-지 말라고
Tell Not to Do
-지 말라고 is a reported speech form used to convey a negative command. It's like saying '...told me/him/her not to...'
How It Works
-지 말라고 is the standard way to report or quote a negative command in Korean. It's formed by attaching -지 말라고 directly to a verb stem.
Structure: Verb Stem + -지 말라고
This pattern is used within a larger sentence, typically followed by a verb like 하다 (to do/say), 말하다 (to say/speak), or 전하다 (to convey).
Full Sentence Structure:
- [Speaker]이/가 [Listener]에게 [Verb]-지 말라고 했어요.
- (Speaker) told (Listener) not to do [Verb].
For example, if a doctor gives you a direct command:
Direct Command: "술을 마시지 마세요." (Please don't drink alcohol.)
When you report this command to your friend, you use -지 말라고:
Reported Command: "의사 선생님이 술을 마시지 말라고 했어요." (The doctor told me not to drink alcohol.)
It's important to distinguish this from a direct command. You would never use -지 말라고 to tell someone not to do something directly. For that, you would use -지 마세요 or other direct command forms.
Examples (4)
- 엄마가 늦게 들어오지 말라고 했어요.
My mom told me not to come home late.
Word by Word: Mom late come in don't do told.
- 의사 선생님이 담배를 피우지 말라고 하셨어요.
The doctor told me not to smoke.
Word by Word: Doctor teacher tobacco smoke don't do said (honorific).
- 친구가 너무 걱정하지 말라고 말했어요.
My friend told me not to worry too much.
Word by Word: Friend too much worry don't do said.
- 여기서 사진을 찍지 말라고 쓰여 있어요.
It's written here not to take pictures.
Word by Word: Here photos take don't do is written.
This shows that the source of the command can be something inanimate, like a sign.
Common Mistakes
Using -지 말라고 for a direct command instead of for reporting one.
Different Meaning시끄러워요! 떠들지 말라고!Better시끄러워요! 떠들지 마세요!-지 말라고is for reported speech ('Someone told you not to make noise'). To give a direct command, you must use a direct negative command form like -지 마세요 or-지 마.
Learn This First
To report negative commands, you need negative imperatives and quotation patterns.
Related Patterns
- -지 마세요Please Don't
This is a polite, direct negative command ('Please don't do').
-지 말라고is used when you report that someone gave this type of command to someone else. - -는다고/ㄴ다고/다고Say That, Claim That
This is the general reported speech ending for statements ('said that...').
-지 말라고is different because it specifically reports a negative command, not a statement of fact.