그만 웃어
geuman useo
In Korean, "stop laughing" is 그만 웃어 (geuman useo).
This phrase is used as a command to tell someone to cease laughing.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 그만 means 'stop', 'cease' or 'enough' when it is used to indicate the cessation of an action.
Which one should you use?
There is a subtle difference between phrases used to command someone. 그만 웃어 focuses on stopping an action that is already ongoing (enough/stop), whereas 웃지 마 focuses on the prohibition of the action (don't laugh).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal situations, you can use 웃지 마세요 for a polite tone or the even more respectful and formal 웃지 마십시오.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can make the command 'stop laughing' polite by adding the suffix –세요 to the verb stem, resulting in 그만 웃으세요 (Please stop laughing).
How do you pronounce it?
geuman useo
Did you know?
- When someone is laughing uncontrollably, a Korean speaker might use the expression 배꼽 빠지다, meaning 'the belly button is falling out'. If you tell someone 그만 웃어 during this, you are essentially telling them to keep their belly button in place.
- The verb 웃다 (to laugh) is used for both 'laughing' and 'smiling'. Therefore, 그만 웃어 can be used to tell someone to stop a wide grin just as easily as a loud belly laugh.
- While 'stop laughing' is a direct command, Koreans often use the word 적당히 (meaning 'moderately' or 'appropriately') to tell someone to stop an excessive behavior like laughing.
Examples in context
- 그만 웃어.Stop laughing.This sentence is useful for saying "Stop laughing." using the form 그만 웃어.Tatoeba #8363453 by Eunhee, translation #2111498 by CK
- 웃지 마세요Stop laughing
- 진정해, 이제 그만 웃어.jinjeonghae, ije geuman useo.Calm down, stop laughing now.
- 민준아, 그만 웃어. 너무 웃겨.minjun-a, geuman useo. neomu utgye.Minjun, stop laughing. It's too funny.
Example conversation
Subin is trying to tell a serious story while Minjun laughs.
- 수빈 Su-bin나 진짜 진지하게 말하는 거야.na jinjja jinjihage malhaneun geoya.I am speaking really seriously.
- 민준 Min-jun미안, 그런데 너무 웃겨서.mian, geureonde neomu utgyeoseo.Sorry, but it's just so funny.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준아, 제발 그만 웃어.minjun-a, jebal geuman useo.Minjun, please stop laughing.
- 민준 Min-jun알았어, 이제 안 웃을게.arasseo, ije an uteulge.Okay, I won't laugh anymore.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
