꺼져
kkeojyeo
To back off in Korean, the default form is 꺼져 (kkeojyeo).
While the phrase can refer to becoming less aggressive, the forms provided are primarily used to tell someone to leave a space or stop an action. This includes telling someone to get lost, move aside or keep their distance.
Meaning: to become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act (verb)
Which one should you use?
Depending on your intent, you might use different expressions: 좀 비켜 is a colloquial way to tell someone to move aside a bit, while 거리를 두세요 is a polite way to ask someone to keep their distance. For physical contact, 손 떼세요 means to ask someone to take their hands off.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 꺼져 is highly informal and can be perceived as very rude or aggressive, similar to telling someone to 'get lost' or 'piss off' in English. In contrast, 손 떼세요 and 거리를 두세요 are formal. The colloquial 좀 비켜 is informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can turn the command 꺼져 into a more polite version by adding the suffix –세요 to create 꺼지세요, which means 'please go away' or 'get lost', though it remains inherently confrontational.
How do you pronounce it?
kkeojyeo
Did you know?
- The word 꺼져 is derived from the verb 꺼지다, which describes a fire or a light going out. To tell someone to 'back off' is literally telling them to be extinguished like a flame.
- Adding the polite suffix –세요 to the aggressive 꺼져 to create 꺼지세요 does not actually make the command more polite. Instead, it creates a tone of 'polite hostility' that can feel more menacing and sarcastic than the blunt version.
- Using direct 'back off' commands on public transit is viewed as extremely socially disruptive. In a crowded subway, Koreans use 잠시만요, which means 'just a moment', to ask for space.
Examples in context
- 제발 거리를 좀 두세요.Please, keep your distance.
- 좀 비켜. 내가 좀 혼자 있고 싶어.Back off. I want to be alone for a while.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Jieun are having a heated argument.
- 도현 Do-hyeon너 지금 말이 너무 심해.neo jigeum mari neomu simhae.You are being too harsh right now.
- 지은 Ji-eun사실을 말하는 것뿐이야.sasireul malhaneun geotppuniya.I'm just telling the truth.
- 도현 Do-hyeon더 이상 듣기 싫어, 꺼져.deo isang deutgi sireo, kkeojyeo.I don't want to hear any more, back off.
- 지은 Ji-eun그래, 나도 너랑 말하기 싫어.geurae, nado neorang malhagi sireo.Fine, I don't want to talk to you either.
