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naeil sueobe jigakhaji ma.

내일 수업에 지각하지 마.naeil sueobe jigakhaji ma.
Don’t be late for class tomorrow.
FromLesson 27inHardcore Korean
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Questions & Answers about naeil sueobe jigakhaji ma.

What does the particle 에 after 수업 do here?

With verbs like 지각하다, 에 marks the event/appointment you’re late for. It’s “late for/to (something).”

  • 수업에 지각하다 = be late for class
  • 회의에 지각하다 = be late for a meeting Don’t use 을/를 (direct object) or 에서 (location-of-action) with 지각하다 in this meaning.
Why is there no subject pronoun “you”?
Korean imperatives usually omit the subject. In 지각하지 마, “you” is understood from context. Adding 너 (너 내일 수업에 지각하지 마) sounds scolding or blunt and is only used when you want to be very direct with someone younger or close.
How polite or casual is 지각하지 마? What are the alternatives by register?
  • 지각하지 마. = casual/blunt (friends, younger people)
  • 지각하지 마요. = polite-casual/friendly
  • 지각하지 마세요. = standard polite request
  • 지각하지 마십시오. = formal polite (announcements, workplace)
  • 지각하지 마라. = plain/blunt command (teacher to class, written rules)

Related:

  • 지각하지 말자 / 지각하지 맙시다. = “Let’s not be late.”
  • 지각하지 말아 주세요. = “Please don’t be late.” (softer request)
Why is it 하지 마 and not 하지 말아 or 하지 말라?
  • —지 마 is the basic spoken negative command (“don’t do …”), where 마 is the imperative of auxiliary verb 말다.
  • —지 말아 is incomplete by itself; it needs something after it (e.g., —지 말아요, —지 말아 주세요, —지 말아라).
  • —지 말라 is a formal/plain written style; in everyday speech you’ll hear —지 마(요)/—지 마세요 more.
Is the spacing right? Should it be 지각하지마?

Write it with a space: 지각하지 마. With 말다 in prohibitives, standard spacing separates —지 from 마/말:

  • 하지 마, 하지 마요, 하지 마세요, 하지 마라, 하지 말고 … “지각하지마” (no space) is a common typo.
What’s the difference between 지각하다 and 늦다? Which sounds more natural here?
  • 지각하다 = “to be tardy” for a scheduled event (class, work, meeting). Feels a bit formal/institutional.
  • 늦다 = “to be late” in general. For class, both are fine:
  • 내일 수업에 지각하지 마. (official-sounding “Don’t be tardy.”)
  • 내일 수업에 늦지 마. (very common, neutral “Don’t be late.”) You’ll also hear positive phrasing like 제시간에 와 (“Arrive on time.”).
Why is it 수업에 and not 수업에서?

에서 marks the place where an action happens (“in/at a place”). 지각하다 isn’t an action done in class; it’s being late for the event. So use 에:

  • 수업에서 발표했어요. = “I presented in class.”
  • 수업에 지각했어요. = “I was late for class.”
Can I move the words around or drop something?
  • Natural order is time > event: 내일 수업에 지각하지 마.
  • You can drop 수업에 if context is clear: 내일 지각하지 마 (“Don’t be late tomorrow”).
  • Putting 수업에 before 내일 (수업에 내일 지각하지 마) is unnatural. If you want emphasis, use topic particles:
    • 내일은 수업에 지각하지 마. (contrastive “At least tomorrow, don’t be late for class.”)
    • 수업에는 지각하지 마. (emphasizing “as for class, don’t be late”)
Why not say 내일에? When do I add 에 to time words?

내일, 오늘, 어제 usually don’t take 에: just say 내일 가요. You can add the topic contrastively: 내일에는 시간이 있어요. Use 에 with specific clock times/days: 월요일에, 세 시에, 10월에.

Does this sound rude? Who can say this to whom?
  • 지각하지 마 is a direct command—fine to a friend/younger person.
  • To someone you should speak politely to, use 지각하지 마요/지각하지 마세요, or softer requests (제시간에 와 주세요).
  • Telling a superior “Don’t be late” is usually inappropriate regardless of grammar; rephrase as a request.
How do I say “Don’t be late again” or “Don’t be late this time”?
  • 다시는 수업에 지각하지 마. = “Don’t be late again (ever).”
  • 이번에는 지각하지 마. = “Don’t be late this time.”
  • 또 지각하지 마. = “Don’t be late again.” (matter-of-fact)
How would I report this? (“He told me not to be late to class tomorrow.”)

Use —지 말라고 하다:

  • 그가 내일 수업에 지각하지 말라고 했어. (casual)
  • 그분이 내일 수업에 지각하지 말라고 하셨어요. (polite)
Can I use —지 말고 to add a follow-up instruction?

Yes. —지 말고 means “don’t do X, (do) Y instead”:

  • 내일 수업에 지각하지 말고 일찍 와. = “Don’t be late for class tomorrow; come early.”
Is there any ambiguity in 지각?

지각 has two homonyms:

  • 遲刻 (tardiness): 지각하다 = be late (our sentence).
  • 知覺 (perception): 지각하다 = perceive (formal/academic). Context disambiguates; with 수업/회의 + 지각하다, only “tardiness” fits.
What’s the difference between —지 마 and —지 않다?
  • —지 마 = imperative prohibition (“Don’t do …”).
    • 내일 수업에 지각하지 마. = “Don’t be late for class tomorrow.”
  • —지 않다 = descriptive negation (“not do …” as a statement).
    • 저는 지각하지 않아요. = “I don’t (usually) come late.” (not a command)
What are common collocations with 지각하다?

You’ll hear it with scheduled events/places:

  • 학교에/회사에 지각하다 (be late to school/work)
  • 회의에/수업에/약속에/면접에 지각하다 (late to a meeting/class/appointment/interview)

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