Communicating safety rules to children is crucial, especially in a different language environment. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and explanations for parents needing to tell their child why climbing furniture like living room shelves is not allowed and potentially dangerous. Learn how to deliver clear warnings, explain the risks, and suggest safer alternatives in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 올라가지 마
Pronunciation: ol-la-ga-ji ma
Meaning: Don’t climb up. (Informal command used with children)
Basic Warnings and Commands
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Expression: 안 돼!
Pronunciation: an dwae!
Meaning: No! / Don’t do that! -
Expression: 거기 올라가면 안 돼.
Pronunciation: geo-gi ol-la-ga-myeon an dwae.
Meaning: You shouldn’t climb up there. -
Expression: 내려와.
Pronunciation: nae-ryeo-wa.
Meaning: Come down. -
Expression: 지금 당장 내려와!
Pronunciation: ji-geum dang-jang nae-ryeo-wa!
Meaning: Come down right now! -
Expression: 선반에 올라가지 마세요.
Pronunciation: seon-ban-e ol-la-ga-ji ma-se-yo.
Meaning: Please don’t climb on the shelves. (Slightly more formal/polite, but still usable with kids) -
Expression: 그거 만지지 마.
Pronunciation: geu-geo man-ji-ji ma.
Meaning: Don’t touch that. -
Expression: 멈춰!
Pronunciation: meom-chwo!
Meaning: Stop! -
Expression: 조심해야지.
Pronunciation: jo-sim-hae-ya-ji.
Meaning: You need to be careful. -
Expression: 말 들어야지.
Pronunciation: mal deu-reo-ya-ji.
Meaning: You need to listen. -
Expression: 이리 와.
Pronunciation: i-ri wa.
Meaning: Come here.
Explaining the Danger
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Expression: 위험해.
Pronunciation: wi-heom-hae.
Meaning: It’s dangerous. -
Expression: 넘어질 수 있어.
Pronunciation: neo-meo-jil su i-sseo.
Meaning: You could fall down. -
Expression: 다칠 수 있어.
Pronunciation: da-chil su i-sseo.
Meaning: You could get hurt. -
Expression: 크게 다칠 수도 있어.
Pronunciation: keu-ge da-chil su-do i-sseo.
Meaning: You could get seriously hurt. -
Expression: 선반이 무너질 수 있어.
Pronunciation: seon-ban-i mu-neo-jil su i-sseo.
Meaning: The shelves could collapse. -
Expression: 물건들이 떨어질 수 있어.
Pronunciation: mul-geon-deu-ri tteo-reo-jil su i-sseo.
Meaning: Things could fall down. -
Expression: 선반은 올라가는 곳이 아니야.
Pronunciation: seon-ban-eun ol-la-ga-neun go-si a-ni-ya.
Meaning: Shelves are not for climbing. -
Expression: 아프면 어떡해?
Pronunciation: a-peu-myeon eo-tteo-kae?
Meaning: What if you get hurt? / What will we do if it hurts? -
Expression: 엄마/아빠 걱정돼.
Pronunciation: eom-ma/a-ppa geok-jeong-dwae.
Meaning: Mommy/Daddy is worried. -
Expression: 그러면 병원에 가야 할 수도 있어.
Pronunciation: geu-reo-myeon byeong-won-e ga-ya hal su-do i-sseo.
Meaning: If that happens, you might have to go to the hospital. -
Expression: 안전하게 놀아야지.
Pronunciation: an-jeon-ha-ge no-ra-ya-ji.
Meaning: You need to play safely.
Suggesting Alternatives
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Expression: 놀이터 가서 놀자.
Pronunciation: no-ri-teo ga-seo nol-ja.
Meaning: Let’s go play at the playground. -
Expression: 공원에 가서 뛰어놀자.
Pronunciation: gong-won-e ga-seo ttwi-eo-nol-ja.
Meaning: Let’s go run around at the park. -
Expression: 대신 다른 놀이 하자.
Pronunciation: dae-sin da-reun no-ri ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play something else instead. -
Expression: 블록 쌓기 할까?
Pronunciation: beul-lok ssak-ki hal-kka?
Meaning: Shall we stack blocks? -
Expression: 그림 그릴까?
Pronunciation: geu-rim geu-ril-kka?
Meaning: Shall we draw a picture? -
Expression: 책 읽어 줄게.
Pronunciation: chaek il-geo jul-ge.
Meaning: I’ll read you a book. -
Expression: 올라가고 싶으면 놀이터 정글짐에서 놀자.
Pronunciation: ol-la-ga-go si-peu-myeon no-ri-teo jeong-geul-jim-e-seo nol-ja.
Meaning: If you want to climb, let’s play on the jungle gym at the playground. -
Expression: 여기서는 조용히 놀아야 해.
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo-neun jo-yong-hi no-ra-ya hae.
Meaning: You need to play quietly here (indoors). -
Expression: 밖에서 신나게 놀자.
Pronunciation: bak-ke-seo sin-na-ge nol-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play energetically outside. -
Expression: 이 장난감 가지고 놀래?
Pronunciation: i jang-nan-gam ga-ji-go nol-lae?
Meaning: Do you want to play with this toy?
Korean Culture Notes
Communicating rules and safety to children in Korea often involves direct commands combined with explanations of potential consequences. While physical discipline is becoming less common, firm verbal warnings are standard.
Parents often emphasize the potential for getting hurt (다치다 – da-chi-da) and the worry (걱정 – geok-jeong) it causes them. This appeals to the child’s empathy and understanding of family relationships.
Explaining *why* something is dangerous is common. Simply saying “no” might not be sufficient; Korean parents often elaborate on the risks, like falling (넘어지다 – neo-meo-ji-da) or things breaking (부서지다 – bu-seo-ji-da).
Redirecting behavior towards acceptable alternatives, like suggesting outdoor play (밖에서 놀기 – bak-ke-seo nol-gi) or specific safe indoor activities, is a frequent strategy used after issuing a warning.
Using informal language (반말 – ban-mal) like ~마 (ma) for “don’t” and ~자 (ja) for “let’s” is typical when speaking to one’s own young children.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A parent (Mom) sees their young child (Minjun) trying to climb the living room bookshelf.
Characters:
A: 엄마 (Eomma – Mom)
B: 민준 (Minjun – Child)
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Expression: A: 민준아, 안 돼! 거기 올라가지 마!
Pronunciation: Min-jun-a, an dwae! geo-gi ol-la-ga-ji ma!
Meaning: A: Minjun, no! Don’t climb up there! -
Expression: B: 나 저 위에 있는 곰인형 갖고 싶어…
Pronunciation: na jeo wi-e it-neun gom-in-hyeong gat-go si-peo…
Meaning: B: I want the teddy bear that’s up there… -
Expression: A: 거기 올라가면 위험해. 선반이 약해서 넘어질 수 있어.
Pronunciation: geo-gi ol-la-ga-myeon wi-heom-hae. seon-ban-i yak-hae-seo neo-meo-jil su i-sseo.
Meaning: A: It’s dangerous if you climb there. The shelf is weak, and you could fall. -
Expression: B: 안 넘어져! 나 잘 할 수 있어!
Pronunciation: an neo-meo-jyeo! na jal hal su i-sseo!
Meaning: B: I won’t fall! I can do it well! -
Expression: A: 아니야, 민준아. 넘어져서 다칠 수 있어. 크게 다치면 병원 가야 해. 엄마 걱정돼.
Pronunciation: a-ni-ya, Min-jun-a. neo-meo-jyeo-seo da-chil su i-sseo. keu-ge da-chi-myeon byeong-won ga-ya hae. eom-ma geok-jeong-dwae.
Meaning: A: No, Minjun. You could fall and get hurt. If you get badly hurt, you’ll have to go to the hospital. Mommy is worried. -
Expression: A: 곰인형은 엄마가 꺼내줄게. 대신 여기서는 블록 쌓기 하자. 알았지?
Pronunciation: gom-in-hyeong-eun eom-ma-ga kkeo-nae-jul-ge. dae-sin yeo-gi-seo-neun beul-lok ssak-ki ha-ja. a-rat-ji?
Meaning: A: Mommy will get the teddy bear down for you. Let’s stack blocks here instead, okay? -
Expression: B: 네… 알았어요.
Pronunciation: ne… a-ra-sseo-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes… Okay.
Practice Tips
Practice saying these phrases aloud, focusing on a firm but caring tone~. Imagine you are speaking directly to a child. Try role-playing the conversation example with a friend or language partner! You can also practice explaining why other common household items might be dangerous (뜨거운 거 만지지 마! – tteu-geo-un geo man-ji-ji ma! – Don’t touch hot things!). The more you practice, the more natural these essential parenting phrases will become. Good luck!
