Which one should you use?
While 그만둬 is more specifically used when telling someone to quit a continuous action or a habit, 그만해 is more frequently used as a reaction to an annoying behavior.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this depending on the social context. 그만해 is an informal way to say "drop it" among friends or acquaintances. For a polite request, use 그만 두세요 or the even more formal and polite 그만두십시오. The form 보류해 is an informal expression used to tell someone to stop or put something on hold temporarily.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can adjust the politeness and tone of the command by changing the ending. Adding the suffix –요 to create 그만둬요 makes the command polite and suitable for use with people you are not close to or who are older than you. The form 그만둬라 is a more forceful, authoritative command often used in literature, movies or by someone in a much higher position of power.
How do you pronounce it?
geumandwo
Did you know?
- When you want to say 'drop it' in the sense of 'forget about it', Koreans often use 됐어, which literally means 'it is done' or 'it is finished'.
- In Korean, using the informal 그만해 toward a stranger or a superior is not just impolite but is often perceived as a deliberate act of aggression.
- The root of the phrase 그만둬 is the adverb 그만, which means 'enough', implying that the current situation has reached its limit.
Examples in context
- 다른 사업에 집중하세요. 이건 그만두십시오.Focus on other work. Please drop this.
- 그만해, 이런 얘기는 안 하자.Drop it, let's not talk about this.
- 나중에 다시 하자. 지금은 보류해.Let's do it later. Drop it for now.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Hyunwoo are arguing about a past mistake.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그 이야기는 이제 그만둬.geu iyagineun ije geuman-dwo.Drop that subject now.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo하지만 아직 해결 안 됐어.hajiman ajik haegyeol an dwaesseo.But it's not settled yet.
- 서연 Seo-yeon더 말하면 싸우게 돼.deo mal-hamyeon ssa-u-ge dwae.If we keep talking, we'll fight.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo알았어, 그만둘게.arasseo, geuman-dulge.Okay, I'll drop it.
