-(으)면 안 되다
(eu)myeon an doeda
Grammar · 1 sense
May not, not allowed to
Examples
실내에서 담배를 피우면 안 돼요.
Smoking indoors is not allowed.
운전 중에 전화하면 안 돼요.
Using the phone while driving is not allowed.
지금 길을 건너면 안 돼요.
You may not cross the street now.
When you'd hear it
This pattern is common in everyday speech, from signs and safety instructions to parents, teachers, and coworkers giving rules. The polite form -(으)면 안 돼요 is frequent in public announcements and ordinary conversation; -(으)면 안 됩니다 is more formal and written or official.
What learners get wrong
-(으)면 안 되다 expresses prohibition, not simply that someone does not do something. Compare 하지 않다, which says an action is not performed, with 하면 안 되다, which says the action is forbidden or unacceptable.
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