LEARN + KOREAN / 69 of 125 TOPIK I

Is It Allowed? -아/어도 되다

You find a spare seat and an empty socket. Before unpacking your laptop, ask what is allowed. -아/어도 돼요 grants permission; -(으)면 안 돼요 states a rule against an action.

Ask or Give Permission

Take the -아/어 form and add 도 되다: 앉아도 되다, 먹어도 되다, 사용해도 되다. Rising intonation makes it a permission question. 네, 돼요 is a short affirmative answer.

yeogie anjado dwaeyo?

May I sit here?

i keompyuteoreul sayonghaedo dwaeyo.

You may use this computer.

Say What Is Against the Rules

Use -(으)면 안 되다: 가면 안 돼요, 먹으면 안 돼요. It means doing the action is not acceptable. In a question, 안 돼요? can also seek an exception: “Is it not allowed?”

yeogieseo eumsigeul meogeumyeon an dwaeyo.

You must not eat here.

doseogwaneseo jeonhwahamyeon an dwaeyo.

You must not make phone calls in the library.

Hint · 힌트

“You don’t have to” needs -지 않아도 돼요: 오지 않아도 돼요, “You don’t have to come.” 오면 안 돼요 says the opposite: “You must not come.” Write 돼요, the contraction of 되어요.

Vocabulary

Korean	English
앉다 anda	to sit
사용하다 sayonghada	to use
컴퓨터 keompyuteo	computer
도서관 doseogwan	library
전화하다 jeonhwahada	to make a phone call
규칙 gyuchik	rule
예절 yejeol	etiquette
공공장소 gonggongjangso	public place
박물관 bangmulgwan	museum
지하철 jihacheol	subway
공원 gongwon	park
입구 ipgu	entrance
출구 chulgu	exit
자리 jari	seat
안전선 anjeonseon	safety line
줄을 서다 jureul seoda	to queue
기다리다 gidarida	to wait
통화하다 tonghwahada	to talk on the phone
사진을 찍다 sajineul jjikda	to take a photo
쓰레기 sseuregi	rubbish

YOUR PROGRESS

Finished this lesson?

Save your place in this course.