yaksogeul nohchiji ma.

Don’t miss the appointment.

Breakdown of yaksogeul nohchiji ma.

• ~을: object particle
• 약속: appointment
• 놓치다: to miss
• 말다: to not do

Questions & Answers about yaksogeul nohchiji ma.

What politeness level is this? Who can I say 약속을 놓치지 마. to?

It’s casual banmal (plain imperative). Use it with close friends, younger people, or peers you’re intimate with. For more polite versions:

• 약속(을) 놓치지 마요. (polite-casual)
• 약속(을) 놓치지 마세요. (polite, commonly used to older/less familiar people)
• 약속(을) 놓치지 마십시오. (formal/polite, announcements or very formal speech)

Why is there no subject like “you”?

Korean imperatives usually omit the subject; “you” is understood. Adding 너 is often too direct/rude. If you need to specify:

• To a group: 여러분, 약속을 놓치지 마세요.
• Using a name/title: 민수 씨, 약속을 놓치지 마세요.

What exactly does the ending -지 마 mean? How is it different from -지 않다?

• -지 마(라) comes from the auxiliary verb 말다 and makes a negative command: “Don’t do X.”
  • Example pattern: V-지 마(요/세요/십시오).
• -지 않다 is a descriptive negation (“to not do/be X”), not a command.
  • Command-like alternatives with this idea get wordy: 놓치지 않도록 하세요 (“Please make sure not to miss it”)—polite but less direct than -지 마.

What is the role of -을 in 약속을? Can I drop it?

-을/를 marks the direct object. 놓치다 is transitive (“miss something”), so 약속을 is standard. In casual speech you can drop it: 약속 놓치지 마. Both are natural; including -을 can feel a bit firmer or more careful.

Is the spacing right? I sometimes see 놓치지마 written together.

Correct spacing is 놓치지 마 (space before 마), because 말다 is an auxiliary that stands as a separate word after -지. So:

• Correct: 놓치지 마. / 놓치지 마요. / 놓치지 마세요.
• Common but incorrect in standard writing: 놓치지마, 놓치지마요

How do you pronounce 놓치지 마?

Pronounce it as [노치지 마]. The ㅎ in 놓 isn’t separately pronounced here; it just helps aspirate the following sound (and 치 is already aspirated).

Does 약속 mean “promise” or “appointment” here?

Both are possible; context decides.

• If you mean “don’t miss our meeting/appointment,” 약속(을) 놓치다 is fine (often implying missing the scheduled time).
• If you mean “don’t break your promise,” Koreans usually say 약속(을) 어기다 (break a promise) or the positive 약속(을) 지키다 (keep a promise).

What’s the nuance difference among 놓치다, 잊다, 어기다, and 지키다 with 약속?

• 약속(을) 놓치다: miss the appointment/meeting (fail to make it, miss the time).
• 약속(을) 잊다: forget the promise/appointment.
• 약속(을) 어기다: break a promise (fail to keep your word).
• 약속(을) 지키다: keep a promise; show up as agreed and honor it.

So:

• “Don’t miss the appointment”: 약속(을) 놓치지 마.
• “Don’t forget the appointment/promise”: 약속(을) 잊지 마.
• “Don’t break your promise”: 약속(을) 어기지 마.
• “Please keep your promise”: 약속(을) 지켜. / 지켜 주세요.

Is 약속을 놓치다 natural, or should I say 약속 시간을 놓치다?

Both are natural. 약속을 놓치다 is common and understood as missing the planned meeting. 약속 시간을 놓치다 is a bit more explicit about missing the time.

How can I say this more softly or politely?

Options that feel gentler:

• 약속(을) 놓치면 안 돼요. (“You mustn’t miss the appointment.”)
• Add softeners: 제발 약속(을) 놓치지 마세요. (please), 절대 놓치지 마세요. (never)
• Positive request: 약속 꼭 지켜 주세요. (“Please be sure to keep the promise/appointment.”)

Can I just add -요 (e.g., 놓치지 마요) instead of 마세요?

Yes.

• 놓치지 마요: polite-casual; softer than plain 마, less formal than 마세요.
• 놓치지 마세요: polite and more standard when speaking to seniors/strangers. Both are fine; choose based on how polite you need to be.

What other useful patterns with 말다 should I know?

• V-지 말고 …: “Don’t V, (instead) …”
  • 약속(을) 놓치지 말고 꼭 와요.
• V-지 말자 / 맙시다: “Let’s not V.”
  • 약속(을) 놓치지 말자.
• Quoted commands: V-지 말라고 하다 (“tell someone not to V”).
  • 약속(을) 놓치지 말라고 했어요.

Can I use the topic marker: 약속은 놓치지 마?

Yes. 약속은 topicalizes “as for the promise/appointment,” adding emphasis/contrast (e.g., you might miss other things, but as for the promise—don’t miss it). Both 약속을 and 약속은 are possible depending on nuance.

Can I move the object after the verb, like 놓치지 마 약속을?

No. Korean is typically SOV. The object normally comes before the verb. 놓치지 마 약속을 sounds unnatural outside of special poetic/stylistic contexts.

Could you break down the sentence?

• 약속: promise/appointment (noun)
• -을: object marker
• 놓치-: verb stem “to miss, to let slip, to fail to catch”
• -지: connective ending used with 말다 for prohibition
• 마: imperative form of 말다 (“don’t”) Overall: “(You) don’t miss the appointment/promise.”