What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 날 내버려 둬 is composed of 날 (me), 내버려 (leaving/abandoning) and 둬 (to keep/put in a state).
Which one should you use?
You can use 나 좀 내버려 둬 to say "just leave me alone", where the addition of 좀 (a little/just) either softens the tone or adds a nuance of frustration. For a more aggressive approach, you might say 저리 가, which means "go away."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The formal way to say "please let me be" is 나를 내버려 둬주세요. For a polite command, you can use 날 내버려 두세요, which adds the suffix -세요 to make the request more polite while still asking for distance. The phrase 나 좀 내버려 둬 is an informal, colloquial version. The phrase 저리 가 is an informal and more aggressive way to tell someone to leave you alone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 날 is a contraction of the full, uncontracted object form 나를.
How do you pronounce it?
nal naebeoryeo dwo
Did you know?
- While 날 내버려 둬 is a command for space, the word 내버려 comes from a root meaning to abandon or throw away something as useless.
- The component 날 has a history appearing in 15th-century Korean literature, such as the 'Yongbi eocheon'ga' written in 1447.
- In high-stress situations, Koreans may omit the object 날 entirely and just say 내버려 둬, as the context makes it clear who is being abandoned.
Examples in context
- 제발 날 내버려 둬.jebal nal naebeoryeo dwo.Please leave me alone.
- 화났으니까 날 내버려 둬.hwanasseunikka nal naebeoryeo dwo.I'm angry, so leave me alone.
Example conversation
Ji-eun is upset and wants to be by herself in the room.
- 민준 Min-jun지은아, 내가 미안해. 화풀어.jieun-a, naega mianhae. hwapureo.Ji-eun, I'm sorry. Please don't be mad.
- 지은 Ji-eun지금은 그냥 날 내버려 둬.jigeumeun geunyang nal naebeoryeo dwo.Just leave me alone right now.
- 민준 Min-jun그래도 대화는 좀 해야지.geuraedo daehwaneun jom haeyaji.But we still need to talk.
- 지은 Ji-eun혼자 있고 싶어.honja itgo sipeo.I want to be alone.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 날, 둬, CC BY-SA 4.0.
