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Easy Korean Level 4 - Unit 9: You shouldn't..., You're not supposed to... / -(으)면 안 돼요

In the previous lesson, we learned how to say "It is okay to..." (-아/어/여도 돼요). In this lesson, we will learn how to say the opposite: "You shouldn't..." or "You are not allowed to..."

The structure is: -(으)면 안 돼요

Literally translated, it means "If you (do something), it is not okay."

Conjugation Rules

  • Verb stems ending in a vowel: Add -면 안 돼요
  • 가다 -> 가면 안 돼요 (You shouldn't go)
  • 하다 -> 하면 안 돼요 (You shouldn't do it)
  • Verb stems ending in a consonant: Add -으면 안 돼요
  • 먹다 -> 먹으면 안 돼요 (You shouldn't eat)
  • 찍다 -> 찍으면 안 돼요 (You shouldn't take [a picture])
  • Verb stems ending in ㄹ: Add -면 안 돼요 (Just drop the ㄹ rule applies here: ㄹ + 면 = ㄹ면)
  • 열다 -> 열면 안 돼요 (You shouldn't open it)
  • 팔다 -> 팔면 안 돼요 (You shouldn't sell it)

Double Negative: You MUST do it

What happens if you combine "안" (not) with "-(으)면 안 돼요"? You get: 안 -(으)면 안 돼요 (If you don't do it, it is not okay.) This is a common way to say "You HAVE to do it" or "You MUST do it."

  • 안 하면 안 돼요. (You have to do it. / You can't not do it.)
  • 안 가면 안 돼요. (You must go.)

Examples

  1. 만지다 (to touch)
  2. 이거 만지면 안 돼요.

  3. You shouldn't touch this. / Do not touch this.

  4. 버리다 (to throw away)

  5. 여기에 쓰레기를 버리면 안 돼요.

  6. You are not supposed to throw garbage here.

  7. 늦다 (to be late)

  8. 내일 늦으면 안 돼요.
  9. You shouldn't be late tomorrow.