Dictionary — Entry No. 0726
이렇게 하지마
ireoke-haji-ma · expression
이렇게 하지마
ireoke-haji-ma
[ee-RUH-keh-HAH-jee-mah]
expressionbeginner
Meaning
A firm command meaning ‘Don’t do it like this’ or ‘Stop acting this way,’ composed of 이렇게 (like this / in this specific way) + 하지마 (the informal negative imperative of 하다, to do). It calls out a specific behavior happening right now, with a sharper edge than a plain 하지마.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
이렇게 하지마 is the phrase of K-Drama climax arguments — the moment a character has finally had enough and forces a confrontation they can no longer avoid. It’s been widely adopted by international K-Pop fans as a caption for frustrating fandom moments, shipping wars, and toxic behavior callouts. The phrase also appears in K-Pop lyrics about being mistreated in a relationship, where its bluntness reads as reclaimed self-respect.
Example Sentences
이렇게 하지마. 나 진지하게 말하는 거야.
Ireoke haji ma. Na jinjihage malaneun geoya.
Don’t do this. I’m being serious with you. (low-voice confrontation — the quiet delivery is scarier than shouting)
이렇게 하지마, 우리 사이 더 나빠지잖아.
Ireoke haji ma, uri sai deo nappajijanha.
Don’t act like this — it’s only making things worse between us. (relationship conflict where the speaker is still trying to salvage things)
팬들한테 이렇게 하지 마세요.
Paendeulhante ireoke haji maseyo.
Please don’t treat the fans like this. (polite version — the 세요 ending makes it appropriate for public callouts)
⚠️ Don’t use ireoke-haji-ma when…
하지마 is informal and sounds harsh with someone older — the polite version is 하지 마세요 (haji maseyo). Also, 이렇게 points specifically to what’s happening right now; to express a standing rule or general prohibition, 이러지 마 (ireoji ma) sounds more natural to native speakers.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Twenty-Five Twenty-One (스물다섯 스물하나) — Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) delivers this phrase in a raw, emotionally exhausted argument that crystallizes the drama’s entire theme of youthful heartbreak.
- K-Pop: Stray Kids — Miroh (미로)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.