그러지 마
geureoji ma
To say stop doing that in Korean, use 그러지 마 (geureoji ma).
그러지 마 tells someone not to keep doing what they are doing right now.
What does it mean word for word?
그러지 means doing so, and 마 is a short form of the negative command. Together the phrase means don't do so.
Which one should you use?
그러지 마 focuses on the specific action, while 그만해 is a more general stop it or cut it out, used when a situation has become annoying or too much. 그만하세요 is the formal way to say stop doing that, and 그만두세요 means please stop.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
그러지 마 is informal and only for friends, people younger than you or those you are very close to. 그러지 마세요 is the standard polite way to ask someone to stop without being rude. 그만해 is informal.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as geureoji ma.
Did you know?
- The informal phrase 그러지 마 is frequently used in K-dramas during emotional scenes to mean 'don't do this to me' or 'don't say that'. It often functions as a plea for a partner to stop a breakup or a confession rather than a literal command to stop a physical action.
- The negative command 마 is a linguistic relic from Middle Korean, appearing in the 1446 text Hunminjeong'eum haerye as 맣〮.
- If you use the informal 그러지 마 with a stranger or a superior, it can be perceived as a direct confrontation or an act of social defiance.
Examples in context
- 거짓말하지 마, 그러지 마.geojitmalhaji ma, geureoji ma.Don't lie, stop doing that.
- 장난이 심해, 그러지 마.jangnani simhae, geureoji ma.You're joking too much, stop doing that.
- 나를 괴롭히지 마, 그러지 마.nareul goeropiji ma, geureoji ma.Don't bully me, stop doing that.
Example conversation
Jihoon is annoyed because Seoyeon keeps poking his arm.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연아, 계속 찌르지 마.Seoyeon-a, gyesok jjireuji ma.Seoyeon, stop poking me continuously.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그냥 장난이야.geunyang jangnaniya.I'm just playing around.
- 지훈 Ji-hun아프니까 그러지 마.apeunikka geureoji ma.It hurts, so stop doing that.
- 서연 Seo-yeon미안해, 이제 안 할게.mianhae, ije an halge.Sorry, I won't do it anymore.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 마, CC BY-SA 4.0.
