Communicating safety rules effectively to children is crucial, especially in potentially hazardous areas like the kitchen. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and explanations a parent might use to tell a child why climbing kitchen cabinets is dangerous and forbidden. Understanding these expressions will help you convey important safety messages clearly in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 주방 수납장 위에 올라가지 마.
Pronunciation: ju-bang su-nap-jang wi-e ol-la-ga-ji ma.
Meaning: Don’t climb on top of the kitchen cabinets.
Basic Warnings and Commands
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Expression: 안 돼!
Pronunciation: ahn dwae!
Meaning: No! / Don’t do that! -
Expression: 위험해!
Pronunciation: wi-heom-hae!
Meaning: It’s dangerous! -
Expression: 내려와! 당장!
Pronunciation: nae-ryeo-wa! dang-jang!
Meaning: Come down! Right now! -
Expression: 거기 올라가면 안 돼.
Pronunciation: geo-gi ol-la-ga-myeon ahn dwae.
Meaning: You shouldn’t climb up there. / You’re not allowed to climb there. -
Expression: 다칠 수 있어.
Pronunciation: da-chil su i-sseo.
Meaning: You could get hurt. -
Expression: 조심해야지.
Pronunciation: jo-sim-hae-ya-ji.
Meaning: You need to be careful. -
Expression: 엄마 말 들어야지.
Pronunciation: eom-ma mal deu-reo-ya-ji.
Meaning: You need to listen to Mom. -
Expression: 아빠 말 잘 들어.
Pronunciation: a-ppa mal jal deu-reo.
Meaning: Listen carefully to Dad. -
Expression: 그건 장난감이 아니야.
Pronunciation: geu-geon jang-nan-ga-mi a-ni-ya.
Meaning: That’s not a toy. -
Expression: 부엌에서는 조심해야 해.
Pronunciation: bu-eo-ke-seo-neun jo-sim-hae-ya hae.
Meaning: You have to be careful in the kitchen. -
Expression: 거기는 노는 곳이 아니야.
Pronunciation: geo-gi-neun no-neun go-si a-ni-ya.
Meaning: That’s not a place for playing.
Explaining the Danger
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Expression: 넘어져서 크게 다칠 수 있어.
Pronunciation: neo-meo-jyeo-seo keu-ge da-chil su i-sseo.
Meaning: You could fall and get seriously hurt. -
Expression: 수납장이 약해서 무너질 수도 있어.
Pronunciation: su-nap-jang-i yak-hae-seo mu-neo-jil su-do i-sseo.
Meaning: The cabinet is weak and could collapse. -
Expression: 위에 있는 물건이 떨어져서 다칠 수 있잖아.
Pronunciation: wi-e it-neun mul-geon-i tteo-reo-jyeo-seo da-chil su it-jan-a.
Meaning: Things on top could fall and hurt you, you know. -
Expression: 머리나 팔, 다리를 다칠 수 있어.
Pronunciation: meo-ri-na pal, da-ri-reul da-chil su i-sseo.
Meaning: You could hurt your head, arms, or legs. -
Expression: 부엌에는 뜨겁거나 날카로운 것들이 많아서 위험해.
Pronunciation: bu-eo-ke-neun tteu-geop-geo-na nal-ka-ro-un geot-deu-ri ma-na-seo wi-heom-hae.
Meaning: The kitchen is dangerous because there are many hot or sharp things. -
Expression: 엄마/아빠는 네가 다치는 거 정말 싫어.
Pronunciation: eom-ma/a-ppa-neun ne-ga da-chi-neun geo jeong-mal si-reo.
Meaning: Mom/Dad really doesn’t want you to get hurt. -
Expression: 네 몸은 소중하니까 조심해야 해.
Pronunciation: ne mo-meun so-jung-ha-ni-kka jo-sim-hae-ya hae.
Meaning: Your body is precious, so you must be careful. -
Expression: 안전이 제일 중요하단다.
Pronunciation: ahn-jeon-i je-il jung-yo-han-dan-da.
Meaning: Safety is the most important thing. (gentle tone) -
Expression: 높은 데 올라가면 떨어질 수 있어서 안 돼.
Pronunciation: no-peun de ol-la-ga-myeon tteo-reo-jil su i-sseo-seo ahn dwae.
Meaning: You shouldn’t climb high places because you could fall. -
Expression: 균형을 잃고 넘어질 수 있어.
Pronunciation: gyun-hyeong-eul il-ko neo-meo-jil su i-sseo.
Meaning: You could lose your balance and fall.
Setting Rules and Boundaries
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Expression: 주방 수납장에는 절대 올라가지 않기로 약속!
Pronunciation: ju-bang su-nap-jang-e-neun jeol-dae ol-la-ga-ji an-ki-ro yak-sok!
Meaning: Promise you will never climb the kitchen cabinets! -
Expression: 여기는 올라가면 안 되는 곳이라고 했지?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-neun ol-la-ga-myeon ahn doe-neun go-si-ra-go haet-ji?
Meaning: I told you this is a place you shouldn’t climb, right? -
Expression: 집에는 규칙이 있어. 꼭 지켜야 해.
Pronunciation: ji-be-neun gyu-chi-gi i-sseo. kkok ji-kyeo-ya hae.
Meaning: There are rules in the house. You must follow them. -
Expression: 다른 안전한 곳에서 놀아야지.
Pronunciation: da-reun ahn-jeon-han go-se-seo no-ra-ya-ji.
Meaning: You should play somewhere else that’s safe. -
Expression: 높은 곳에 있는 게 필요하면 엄마/아빠한테 말해.
Pronunciation: no-peun go-se it-neun ge pi-ryo-ha-myeon eom-ma/a-ppa-han-te mal-hae.
Meaning: If you need something that’s high up, tell Mom/Dad. -
Expression: 내가 꺼내 줄게.
Pronunciation: nae-ga kkeo-nae jul-ge.
Meaning: I’ll get it down for you. -
Expression: 이건 정말 중요한 약속이야. 잊으면 안 돼.
Pronunciation: i-geon jeong-mal jung-yo-han yak-so-gi-ya. i-jeu-myeon ahn dwae.
Meaning: This is a very important promise. Don’t forget it. -
Expression: 네 안전을 위해서 하는 말이니까 꼭 들어줘.
Pronunciation: ne ahn-jeon-eul wi-hae-seo ha-neun ma-ri-ni-kka kkok deu-reo-jwo.
Meaning: I’m saying this for your safety, so please listen. -
Expression: 알겠지? 다시는 그러면 안 돼.
Pronunciation: al-get-ji? da-si-neun geu-reo-myeon ahn dwae.
Meaning: Understand? Don’t do that again. -
Expression: 착하다. 엄마/아빠 말 잘 듣네.
Pronunciation: chak-ha-da. eom-ma/a-ppa mal jal deut-ne.
Meaning: Good boy/girl. You listen well to Mom/Dad. (Used after the child complies)
Cultural Tips
When addressing children about safety in Korean culture, parents often use direct language (반말 – ban-mal) but maintain a caring tone. Explaining the ‘why’ behind a rule is common, emphasizing the potential danger and the parent’s concern for the child’s well-being (네가 다칠까 봐 걱정돼서 그래 – ne-ga da-chil-kka bwa geok-jeong-dwae-seo geu-rae – It’s because I’m worried you’ll get hurt).
The concept of 약속 (yak-sok – promise) is frequently used to establish rules and expectations with children. Making a promise is taken seriously, and reminding a child of their promise can be an effective way to reinforce boundaries.
While direct commands like 안 돼! (ahn dwae!) or 내려와! (nae-ryeo-wa!) are used for immediate danger, following up with explanations about safety (안전 – ahn-jeon) helps the child understand the reasoning.
Expressing concern (걱정돼 – geok-jeong-dwae) and emphasizing the preciousness of the child (소중해 – so-jung-hae) are common ways to soften the reprimand and show affection while setting limits.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A parent (Mom) sees their young child trying to climb the kitchen cabinets to reach a cookie jar.
Roles: A: 엄마 (eom-ma – Mom), B: 아이 (a-i – Child)
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Expression: A: 어머! 얘야, 거기 올라가면 안 돼! 위험해! 내려와!
Pronunciation: A: eo-meo! yae-ya, geo-gi ol-la-ga-myeon ahn dwae! wi-heom-hae! nae-ryeo-wa!
Meaning: A: Oh my! Honey, you can’t climb up there! It’s dangerous! Come down! -
Expression: B: 쿠키… 쿠키 먹고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: B: ku-ki… ku-ki meok-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: B: Cookies… I want to eat cookies. -
Expression: A: 쿠키 먹고 싶었어? 그래도 수납장에 올라가면 절대 안 돼. 넘어지면 크게 다칠 수 있잖아.
Pronunciation: A: ku-ki meok-go si-peo-sseo? geu-rae-do su-nap-jang-e ol-la-ga-myeon jeol-dae ahn dwae. neo-meo-ji-myeon keu-ge da-chil su it-jan-a.
Meaning: A: You wanted cookies? Even so, you must never climb the cabinets. You could fall and get seriously hurt, you know. -
Expression: B: (시무룩) 네…
Pronunciation: B: (si-mu-ruk) ne…
Meaning: B: (Pouting) Okay… -
Expression: A: 그리고 저 수납장은 약해서 네가 올라가면 무너질 수도 있어. 그럼 더 위험하겠지?
Pronunciation: A: geu-ri-go jeo su-nap-jang-eun yak-hae-seo ne-ga ol-la-ga-myeon mu-neo-jil su-do i-sseo. geu-reom deo wi-heom-ha-get-ji?
Meaning: A: And that cabinet is weak, so if you climb it, it could collapse. That would be even more dangerous, right? -
Expression: B: 네…
Pronunciation: B: ne…
Meaning: B: Yes… -
Expression: A: 높은 곳에 있는 게 필요하면 엄마한테 말해야지. 엄마가 꺼내 줄게. 알았지? 다시는 올라가지 않기로 약속!
Pronunciation: A: no-peun go-se it-neun ge pi-ryo-ha-myeon eom-ma-han-te mal-hae-ya-ji. eom-ma-ga kkeo-nae jul-ge. a-rat-ji? da-si-neun ol-la-ga-ji an-ki-ro yak-sok!
Meaning: A: If you need something high up, you should tell Mom. I’ll get it down for you. Got it? Promise you won’t climb up again! -
Expression: B: 네, 약속!
Pronunciation: B: ne, yak-sok!
Meaning: B: Okay, promise!
Practice Tips
Setting boundaries and explaining safety rules is a common parenting task! Try practicing these phrases aloud, focusing on a firm but caring tone~. Imagine you’re speaking to a child and emphasize the words for danger (위험해 – wi-heom-hae) and the importance of listening (말 들어 – mal deu-reo).
Role-playing the conversation example with a friend or language partner can be very helpful. Pay attention to the pronunciation, especially the syllable breaks. Remember, clear communication is key when it comes to safety! Good luck with your practice!
