Soho Korean
  1. Grammar
  2. Level 2
  3. You mustn't

Korean grammar · Level 2 · 2급

-(으)면 안 돼요

You mustn't

In native review Taught in Unit 5: Can I try this on?

-(으)면 안 돼요 means “you must not” — literally “if you do it, it's not OK”. It is the no to a permission question: 먹어도 돼요? — 아니요, 먹으면 안 돼요. Spell it 돼요 (되 + 어요), never 되요.

WhenUseExample
ends in a vowel-면 안 돼요자다 → 자면 안 돼요
ends in ㄹ-면 안 돼요놀다 → 놀면 안 돼요
ends in a consonant-으면 안 돼요먹다 → 먹으면 안 돼요 · 찍다 → 찍으면 안 돼요

Examples

  • 가게 안에서 음식을 먹으면 안 돼요.

    You mustn't eat in the shop.

  • 여기에서 사진을 찍으면 안 돼요.

    You can't take photos here.

  • 수업에 늦으면 안 돼요.

    You mustn't be late for class.

Practise it in context · Level 2, Unit 5

Can I try this on?

A dialogue with audio, practice that checks itself, Hoya’s mistakes, a reading and a writing task.

Open the unit →

Also in this unit