Stop right there! – How to Say Stop in Korean

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Stop right there! Yes, it’s time to stop what you’re doing and learn today’s Korean phrase.

The phrase we’re teaching to you is how to say ‘stop’ in Korean. We will also be going over some variations including how to tell people to ‘stop it’ or stop doing something. There are actually several words for saying stop in Korean (which can get confusing), and we will teach you 5 of them today.

Let’s start with the basics.

1. 멈추다 (meom-chu-da)

This is a basic verb that even beginners should know. This can be used in many instances and it can be roughly translated as ‘to halt or to stop momentarily’. For example:

이분이 노래를 안 멈춰요. (i-bun-i no-rae-reul an meom-chweo-yo) = He doesn’t stop singing.

노래 멈춰줘. (no-rae meom-chweo-jweo) = Please stop the song.

Basic conjugations for this verb are:

Casual:

멈췄어 (meom-chweo-sseo) [past]

멈춰 (meom-chweo) [present]

멈출 거야 (meom-chul geo-ya) [future]

Polite: 

멈췄어요 (meom-chweo-sseo-yo) [past]

멈춰요 (meom-chweo-yo) [present]

멈출 거예요 (meom-chul geo-ye-yo) [future]

Formal:

멈췄습니다 (meom-chweo-sseum-ni-da) [past]

멈춥니다 (meom-chum-ni-da) [present]

멈출 겁니다 (meom-chul geom-ni-da) [future]

2. 그만하다 (geu-man-ha-da)

This word for stop has a slightly different nuance than the first one. Its translation is more of ‘to stop doing something permanently’ in regards to an action. It is also used more when someone is annoyed or upset at the action taking place. For example:

스포 그만해. (seu-po geu-man-hae) = Stop giving spoilers.

너 욕 그만 해. (neo yok geu-man-hae) = Stop cursing.

Basic conjugations for this verb are:

Casual:

그만했어 (geu-man-hae-sseo-yo) [past]

그만해 (geu-man-hae) [present]

그만할 거야 (geu-man-hal geo-ya) [future]

Polite:

그만했어요 (geu-man-hae-sseo-yo) [past]

그만해요 (geu-man-hae-yo) [present]

그만할 거예요 (geu-man-hal geo-ye-yo) [future]

Formal:

그만했습니다 (geu-man-hae-sseum-ni-da) [past]

그만합니다 (geu-man-ham-ni-da) [present]

그만할 겁니다 (geu-man-hal geom-ni-da) [future]

3. 그만두다 (geu-man-du-da) 

This verb is similar to #2. It looks similar, but once again, has a slightly different nuance than the others. The translation for this verb would be more like to quit, leave, or give up. For example:

운동 왜 그만뒀어? (un-dong wae geu-man-dweo-sseo) = Why did you quit working out?

대학교 그만뒀어요. (dae-hak-gyo geu-man-dweo-sseo-yo) = I quit university.

Basic conjugations for this verb are:

Casual:

그만뒀어 (geu-man-dweo-sseo) [past]

그만둬 (geu-man-dweo) [present]

그만둘 거야 (geu-man-dul geo-ya) [future]

Polite:

그만뒀어요 (geu-man-dweo-sso-yo) [past]

그만둬요 (geu-man-dweo-yo) [present]

그만둘 거예요 (geu-man-dul geo-ye-yo) [future]

Formal:

그만뒀습니다 (geu-man-dweo-sseum-ni-da) [past]

그만둡니다 (geu-man-dum-ni-da) [present]

그만둘 겁니다 (geu-man-dul geom-ni-da) [future]

4. 끝나다 (ggeut-na-da)

Number 4 in this list features a verb that you may have heard before. This is another beginner word that will be helpful to know. This one’s definition means ‘to finish or to come to an end’. You will hear this used when events are finished. Here are some examples for you to understand:

시험 끝났어. (si-heom ggeut-na-ssseo) = The exam is finished.

일이 아직 안 끝났어요. (il-i a-jik an ggeut-na-sseo-yo) = I’m still not finished with the work.

Basic conjugations for this verb are:

Casual:

끝났어 (ggeut-na-sseo) [past]

끝나 (ggeut-na) [present]

끝날 거야 (ggeut-nal geo-ya) [future]

Polite:

끝났어요 (ggeut-na-sseo-yo) [past]

끝나요 (ggeut-na-yo) [present]

끝날 거예요 (ggeut-nal geo-ye-yo) [future]

Formal: 

끝났습니다 (ggeut-na-sseum-ni-da) [past]

끝납니다 (ggeut-nam-ni-da) [present]

끝날 겁니다 (ggeut-nal geom-ni-da) [future]

5. 그치다 (geu-chi-da)

This verb for stopped means to cease or stop permanently. You will see this one used often in regards to weather (rain or snow stopping). Here are some examples:

비 그쳤어. ?(bi geu-chyeo-sseo) = It stopped raining.

폭우는 마침내 5시에 그쳤다. (pok-u-neun ma-chim-nae 5-si-e geu-chyeo-sseo-yo) = It finally stopped pouring at 5AM.

Basic conjugations for this verb are:

Casual: 

그쳤어 (geu-chyeo-sseo-yo) [past]

그쳐 (geu-chyeo) [present]

그칠 거야 (geu-chil geo-ya) [future]

Polite:

그쳤어요 (geu-chyeo-sseo-yo) [past]

그쳐요 (geu-chyeo-yo) [present]

그칠 거예요 (geu-chil geo-ye-yo) [future]

Formal:

그쳤습니다 (geu-chye-sseum-ni-da) [past]

그칩니다 (geu-chim-ni-da) [present]

그칠 겁니다 (geu-chil geom-ni-da) [future]

And there you have it! As we said earlier, there are at least 6 more words that can be roughly translated to stop or finish, but we may do a part 2 for those.

Whether you want to understand basic words in K-pop or K-dramas, impress your Korean friends, or simply deepen your connection to the Korean culture, the Korean Language Starter Pack ensures that you quickly learn and retain the most commonly used Korean words and phrases today. Click here to learn more.