-(으)려무나
Please Do (Archaic)
-려무나 is a gentle, archaic command form used by elders to children, like 'go ahead and...' or 'why don't you...'. It's not used in modern daily speech.
How It Works
-려무나 is a beautiful but archaic verb ending that you'll encounter in traditional stories, historical dramas, or when listening to very elderly speakers. It's not used in everyday modern Korean. It functions as a gentle and affectionate command or suggestion.
Key Characteristics:
- Speaker/Listener: Used by a person of high status/age (e.g., grandparent, parent, wise elder) speaking to someone of much lower status/age (e.g., grandchild, child).
- Nuance: It's not a forceful command. It's soft, warm, and caring, almost like saying "Go ahead and do this, my dear" or "Why don't you do this?"
- Speech Level: It belongs to the 하게체 (hagyeche) speech level, which is rarely used today.
Conjugation Rules:
1. Verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: Add -려무나
- 가다 (to go) → 가려무나
- 놀다 (to play) → 놀려무나
2. Verb stem ends in a consonant: Add -으려무나
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹으려무나
- 앉다 (to sit) → 앉으려무나
Comparison with other command forms:
- -아/어라: A direct, plain command to a subordinate. It lacks the gentle, affectionate nuance of -려무나.
- -세요: The standard polite command. Used in most everyday situations when you need to be polite.
- -십시오: A formal, polite command. Used in public announcements, military contexts, or very formal settings.
In summary, think of -려무나 as a special, loving command form from a bygone era.
Examples (4)
- 할머니가 손주에게 말했다. "아가, 이리 와서 좀 앉으려무나."
The grandmother said to her grandchild, "My dear, come here and sit for a bit."
Word by Word: Grandmother to grandchild said. "Baby, here come and a little sit-please."
This is a classic context for -려무나: an elder speaking affectionately to a young child.
- 날이 저무니 이제 그만 놀고 집으로 돌아가려무나.
The day is ending, so stop playing now and please head home.
Word by Word: Day is getting dark so now stop playing and to home return-please.
This has the tone of a caring parent or guardian telling a child it's time to come inside.
- 배고플 테니 이 떡이라도 좀 먹으려무나.
You must be hungry, so please have some of this rice cake.
Word by Word: Will be hungry so this rice cake at least a little eat-please.
The ending conveys a sense of care and concern for the listener's well-being.
- 힘들면 잠시 쉬려무나. 서두를 것 없다.
If you're tired, please rest for a moment. There's no need to hurry.
Word by Word: If tired for a moment rest-please. To hurry thing not exist.
This is a gentle suggestion, not a strong command, which is a key nuance of -려무나.
Common Mistakes
Using -려무나 in modern, everyday conversation.
Different Meaning친구에게: "피곤하면 먼저 집에 가려무나."Better친구에게: "피곤하면 먼저 집에 가." 또는 "피곤하면 먼저 집에 가세요."-려무나 is an archaic form used by elders to children. Using it with friends or in a normal setting sounds very strange and out of place. Use standard informal (-아/어) or polite (-세요) endings instead.
Using -려무나 with descriptive verbs (adjectives).
Different Meaning항상 행복하려무나.Better항상 행복하게 지내려무나.-려무나 is a command form and is used with action verbs, not descriptive verbs (adjectives). To express a similar meaning, you often need to combine the adjective with an action verb like 지내다 (to live, to get by).
Learn This First
To use archaic requests 'please do', you need intention patterns and conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -아/어라Informal Command
-아/어라 is the standard informal command form (해라체). While both are used with people of lower status or age, -려무나 is much gentler, more affectionate, and archaic, whereas -아/어라 is a direct, plain command.
- -(으)세요Please
-세요 is the standard polite command form (해요체). It's the most common way to say 'please do' in everyday Korean. -려무나 is completely different in politeness level and usage, being an archaic, intimate form used by elders to juniors.
- -(으)십시오Please Do
-십시오 is the formal polite command form (하십시오체). It's used in very formal situations. This contrasts sharply with -려무나, which is informal and intimate, though both can sound somewhat traditional.
- -오/소Formal Archaic Ending
Like -려무나, -오/소 is an archaic sentence ending associated with the '하게체' speech level. While -려무나 is a command, -오/소 is a statement or question ending used between equals or by a senior to a junior in a formal but not overly stiff manner.