TOPIK I · LEVEL 2
-(으)면 안 되다
States that an action is not allowed or not acceptable: 'you must not… / it's not okay to…'.
능력·허락·의무Can, may & mustHan: The fixed expression uses 되다 ('be acceptable'), so it is 안 돼요; 안 해요 just means 'I don't do it'.
Examples
이 약을 먹고 술을 마시면 안 돼요.You shouldn't drink alcohol after taking this medicine.
좀 더운데 창문 좀 열면 안 돼요?It's a bit hot — could I open the window?
수업 시간에 휴대폰을 쓰면 안 됩니다.You must not use your phone during class.
여기에서 사진을 찍으면 안 돼요.You must not take photos here.
Don’t mix up
-(으)면 안 되다vs-지 마세요-지 마세요 is a direct command to the listener; -(으)면 안 되다 states a rule or what is unacceptable: 사진을 찍지 마세요 vs 사진을 찍으면 안 돼요.-(으)면 안 되다vs-아/어도 되다-아/어도 되다 gives permission (the opposite meaning): 여기 앉아도 돼요? — 네, 앉아도 돼요 / 아니요, 앉으면 안 돼요.
-(으)면 안 되다vs-지 않으면 안 되다Adding -지 않으면 makes a double negative meaning 'must': 숙제를 하지 않으면 안 돼요 = you must do your homework.How to build it
V/A+(으)면 안 되다
먹다 → 먹으면 안 돼요, 가다 → 가면 안 돼요
- After a final consonant use -으면 (먹으면); after a vowel or ㄹ use -면 (가면, 만들면 — not 만들으면).
- As a question, -(으)면 안 돼요? politely asks for permission, like 'Could I…?': 창문 좀 열면 안 돼요?
- It also works with adjectives to say what something must not be: 너무 비싸면 안 돼요.
- The negation goes on 되다: say 안 돼요 / 안 됩니다, not 안 해요 or 못 돼요. For 'must do', use -아/어야 되다 instead.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 여기에서 담배를 피우면 안 해요.
Right: 여기에서 담배를 피우면 안 돼요.
The fixed expression uses 되다 ('be acceptable'), so it is 안 돼요; 안 해요 just means 'I don't do it'.
Practise -(으)면 안 되다 on real TOPIK questions
Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.
Start 7-day free trialMore level 2 grammar
All TOPIK grammar- -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다Attach it to a verb to say that someone can or cannot do something, either because of their ability or because the situation allows or prevents it.
- -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다Use it to say whether someone knows how to do something, meaning a skill or method they have learned.
- -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다Says there is no other choice or that a result is unavoidable: 'have no choice but to, can't help but, is bound to'.
- -는 게 좋겠다-는 게 좋겠다 gives soft advice or a suggestion: 'it would be better to …'.
- -지 못하다-지 못하다 says someone cannot do something (lack of ability or circumstances), the long form of 못.
- -아도/어도 되다-아도/어도 되다 means 'it's okay to / you may do it', and it is used to give or ask for permission.
- -아야/어야 되다(하다)Use it to say that someone must or has to do something, or that a certain state is necessary.
- -(으)면-(으)면 attaches to a verb or adjective to set a condition: "if X happens or is true, then Y," and it can also mean "whenever X" for things that regularly happen.
- -(으)ㄴ 지Shows how much time has passed since an action happened.
