# Korean Imperative Forms: Commands and Requests Guide for Different Speech Levels > Korean imperative forms teach you how to give commands and requests. Master (으)세요, 아/어, and 지 마세요 with clear conjugation rules and politeness levels. **URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/korean/korean-imperative-forms-commands-requests **Last Updated:** 2026-03-28 **Tags:** fundamentals, grammar --- [Learning Korean](https://migaku.com/learn-korean) means you'll eventually need to tell someone to do something, whether that's asking a friend to pass the kimchi or politely requesting directions from a stranger. Korean imperative forms handle all of this, and they're actually pretty straightforward once you understand the basic patterns. The key is matching your command or request to the right [politeness level](https://migaku.com/blog/korean/korean-honorifics), because [Korean takes social hierarchy seriously](https://migaku.com/blog/korean/korean-formal-vs-informal-speech). Let's break down exactly how to conjugate verbs into commands and requests without sounding rude or awkward. ---- ## What is an imperative form in Korean > 💡 Definition 💡
An imperative in Korean works just like in English: it's how you **give commands, make requests, or offer suggestions**. The difference is that Korean has multiple imperative forms depending on who you're talking to and how polite you need to be. In English, we mostly use the base verb: "Go!", "Eat!", "Please help me." Korean requires you to conjugate the verb with specific endings that signal both the imperative mood and the appropriate politeness level. You can't just throw out a verb stem and hope for the best. The Korean imperative system divides into three main politeness levels: 1. informal (for close friends and younger people), 2. polite (for everyday situations with strangers or acquaintances), 3. and formal (for very respectful situations). Each level has its own conjugation pattern. Here's the thing: Korean learners often get confused because the same request can sound completely different depending on context. Telling your younger sibling to eat versus asking your boss to eat requires totally different verb endings. Get it wrong, and you might come across as either too casual or weirdly stiff. ---- ## Polite imperative forms with (으)세요 The polite imperative ending **(으)세요 ** is your go-to form for most everyday situations. You'll use this with strangers, service workers, teachers, or anyone you want to show basic respect toward. > 💡The conjugation rule is simple: look at the verb stem. If the stem ends in a vowel, add 세요. If it ends in a consonant, add 으세요. - Let's use 가다 (to go) as an example. The verb stem is 가, which ends in a vowel. So you get 가세요 (please go). - For 먹다 (to eat), the stem is 먹, ending in a consonant. Add 으세요 to get 먹으세요 (please eat). More examples: - 오다 (to come) → 오세요 (please come) - 앉다 (to sit) → 앉으세요 (please sit) - 읽다 (to read) → 읽으세요 (please read) - 쓰다 (to write) → 쓰세요 (please write) This form works for both commands and requests. The context and tone determine whether you're commanding or politely asking. In a restaurant, 주세요 (please give) sounds like a request. A teacher saying 앉으세요 to students is more of a command, even though the ending is polite. The **주세요 ** form deserves special mention because you'll hear it constantly. It comes from 주다 (to give) and functions as "please give me" or "I'd like." 물 주세요 means "Water, please." 도와주세요 means "Please help me." ---- ## Informal imperatives with 아/어(요) When talking to close friends, younger siblings, or people clearly junior to you, the informal imperative uses **아/어 ** or **아요/어요 ** endings. The 요 makes it slightly more polite while still casual. > 💡The conjugation depends on the last vowel in the verb stem. If the stem has ㅏ or ㅗ as the final vowel, use 아. For all other vowels, use 어. - Take 가다 again. The stem 가 has ㅏ, so you add 아 to get 가 (just 가, because 가 + 아 contracts). Add 요 for 가요 (go, casual-polite). - For 먹다, the stem 먹 would become 먹어 in the informal imperative (eat!). With 요, it's 먹어요. More examples: - 오다 → 와 or 와요 (come) - 자다 (to sleep) → 자 or 자요 (sleep) - 보다 (to see) → 봐 or 봐요 (look) - 하다 (to do) → 해 or 해요 (do) **The version without 요 sounds very casual and direct**. You'd only use it with people you're super close to. The 요 version keeps things friendly but still respectful enough for most casual relationships. This form also works for suggestions. 같이 가요 means "Let's go together" when said with the right intonation. Context really matters here. ---- ## Formal imperatives with 아/어라 The **아/어라 ** ending creates a strong, direct command. You'll mostly see this in writing, military contexts, or when someone with authority is giving orders. Parents sometimes use it with young children. > 💡The conjugation follows the same vowel rules as the informal imperative. If the stem has ㅏ or ㅗ, use 아라. Otherwise, use 어라. Examples: - 가다 → 가라 (go!) - 먹다 → 먹어라 (eat!) - 오다 → 와라 (come!) - 하다 → 해라 (do!) This form sounds pretty harsh in spoken conversation. You'd hear it in movies when a boss is yelling at subordinates or in historical dramas. Most Korean learners won't need to use this much in real life, but you should recognize it when you encounter it. ---- ## Negative imperatives with 지 마세요 Telling someone NOT to do something requires the negative imperative. The polite form uses **지 마세요 ** attached to the verb stem. > 💡The pattern is super consistent: verb stem + 지 마세요. No vowel or consonant variations to worry about. Examples: - 가다 → 가지 마세요 (please don't go) - 먹다 → 먹지 마세요 (please don't eat) - 하다 → 하지 마세요 (please don't do) - 걱정하다 (to worry) → 걱정하지 마세요 (please don't worry) For informal situations, drop the 세요 and just use **지 마 ** or **지 마요 **. 가지 마 means "don't go" to a friend. 가지 마요 adds a touch more politeness while staying casual. The negative imperative is actually easier than the positive forms because the conjugation pattern stays the same regardless of the verb stem ending. Pretty convenient. ---- ## Understanding verb stems and conjugation basics To conjugate any Korean verb into an imperative form, you need to identify the verb stem first. Korean verbs in dictionary form always end in 다. Remove the 다 and you've got your stem. - 가다 → stem is 가 - 먹다 → stem is 먹 - 공부하다 (to study) → stem is 공부하 Once you have the stem, check whether it ends in a vowel or consonant. This determines which ending variant you'll use for most imperative forms. Vowel-ending stems are easier because they take the shorter endings. Consonant-ending stems need the extra 으 syllable to make pronunciation smooth. The vowel harmony rule (ㅏ/ㅗ versus everything else) applies to several Korean grammar patterns, not just imperatives. Learning this once helps with multiple verb forms. ---- ## Irregular verbs in imperative forms Korean has irregular verbs that don't follow the standard conjugation patterns. The most common irregular types affect imperative forms. - **ㄹ irregular verbs drop the ㄹ when you add certain endings.** For example, 살다 (to live) becomes 사세요, not 살으세요. The ㄹ disappears before 으. - **ㅂ irregular verbs change ㅂ to 우 or 오.** 돕다 (to help) becomes 도우세요 instead of 돕으세요. - **ㄷ irregular verbs change ㄷ to ㄹ.** 듣다 (to listen) becomes 들으세요. - **으 irregular verbs drop the 으 from the stem.** 쓰다 (to use) has the stem 쓰, but conjugates like a vowel-ending stem: 쓰세요. These irregular patterns take practice to internalize. The good news is that the most common verbs follow regular patterns, so you can communicate effectively while gradually learning the exceptions. ---- ## Common imperative sentence examples Let's look at practical examples you'll actually use when learning Korean. Commands and requests you'll hear daily: - 앉으세요.
*Please sit.* - 기다리세요.
*Please wait.* - 이리 오세요.
*Please come here.* - 천천히 말해 주세요.
*Please speak slowly.* - 한 번 더 말해 주세요.
*Please say it one more time.* - 도와주세요.
*Please help me.* - 조용히 하세요.
*Please be quiet.* Casual imperatives with friends: - 빨리 와.
*Come quickly.* - 같이 가자.
*Let's go together.* - 이거 봐.
*Look at this.* - 전화해.
*Call me.* - 문자 보내.
*Send me a text.* Negative imperatives: - 걱정하지 마세요.
*Don't worry.* - 늦지 마.
*Don't be late.* - 잊지 마세요.
*Please don't forget.* - 포기하지 마.
*Don't give up.* These examples show how imperative forms appear in real conversations. You'll encounter them constantly in Korean media, so recognizing the patterns helps your comprehension even before you start producing them yourself. ---- ## Practice tips for mastering Korean imperatives 1. Start by memorizing the most common verbs in their imperative forms. 가다, 오다, 먹다, 하다, 보다, 주다 appear everywhere, so drilling these first gives you immediate practical value. 2. Pay attention to politeness levels in Korean shows and videos. Notice when characters use 세요 versus 아/어 versus 아/어라. The social dynamics usually make it obvious why they chose that level. 3. Listen for 마세요 in negative commands. Korean media loves dramatic moments where someone yells 가지 마! (don't go!), so you'll hear plenty of examples. 4. Don't stress about irregular verbs initially. Learn the regular patterns first, then gradually add the common irregular verbs as you encounter them. Want to practice these imperative forms with real Korean content? Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up verb conjugations instantly while watching shows or reading articles, so you can see exactly how 가세요 or 먹지 마 appears in actual sentences. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out. learn korean language with migaku browser extension and app ---- ## Incorporate Korean grammar learning into your daily routine! The best way to internalize these patterns? Immersion. [Watch Korean shows](https://migaku.com/blog/korean/best-korean-shows-for-learning), listen to podcasts, and read webtoons. These are activities you may already enjoy in your daily life. You'll see imperative forms used naturally in context, which beats memorizing conjugation tables any day. > If you consume media in Korean, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period. Learn language in the small moments of your day!🍵