haru Korean › Grammar › Level 2B › V-(으)면 안 되다
V-(으)면 안 되다 — must not … · it isn't allowed — rules and saying no
Must not … · it isn't allowed — rules and saying no. Korean grammar for upper beginner learners — Level 2B, lesson 5: 여기서 사진을 찍어도 돼요? (May I take a photo here? — permission and experience).
What it means
-(으)면 안 되다 means 'you must not …, it is not allowed'. Word for word it says 'if you do it, it is not OK': -(으)면 'if' (Level 1A) + 안 되다. After a 받침 add 으면 안 돼요 (먹으면 안 돼요, 찍으면 안 돼요); after a vowel or ㄹ add 면 안 돼요 (만지면 안 돼요, 떠들면 안 돼요 — ㄹ never takes 으). ㄷ, ㅂ and ㅅ verbs change before 으: 듣다 → 들으면, 눕다 → 누우면, 긋다 → 그으면. It is the usual 'no' to a -아/어도 돼요? question: 사진을 찍어도 돼요? — 아니요, 찍으면 안 돼요. -지 마세요 (Level 1B) also means 'don't', but it is a request to the person in front of you; -(으)면 안 돼요 states a rule for everyone, so you hear it in rules and see it on signs. Listen for 안: -(으)면 돼요 (Lesson 2A-6) means the opposite, 'you just need to …'. The tense goes on 되다: 옛날에는 여기서 사진을 찍으면 안 됐어요.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -으면 안 돼요 | 받침 O | 먹다 + 으면 안 돼요 → 먹으면 안 돼요 |
| -면 안 돼요 | 받침 X · ㄹ (으 ✗) | 만지다 + 면 안 돼요 → 만지면 안 돼요 |
Key points
- V-(으)면 안 되다 = must not …: 받침 → 으면 안 돼요 (먹으면 · 찍으면) · no 받침 or ㄹ → 면 안 돼요 (만지면 · 떠들면)
- -지 마세요 (Level 1B) asks the person in front of you; -(으)면 안 돼요 states a rule. Without 안, -(으)면 돼요 (Lesson 2A-6) means 'you just need to …'.
Examples
- 먹다 → 먹으면 안 돼요. 찍다 → 찍으면 안 돼요. 듣다 → 들으면 안 돼요.
- 만지다 → 만지면 안 돼요. 뛰다 → 뛰면 안 돼요. 떠들다 → 떠들면 안 돼요.
- 전시실 안에서 음식을 먹으면 안 돼요.
- 사진을 찍어도 돼요? — 아니요, 찍으면 안 돼요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 2B, lesson 14; Yonsei University Korean 2-1, lesson 7; Sogang University Korean 2A, lesson 6; Ewha Womans University Korean 1-2, lesson 15; Hongik University Korean 2A, lesson 4; Hanyang University Korean 2-1, lesson 2.
Also in this lesson
- V-아/어도 되다 — may I …? · it's all right to … — asking for and giving permission
- V-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다 — have you ever …? · I have (never) … — talking about experiences
- A/V-았을/었을 때 — when … (in the past) — a moment or a time that is over