-지 마세요
Please Don't
Attach -지 마세요 to a verb stem to politely say 'Please don't do [verb]'.
How It Works
This pattern is essential for making polite negative requests. It's the direct opposite of the positive request form -(으)세요 ('Please do...').
How to form it:
Simply take the dictionary form of a verb, remove the -다, and attach -지 마세요. It attaches directly to the verb stem regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.
- 가다 (to go) → 가 + 지 마세요 → 가지 마세요 (Please don't go)
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 지 마세요 → 먹지 마세요 (Please don't eat)
- 사진을 찍다 (to take a picture) → 찍 + 지 마세요 → 사진을 찍지 마세요 (Please don't take pictures)
This form is polite (해요체) and suitable for most daily situations where you need to ask someone to refrain from an action. For very formal situations, you might hear -지 마십시오, but -지 마세요 is much more common in everyday conversation.
Examples (4)
- 여기에서 담배를 피우지 마세요.
Please don't smoke here.
Word by Word: Here at tobacco smoke-not please.
- 너무 걱정하지 마세요.
Please don't worry too much.
Word by Word: Too much worry-not please.
- 수업 시간에 자지 마세요.
Please don't sleep during class.
Word by Word: Class time during sleep-not please.
- 늦게 전화하지 마세요.
Please don't call late.
Word by Word: Late call-not please.
Common Mistakes
Using '안' with '-세요' for a negative command.
Different Meaning안 가세요.Better가지 마세요.'안 가세요?' is a question meaning 'Are you not going?'. To make a negative command ('Please don't go'), you must use the -지 마세요 pattern. '안' is for negative statements or questions, not commands.
Attaching -지 마세요 directly to adjectives.
Not Quite슬프지 마세요.Better슬퍼하지 마세요.-지 마세요 is used with action verbs. While '슬프다' is an adjective ('to be sad'), '슬퍼하다' is a verb ('to feel sad'). To tell someone not to be in a certain state, you often need to use the verb form of the adjective.
Learn This First
To use this negative request form, you need both conjugation and negation knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -(으)세요Please
-(으)세요 is the positive counterpart, meaning 'Please do...'. They are a direct pair for making positive and negative polite requests.
- 안/못Not
안 and 못 are used for general negation in statements and questions (e.g., 'I don't do' or 'I can't do'). -지 마세요 is specifically for making negative commands or requests to another person.
- -지 말다Don't Do
-지 말다 is the dictionary form of this grammar, meaning 'to not do'. -지 마세요 is the polite, conjugated form used in everyday speech.
- -아/어 주세요Please Give Me
Both are polite requests. However, -아/어 주세요 asks someone to perform an action for the speaker's benefit ('Please do X for me'), while -지 마세요 asks someone to refrain from an action.
- -지 마Don't (Casual)
The casual form of this pattern, used in intimate speech with close friends or those younger than you.
- -지 마라Do Not (Plain)
The plain-style form used in writing, instructions, or formal commands.