Don’t Litter! Korean Phrases for Clean Parks 🌳

Hello! It’s your favorite Korean language guide, [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your skills! 😊

Have you ever been to one of Seoul’s beautiful parks, like the Han River Park or Seoul Forest? They are amazing places to relax, have a picnic, and enjoy nature. But to keep them beautiful, there are some important rules to follow!

Today, we’re going to learn some essential Korean phrases about rules and obligations, specifically what to do (and what not to do) with trash in public places. This is super useful because recently in Korea, there’s a huge social media trend called the #깨끗한공원챌린지 (#CleanParkChallenge), where people share pictures of themselves keeping parks clean. Let’s learn how you can be a part of it!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are three key expressions that will make you a responsible citizen in Korea!

1. 쓰레기를 버리다 (Sseuregireul beorida)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Sseu-re-gi-reul beo-ri-da
• English Meaning: To throw away trash.
• Detailed Explanation: This is the basic phrase you need. 쓰레기 (sseuregi) means “trash” or “litter,” and 버리다 (beorida) is the verb “to throw away.” The particle -를 (-reul) is an object marker attached to “trash” to show it’s the thing being thrown away.

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The first syllable 쓰 (sseu) has a double consonant ‘ㅆ’ (ss). This is a “tense” sound. To make this sound, keep your tongue in the same position as you would for ‘ㅅ’ (s), but tense up your throat and push the air out forcefully without any puff of air (it’s unaspirated). It should sound sharp and quick, like the “ss” in “hiss.”

2. ~면 안 돼요 (~myeon an dwaeyo)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: ~myeon an dwae-yo
• English Meaning: You shouldn’t… / It’s not allowed…

• Detailed Explanation: This is the golden grammar pattern for politely telling someone not to do something. You attach it to a verb stem. It literally means “If you do (verb), it is not okay.” It’s the perfect way to state a rule without sounding too aggressive.

  • Example: 버리다 (to throw away) → 버리면 안 돼요 (beorimyeon an dwaeyo) → You shouldn’t throw it away.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The syllable 돼 (dwae) can be tricky. It’s a diphthong, a combination of two vowel sounds: ㅗ (o) + ㅐ (ae). Try saying “o-ae” very quickly. It should sound like “dway” in the English word “dway-yo.” Practice makes perfect!

3. 벌금을 내야 해요 (Beolgeumeul naeya haeyo)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Beol-geu-meul nae-ya hae-yo
• English Meaning: You have to pay a fine.

• Detailed Explanation: This phrase explains the consequence of breaking a rule. 벌금 (beolgeum) means “a fine,” and the grammar pattern ~아/어야 해요 (~a/eoya haeyo) means “must” or “have to.” So, it literally translates to “You must pay a fine.” It’s a strong but necessary phrase to know!

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Listen to how the sounds flow together: 내야 해요 [naeya haeyo]. The syllable 야 (ya) is a combination of the vowels ㅣ(i) and ㅏ(a). Imagine saying “ee-ah” very fast. It’s the same sound as in “yak.”

Example Dialogue in the Park

Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation! Imagine two friends, Minjun and Sofia, are at the Han River Park.

A: 소피아 (Sofia): (Finishes her coffee and is about to toss the cup into the bushes)

아, 다 마셨다!
Ah, I’m finished!

B: 민준 (Minjun): (Sees her and speaks up politely)

잠깐만, 소피아! 여기에 쓰레기를 버리면 안 돼요.
Wait, Sofia! You shouldn’t throw trash here.

A: 소피아 (Sofia):

아, 정말요? 미안해요. 쓰레기통이 안 보여서…
Oh, really? I’m sorry. I didn’t see a trash can…

B: 민준 (Minjun):

괜찮아요. 여기는 쓰레기를 함부로 버리면 벌금을 내야 해요. 저쪽에 쓰레기통이 있어요.
It’s okay. If you litter here, you have to pay a fine. There’s a trash can over there.

A: 소피아 (Sofia):

알려줘서 고마워요, 민준!
Thanks for telling me, Minjun!

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive 🇰🇷

Why is this so important in Korea?

Koreans take great pride in their clean public spaces. The #깨끗한공원챌린지 (#CleanParkChallenge) is just one example of how young Koreans are actively promoting good public etiquette. You’ll also see people “plogging” (플로깅 – peulloging), which is picking up litter while jogging!

Here’s a pro-tip: Public trash cans can sometimes be hard to find in Korea. It’s very common for people to carry their small trash items in their bag until they find a can or get home. This is considered normal and polite.

So, if you’re with a friend and can’t find a trash can, you can sound like a local by saying:
“쓰레기통이 없네. 우리 그냥 집에 가져가자!”
(Sseuregitongi eomne. Uri geunyang jibe gajyeogaja!)
“There’s no trash can. Let’s just take it home!”

Let’s Practice!

Time to check your understanding! Are you ready?

1. Fill in the blank:
In a museum, you shouldn’t touch the art. How would you say this?

박물관에서 그림을 ______ 안 돼요. (만지면 / 보면)
In the museum, you shouldn’t ______ the painting. (manjimyeon [if you touch] / bomyeon [if you see])

2. Make a sentence:
Using what you learned, how would you tell someone, “You shouldn’t take photos here”? (Hint: The verb for “to take a photo” is 사진을 찍다 [sajineul jjikda]).

Great job today, everyone! You’ve learned some very important phrases for being a respectful visitor (or resident!) in Korea.

Now it’s your turn! Try making a sentence using ~면 안 돼요 in the comments below. I’ll check it for you! 👇