Don't (-지 마세요)

The pattern -지 마세요 is used to politely tell someone not to do something. It is formed by attaching -지 마세요 to the verb stem. For example: 가다 → 가지 마세요 (Please don't go), 먹다 → 먹지 마세요 (Please don't eat that).

This is the polite request form. In casual speech among close friends, you might hear -지 마 (informal) or -지 마요 (polite but less formal). In very formal situations, -지 마십시오 is used, often seen on signs and official notices.

This pattern is very practical for everyday situations: giving advice, making requests, and understanding signs and rules. It is always used with action verbs, not with adjectives or the copula 이다.