-(으)면 안 돼요? Meaning: Rule-Check vs Prohibition

Attach rules (with examples)

Attach to a verb/adjective stem:

• If the stem ends in a consonant, use -으면-eumyeon: 먹으면 안 돼요?meogeumyeon an dwaeyo? — Is it not allowed to eat?
• If the stem ends in a vowel, use -면-myeon: 가면 안 돼요?gamyeon an dwaeyo? — Is it not allowed to go?
• 하다hada verbs become 하면hamyeon: 통화하다tonghwahada → 통화하면 안 돼요?tonghwahamyeon an dwaeyo? — Is it not allowed to make a call?
• For multi-word verbs, conjugate the final verb: 사진 찍다sajin jjikda → 사진 찍으면 안 돼요?sajin jjigeumyeon an dwaeyo? — Is taking photos not allowed?

Common natural add-ons that keep it clearly “checking”:

• 혹시hoksi — just in case
• 여기(서)/이 안에서yeogi(seo)/i aneseo — location framing
• 괜찮을까요?gwaenchanheulkkayo? — extra soft, especially at work

Constraints (tense/subject/honorific)

• Time: Most often about a future/ongoing action. You can ask about a past situation only if you mean “Was it against the rules back then?”, e.g., 어제도 들어가면 안 됐나요?eojedo deureogamyeon an dwaetnayo? — Was it not allowed to enter yesterday too?
• Subject: Often about the listener or a general “people here.” For “me,” make it explicit: 제가 들어가면 안 돼요?jega deureogamyeon an dwaeyo? — Am I not allowed to go in?
• Politeness: 안 돼요?an dwaeyo? is polite. For extra formality (signs, announcements, very formal workplaces), you’ll also hear 안 됩니까?an doepnikka?.

Minimal pairs (similar grammar, different meaning)

These look close, but the intent changes fast:

• -(으)면 안 돼요?-(eu)myeon an dwaeyo? — checking a rule (question)
• -(으)면 안 돼요.-(eu)myeon an dwaeyo. — prohibition (statement)
• -아/어도 돼요?-a/eodo dwaeyo? — asking permission (“Is it okay if…?”)
• -(으)면 안 될까요?-(eu)myeon an doelkkayo? — softer/indirect check (“Would it be not allowed if…?”)

A tiny punctuation trap that causes real misunderstandings:

• 지금 나가면 안 돼요?jigeum nagamyeon an dwaeyo? — Are we not allowed to leave now? (rule-check)
• 지금 나가면 안 돼요.jigeum nagamyeon an dwaeyo. — You can’t leave now. (sounds like you’re in charge)

Common mistakes (wrong → right)

I once saw a visitor in a Seoul museum get a cold reply because they asked with a flat tone, no softeners, and it sounded like a challenge. The fix is usually small.

3-way intent tree (use this before you type):

• If you mean 금지geumji (you’re telling someone “don’t”): use a statement like -(으)면 안 돼요.-(eu)myeon an dwaeyo.
  • Signals: no ?, directive vibe, you’re correcting behavior
• If you mean 규칙 확인gyuchik hwagin (you’re checking rules): use -(으)면 안 돼요?-(eu)myeon an dwaeyo? and add a softener
  • Signals: ?, 혹시hoksi, “public rule” setting (store, office, building), neutral tone
• If you mean 조언joeon (you’re advising for their benefit): prefer a reason + alternative
  • Signals: “so you don’t get in trouble,” offering options, not authority

10 chat rewrites that remove the “scolding” vibe:

1. 지금 여기서 사진 찍으면 안 돼요?jigeum yeogiseo sajin jjigeumyeon an dwaeyo? → 혹시 여기서 사진 찍으면 안 돼요?hoksi yeogiseo sajin jjigeumyeon an dwaeyo?
2. 주차하면 안 돼요?juchahamyeon an dwaeyo? → 여기 앞에 잠깐 주차하면 안 될까요?yeogi ape jamkkan juchahamyeon an doelkkayo?
3. 이거 반입하면 안 돼요?igeo baniphamyeon an dwaeyo? → 이거 안에 가져가도 되는지 확인해도 될까요?igeo ane gajyeogado doeneunji hwaginhaedo doelkkayo?
4. 왜 들어가면 안 돼요?wae deureogamyeon an dwaeyo? → 여기 출입 규정이 어떻게 돼요?yeogi churip gyujeoi eotteotge dwaeyo?
5. 마스크 벗으면 안 돼요?maseukeu beoseumyeon an dwaeyo? → 혹시 마스크는 계속 써야 하나요?hoksi maseukeuneun gyesok sseoya hanayo?
6. 여기 앉으면 안 돼요?yeogi anjeumyeon an dwaeyo? → 여기 앉아도 괜찮을까요?yeogi anjado gwaenchanheulkkayo?
7. 지금 통화하면 안 돼요?jigeum tonghwahamyeon an dwaeyo? → 혹시 여기서는 통화가 어려울까요?hoksi yeogiseoneun tonghwaga eoryeoulkkayo?
8. 이거 만지면 안 돼요?igeo manjimyeon an dwaeyo? → 혹시 이거 만지면 안 되는 구역이에요?hoksi igeo manjimyeon an doeneun guyeogieyo?
9. 여기서 먹으면 안 돼요?yeogiseo meogeumyeon an dwaeyo? → 여기 안에서 음식 먹는 건 괜찮나요?yeogi aneseo eumsik meokneun geon gwaenchannayo?
10. 왜 안 돼요?wae an dwaeyo? → 아, 규정 때문에 그런가요? 그럼 어디서 하면 될까요?a, gyujeong ttaemune geureongayo? geureom eodiseo hamyeon doelkkayo?

Collocation mini-drill (public-rule verbs + 장소 patterns): Fill the blank with a natural location phrase (e.g., 여기서yeogiseo, 이 안에서i aneseo, 앞에ape, 구역에guyeoge) and keep it as a rule-check question.

• ____ 사진 찍으면 안 돼요?____ sajin jjigeumyeon an dwaeyo? — (photo-taking)
• ____ 주차하면 안 돼요?____ juchahamyeon an dwaeyo? — (parking)
• ____ 음식 반입하면 안 돼요?____ eumsik baniphamyeon an dwaeyo? — (bringing food in)
• ____ 출입하면 안 돼요?____ churiphamyeon an dwaeyo? — (entering)

Sample natural answers (many are possible):

• 여기서 사진 찍으면 안 돼요?yeogiseo sajin jjigeumyeon an dwaeyo? — Is it not allowed to take photos here?
• 이 건물 앞에 주차하면 안 돼요?i geonmul ape juchahamyeon an dwaeyo? — Is it not allowed to park in front of this building?
• 가게 안에 음식 반입하면 안 돼요?gage ane eumsik baniphamyeon an dwaeyo? — Is it not allowed to bring food into the store?
• 저 구역에 출입하면 안 돼요?jeo guyeoge churiphamyeon an dwaeyo? — Is it not allowed to enter that area?

Examples

• 혹시 여기서 사진 찍으면 안 돼요?hoksi yeogiseo sajin jjigeumyeon an dwaeyo? — Just in case, is it not allowed to take photos here?
• 제가 지금 들어가면 안 돼요?jega jigeum deureogamyeon an dwaeyo? — Am I not allowed to go in now?
• 여기 안에서 주차하면 안 돼요?yeogi aneseo juchahamyeon an dwaeyo? — Is parking inside here not allowed?
• 음식 반입하면 안 돼요? 그럼 밖에 두고 올게요.eumsik baniphamyeon an dwaeyo? geureom bakke dugo olgeyo. — Is bringing food in not allowed? Then I’ll leave it outside and come back.