하지 마
haji ma
In Korean, "do not" is expressed as 하지 마 (haji ma).
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to stop doing something or not to start doing it. It is important to distinguish this command from a statement of refusal like 안 해, which means "I won't do it."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb stem 하 (to do), the connective -지 (used to connect a verb to a negative command) and 마 (the imperative form of 말다, meaning to stop or cease).
How does it change in a sentence?
It should only be used with close friends or people younger than you. To make the command polite, you can add the ending -세요 to create 하지 마세요. In formal contexts, the form 하지 마십시오 is used. Additionally, while -지 마 is used for commands, the form -지 않아 is an informal way to express "do not" typically used in casual speech or with close friends.
How do you pronounce it?
haji ma
Did you know?
- The word 마 is a homonym for the Korean word for 'hemp'. It is also used to refer to the Chinese yam, which is a common ingredient in traditional Korean health drinks.
- In Korean pop culture and dramas, 하지 마 is often stretched into 하지 마아 to sound cute or pleading rather than commanding. This transforms a strict order into a soft whine used between couples or close friends.
- In some regional dialects, such as Gyeongsang, 마 can be used as a filler word or exclamation similar to 'Hey' or 'Just'. This usage is completely unrelated to the command to stop.
Examples in context
- 이래라 저래라 하지 마세요.Do not tell me what to do.This sentence shows how to tell someone not to tell you what to do using 하지 마.Tatoeba #1533304 by mysonhs, translation #888262 by AsliAbbasi
- 도서관 책에 낙서를 하지 마십시오.Please do not write in this library book.This sentence uses 하지 마 to request that one does not write in a library book.Tatoeba #963660 by jamesforsyth, translation #963650 by jamesforsyth
- 오해 하지 마세요.Do not misunderstand this.This sentence uses 하지 마 to tell someone not to misunderstand.Tatoeba #2730462 by Natalia_Su, translation #3659510 by rbbrbb
- 먹지 마세요Do not eat
- 가지 마세요Do not go
- 보지 마세요Do not see/watch
- 들어가지 마세요Do not enter
- 말하지 마Do not speak/talk
- 사용하지 마Do not use
- 자지 않아Do not sleep
- 놀지 않아Do not play
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 마, 하지, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
