Korean grammar · Elementary (A2)
Must, may and must not
How to say you have to, you just need to, you may, you must not and you don't have to, plus friendly advice with -는 게 좋아요.
-아/어야 하다 / 되다: must, have to
Take the -아/어 form of the verb (the present without 요) and add 야 해요 or 야 돼요: (gaya dwaeyo), I have to go; (meogeoya haeyo), you have to eat; (gongbuhaeya dwaeyo), I have to study. Both are correct and mean the same; is more common in speech, a little more neutral and usual in writing.
For the past, change the last verb: (gidaryeoya haesseoyo), I had to wait. For a guess about an obligation, use the future: (naeireun iljjik gaya hal geoyeyo), I'll probably have to go early tomorrow.
- 내일 일찍 일어나야 돼요.Naeil iljjik ireonaya dwaeyo.I have to get up early tomorrow.
- 여기서 갈아타야 해요.Yeogiseo garataya haeyo.You have to change here.
- 비자를 연장해야 돼요.Bijareul yeonjanghaeya dwaeyo.I need to extend my visa.
-(으)면 되다: you just need to
-(으)면 되다 literally means “if you do …, it works”. It tells someone the one simple thing they need to do: (yeogiseo beoseureul tamyeon dwaeyo), you just need to take the bus from here. It's friendlier than -아/어야 돼요, which sounds like a rule.
As a question it asks what to do: (eodie sseumyeon dwaeyo?), where should I write it?
- 이름만 쓰시면 돼요.Ireumman sseusimyeon dwaeyo.You just need to write your name.
- 몇 번 출구로 나가면 돼요?Myeot beon chulguro nagamyeon dwaeyo?Which exit should I take?
May and must not
Permission is -아/어도 되다, literally “even if you do …, it's fine”: (ibeo bwado dwaeyo?), may I try it on? The usual answers are (ne, dwaeyo) or (geureomnyo), of course. (gwaenchanayo) can replace : (yeogi anjado gwaenchanayo?).
“Must not” is -(으)면 안 되다, literally “if you do …, it's not OK”: (yeogiseo sajineul jjigeumyeon an dwaeyo), you mustn't take photos here. It is the usual answer to a permission question: (aniyo, jjigeumyeon an dwaeyo).
- 창문 좀 열어도 돼요?Changmun jom yeoreodo dwaeyo?May I open the window?
- 여기서 담배를 피우면 안 돼요.Yeogiseo dambaereul piumyeon an dwaeyo.You can't smoke here.
- 이 약은 술하고 같이 드시면 안 돼요.I yageun sulhago gachi deusimyeon an dwaeyo.You mustn't take this medicine with alcohol.
Don't have to
“You don't have to” is permission not to do something: 안 -아/어도 되다 or -지 않아도 되다. (an gado dwaeyo), you don't have to go; (sinbareul beotji anado dwaeyo), you don't need to take your shoes off. Be careful: -지 않아도 되다 means “don't have to”, while -(으)면 안 되다 means “must not”.
| Meaning | Pattern | With (gada) |
|---|---|---|
| must, have to | -아/어야 돼요 / 해요 | (gaya dwaeyo) |
| just need to | -(으)면 돼요 | (gamyeon dwaeyo) |
| may | -아/어도 돼요 | (gado dwaeyo) |
| must not | -(으)면 안 돼요 | (gamyeon an dwaeyo) |
| don't have to | 안 -아/어도 돼요, -지 않아도 돼요 | (an gado dwaeyo) |
- 예약 안 해도 돼요.Yeyak an haedo dwaeyo.You don't have to book.
- 오늘은 회사에 가지 않아도 돼요.Oneureun hoesae gaji anado dwaeyo.I don't have to go to the office today.
Advice: -는 게 좋아요
For friendly advice, use -는 게 좋아요 (-neun ge joayo), it's good to, you'd better: (maeil geonneun ge joayo), it's good to walk every day. With (jokesseoyo) it becomes softer: (jom swineun ge jokesseoyo), I think you'd better rest a bit. For “better not”, use -지 않는 게 좋아요 or 안 -는 게 좋아요.
Doctors and official advice often use -도록 하세요 (-dorok haseyo), make sure you: (jjan eumsigeun juridorok haseyo), try to cut down on salty food.
- 담배는 끊는 게 좋겠어요.Dambaeneun kkeunneun ge jokesseoyo.You'd better give up smoking.
- 밤에는 커피를 안 마시는 게 좋아요.Bameneun keopireul an masineun ge joayo.It's better not to drink coffee in the evening.
- 약은 식후에 드시도록 하세요.Yageun sikhue deusidorok haseyo.Make sure you take the medicine after meals.