements)When to use it
Asking someone not to
Rules and requests.
Being kind
Comforting someone.
Let's not
지 말자 ji malja with friends.
Watch out
지 마세요 tells someone else not to do something. For yourself, use 안 an.
The ㄹ of 말다 malda drops before 세요: 마세요 maseyo.
In context
9 examples- 1
걱정하지 마세요.
Geokjeonghaji maseyo.
Don't worry.
- 2
여기에 차를 세우지 마세요.
Yeogie chareul seuji maseyo.
Please don't park here.
- 3
늦지 마!
Neutji ma!
Don't be late!
- 4
수업 시간에 떠들지 마세요.
Sueop sigane tteodeulji maseyo.
Please be quiet during class.
- 5
이 약을 먹고 운전하지 마세요.
I yageul meokgo unjeonhaji maseyo.
Don't drive after taking this medicine.
- 6
내일 회의를 잊지 마세요.
Naeil hoeuireul itji maseyo.
Don't forget tomorrow's meeting.
- 7
오늘은 술 마시지 말자.
Oneureun sul masiji malja.
Let's not drink today.
- 8
박물관 안에서는 음식을 먹지 마십시오.
Bangmulgwan aneseoneun eumsigeul meokji masipsio.
Do not eat inside the museum.
- 9
밤늦게 전화하지 마.
Bamneutge jeonhwahaji ma.
Don't call me late at night.
Practice
8 questions먹다 + 지 마세요
지 마세요 or 안?
Both have "not" in them, but they do different jobs. 안 and 지 않다 say that something doesn't happen, while 지 마세요 asks someone not to do it:
- 커피를 안 마셔요. keopireul an masyeoyo "I don't drink coffee."
- 커피를 마시지 마세요. keopireul masiji maseyo "Please don't drink coffee."
On signs: 마십시오 and 금지
On signs and in announcements you'll see the formal 마십시오 masipsio, or just the noun 금지 geumji, "forbidden": 촬영 금지 chwaryeong geumji, "no photos".
"Don't do this, do that": 지 말고
To tell someone what to do instead, use 지 말고 ji malgo in the middle of the sentence:
- 택시 타지 말고 지하철 타세요. taeksi taji malgo jihacheol taseyo "Don't take a taxi, take the subway."
For nouns, the same idea is 말고: 커피 말고 차 주세요 keopi malgo cha juseyo, "Not coffee, tea please."
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 지 마세요 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.