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How to say “Don't lie” in Korean — κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§λ§μΈμ / κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§ λ§
Pronunciation • Examples • Audio • Word Breakdown • Speaking Practice
κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§λ§μΈμ / κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§ λ§
[geo-jit-mal ha-ji-ma-se-yo] / [geo-jit-mal ha-ji ma]
Don't lie (polite / casual)
Word & Grammar Breakdown:
κ±°μ§λ§ (geo-jit-mal) — “a lie / lying”
νλ€ (ha-da) — “to do” → κ±°μ§λ§νλ€ = “to lie”
μ§ λ§μΈμ / μ§ λ§ — prohibition (don't) in polite / casual form
✅ Combined: κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§λ§μΈμ = “Please don't lie.” (polite)
κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§ λ§ = casual, stronger “Don't lie” used with friends or in heated moments.
κ±°μ§λ§ (geo-jit-mal) — “a lie / lying”
νλ€ (ha-da) — “to do” → κ±°μ§λ§νλ€ = “to lie”
μ§ λ§μΈμ / μ§ λ§ — prohibition (don't) in polite / casual form
✅ Combined: κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§λ§μΈμ = “Please don't lie.” (polite)
κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§ λ§ = casual, stronger “Don't lie” used with friends or in heated moments.
Examples
π© A: μ λ°, μ§μ§ λ§ν΄μ. κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§λ§μΈμ. je bal, jin jja mal hae yo. geojismal hajima se yo
Please, tell the truth. Don't lie.
π¨ B: μ£μ‘ν΄μ, μ¬μ€λλ‘ λ§ν κ²μ.joe song hae yo, sasildaelo mal halge yo
I'm sorry — I'll tell the truth.
Please, tell the truth. Don't lie.
π¨ B: μ£μ‘ν΄μ, μ¬μ€λλ‘ λ§ν κ²μ.joe song hae yo, sasildaelo mal halge yo
I'm sorry — I'll tell the truth.
π¦ A: μ§μ§μΌ? κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§ λ§! jin jja ya? geojismal haji ma
Really? Don't lie!
π§ B: λ―Έμ, κ·Έλ₯ λλ΄μ΄μμ΄. mian, geu nyang nong dam-ieoss-eo
Sorry — I was just joking.
Really? Don't lie!
π§ B: λ―Έμ, κ·Έλ₯ λλ΄μ΄μμ΄. mian, geu nyang nong dam-ieoss-eo
Sorry — I was just joking.
π°π· Cultural Insight — Using "κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§λ§μΈμ"
In Korean culture, direct accusations like “κ±°μ§λ§ νμ§λ§μΈμ geojismal hajima se yo” can be strong — honesty is valued, but tone and formality matter.
Using the polite form softens the confrontation; using the casual form can sound confrontational or emotional.
In many social situations Koreans prefer indirect language to avoid losing face, so people sometimes ask clarifying questions instead of outright saying “don’t lie.”
