Understanding workplace instructions

Workplace instructions in Korean use a small set of sentence endings. When you recognise the ending, you know if the speaker is asking you to do something, telling you not to do something, or saying that something is necessary. In Korean the verb comes at the end of the sentence, so always listen to the last word before you decide what the instruction means.

Seven patterns at a glance

"Do this": -(으)세요 and -아/어 주세요

-(으)세요 is a polite way to tell someone to do something.

• After a vowel: 가다 → 가세요 (please go)
• After a consonant: 앉다 → 앉으세요 (please sit)
• Verbs ending in ㄹ drop the ㄹ: 열다 → 여세요 (please open)
• 듣다 changes its form: 잘 들으세요 (please listen carefully)

-아/어 주세요 means "please do it for me (or for us)". It sounds like a polite request.

• 잠깐만 기다려 주세요. — Please wait a moment.
• 이것 좀 도와주세요. — Please help me with this.
• 문을 닫아 주세요. — Please close the door.
• 다시 확인해 주세요. — Please check again.

"Don't do this": -지 마세요 and -(으)면 안 돼요

-지 마세요 means "don't".

• 뛰지 마세요. — Don't run.
• 일할 때 휴대폰을 보지 마세요. — Don't look at your phone while you work.

-(으)면 안 돼요 means "you must not" or "it is not allowed". It often explains a rule.

• 기계가 움직일 때 손을 넣으면 안 돼요. — You must not put your hand in while the machine is moving.

In formal announcements and notices, you will hear or see -(으)면 안 됩니다.

Listen for 안

One short word changes the meaning completely.

-아/어도 돼요 gives permission. -(으)면 안 돼요 takes it away.

"You must": -아/어야 해요

-아/어야 해요 means something is necessary.

• 작업 전에 안전 교육을 받아야 해요. — You have to take safety training before work.
• 오늘까지 이 일을 끝내야 해요. — You have to finish this work by today.

You may also hear -아/어야 돼요, with the same meaning, and -아/어야 합니다 in formal speech.

Order of actions: -기 전에 and -(으)ㄴ 후에

These patterns tell you which action comes first. Listening questions often test the order.

• A-기 전에 B: do B first, then A. 퇴근하기 전에 기계를 끄세요. — Turn off the machine before you leave work. (First: turn off. Then: leave.)
• A-(으)ㄴ 후에 B: do A first, then B. 손을 씻은 후에 식당에 가세요. — Go to the cafeteria after you wash your hands. (First: wash. Then: go.)

With a noun, use 전에 and 후에 directly: 점심 전에 (before lunch), 회의 후에 (after the meeting). You may also hear -(으)ㄴ 다음에, which means the same as -(으)ㄴ 후에.

Worked example

반장: 먼저 기계를 끄세요. 그리고 장갑을 낀 후에 바닥을 청소하세요. 청소가 끝나면 저한테 말해 주세요.

Meaning: Team leader: First, turn off the machine. Then put on gloves and clean the floor. When the cleaning is finished, please tell me.

Order: 1. turn off the machine → 2. put on gloves → 3. clean the floor → 4. tell the team leader.

Putting it together

반장: 민수 씨, 이 상자들을 창고로 옮겨 주세요. 무거우니까 혼자 들지 마세요. 옮기기 전에 장갑을 꼭 끼세요.

Meaning: Minsu, please move these boxes to the storeroom. They are heavy, so don't lift them alone. Be sure to put on gloves before you move them.

Useful replies

• 네, 알겠습니다. — Yes, I understand.
• 다시 말씀해 주세요. — Please say that again.
• 천천히 말씀해 주세요. — Please speak slowly.

If you are not sure what you heard, ask. At work, asking is always safer than guessing.

Many of these rules also appear on signs, in a shorter form. See reading workplace signs in Korean. For more verbs to use with these patterns, see everyday actions vocabulary.

Mini self-check

What does each sentence tell you: do, don't, must or may? Answers are below.

1. 여기에 차를 세우면 안 돼요.
2. 회의 전에 이 서류를 복사해 주세요.
3. 오늘은 일찍 퇴근해도 돼요.
4. 내일까지 이 일을 끝내야 해요.
5. 손을 씻은 후에 밥을 드세요. Which action comes first?

Answers: 1. Don't: you must not park here. 2. Do: please copy this document before the meeting. 3. May: you may leave work early today. 4. Must: you have to finish this by tomorrow. 5. Washing your hands comes first.

Next step

Practise hearing these patterns in the EPS listening practice set. Then use them in role-play with how to practise short Korean dialogues. More lessons are on the listening topic page. For official test information, check the EPS official portal.