No. 186Language3 minviews 82
Published by GK Library Annex
「안 되」 or 「안 돼」: which Korean spelling is right?
To end a sentence, 「안 돼」 (an dwae, "no, you can't") is correct. Swapping in 「하」 and 「해」 makes it easy to tell
When you end a Korean sentence, the correct spelling is 「안 돼」 (an dwae, "no / that won't do"), not 「안 되」 (an doe). 「돼」 (dwae) is a contraction of 「되어」 (doeeo), so it already contains the ending 「-어」 (-eo) that a sentence needs in order to end.
「돼」 is short for 「되어」
「되-」 (doe-), the stem of the verb 「되다」 (doeda, "to become; to be possible"), cannot end a sentence on its own. Something has to follow it, as in 「되고」 (doego), 「되면」 (doemyeon) or 「되니」 (doeni). To end a sentence, the ending 「-어」 is usually added to make 「되어」, and the contracted form of that is 「돼」.
Article 35 of the Korean spelling rules (Hangeul Matchumbeop) says that when 「되어」 shortens to 「돼」 and 「되었다」 (doeeotda) shortens to 「됐다」 (dwaetda), you write the shortened form. So 「안 돼」, 「돼요」 (dwaeyo) and 「됐다」 are correct, while 「안 되」, 「되요」 (doeyo) and 「됬다」 (doetda) are misspellings.
Try swapping in 「하」 and 「해」
When you are unsure, try putting 「하」 (ha) or 「해」 (hae), forms of 「하다」 (hada, "to do"), in the same spot. If 「하」 sounds natural, write 「되」; if 「해」 sounds natural, write 「돼」.
「안 해」 (an hae) sounds natural, so it is 「안 돼」; 「해요」 (haeyo) is right, so it is 「돼요」. On the other hand, where 「하고」 (hago), 「하면」 (hamyeon) or 「하는」 (haneun) fit, you write 「되고」, 「되면」 and 「되는」 (doeneun). Where 「해서」 (haeseo) fits, it is 「돼서」 (dwaeseo), and where 「했다」 (haetda) fits, it is 「됐다」. This is just an easy memory trick, so if it still feels unclear, try writing it out as 「되어」. If 「되어」 still makes sense there, 「돼」 is correct.
Both 「되라」 and 「돼라」 are correct
「훌륭한 사람이 돼라」 ("Become a fine person") and 「훌륭한 사람이 되라고 하셨다」 ("They told me to become a fine person") are both correctly spelled. A command given directly to someone's face is written 「돼라」 (dwaera), like 「해라」 (haera), while a command that reports someone else's words or is given in writing, as in exam questions, is written 「되라」 (doera), like 「하라」 (hara). The 「하」 and 「해」 swap works here too.
The same principle applies to 「뵈다」 (boeda, the humble verb "to see" someone). 「뵈어요」 (boeeoyo) shortens to 「봬요」 (bwaeyo), so in a message you should write 「내일 봬요」 (naeil bwaeyo, "See you tomorrow"), not 「내일 뵈요」 (naeil boeyo).
They sound alike, which adds to the confusion
「되」 and 「돼」 sound almost the same when spoken. Article 4 of the Korean standard pronunciation rules also allows the vowel 「ㅚ」 to be pronounced like 「ㅞ」 (we), so reading 「되」 as [dwe] is not wrong. That makes them hard to tell apart by ear, and the difference shows up only in writing.
That is why misspellings like 「되요」 and 「됬어요」 (doesseoyo) are especially common in text messages. Before you hit send, take one look at any 「되」 at the end of a sentence. If it is followed directly by 「요」 (yo) or a period, it usually needs to be 「돼」.
Use 「돼」 at the end of a sentence; if unsure, swap in 「하」 and 「해」, and choose 「돼」 when 「해」 fits.
Notes and references · Korean Spelling Rules (Hangeul Matchumbeop), Article 35. Rule on writing 「되어→돼」 and 「되었다→됐다」 as contracted; 「ㅚ」 as a diphthong is from Article 4 of the standard pronunciation rules. The 「하/해」 swap is a learning trick, not a rule.
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