말고 (Instead of/Not)

말고 means "instead of," "other than," or "not this but." It's used to suggest alternatives or reject a choice in favor of something else.

Structure

Pattern: Noun + 말고

Breakdown:

• 말다: To stop / To not do
• -고: Connective ending

Literal meaning: "Stopping [noun], and..." → "Not [noun], but..."

Formation

With Nouns

Direct attachment to nouns:

Examples:

• 이것 → 이것 말고 (not this, but / instead of this)
• 커피 → 커피 말고 (not coffee, but / instead of coffee)
• 월요일 → 월요일 말고 (not Monday, but / instead of Monday)
• 나 → 나 말고 (not me, but / instead of me)

No Particle Needed

Unlike most patterns, no particle between noun and 말고:

Examples:

• ✅ 이것 말고 (Correct)
• ❌ 이것을 말고 (Incorrect)
• ✅ 커피 말고 (Correct)
• ❌ 커피를 말고 (Incorrect)

Basic Usage

Suggesting Alternatives

Pattern: [Noun] 말고 [Alternative]

Asking for different option:

Examples:

• 이것 말고 저것 주세요 (Not this, give me that instead)
• 커피 말고 차 마실래요 (Instead of coffee, I'll drink tea)
• 빨간색 말고 파란색으로 주세요 (Not red, give me blue instead)
• 월요일 말고 화요일에 만나요 (Instead of Monday, let's meet Tuesday)

Rejecting an Option

Expressing "not this one":

Examples:

• 이거 말고요 (Not this one - polite rejection)
• 여기 말고 다른 데로 가요 (Not here, let's go somewhere else)
• 지금 말고 나중에 해요 (Not now, let's do it later)

Offering Better Alternative

Pattern: [Noun] 말고 [Better option]

Examples:

• 라면 말고 밥 먹어 (Instead of ramen, eat rice - better option)
• 게임 말고 공부해 (Instead of games, study)
• 택시 말고 지하철 타자 (Instead of taxi, let's take the subway)

Common Patterns

말고 다른 (Other than / Different)

Asking for alternatives:

Examples:

• 이것 말고 다른 거 있어요? (Do you have something other than this?)
• 오늘 말고 다른 날은 어때요? (How about a different day than today?)
• 여기 말고 다른 곳으로 가요 (Instead of here, let's go somewhere else)
• 김치 말고 다른 반찬 주세요 (Instead of kimchi, give me other side dishes)

With Question Words

Asking about alternatives:

Examples:

• 이것 말고 뭐가 있어요? (Other than this, what do you have?)
• 월요일 말고 언제 돼요? (Other than Monday, when works?)
• 여기 말고 어디 가요? (Other than here, where shall we go?)
• 이거 말고 뭐 할래? (Other than this, what do you want to do?)

말고(요) as Standalone

Short rejection:

Examples:

• A: 이거 드릴까요? (Shall I give you this?)

• B: 그거 말고요 (Not that one)

• A: 내일 만날까? (Shall we meet tomorrow?)

• B: 내일 말고 (Not tomorrow)

Politeness Levels

Formal (합니다체)

Examples:

• 이것 말고 저것으로 주십시오 (Not this, please give me that instead)
• 현금 말고 카드로 계산하겠습니다 (Instead of cash, I'll pay by card)

Polite (해요체)

Examples:

• 이것 말고 저것 주세요 (Not this, give me that please)
• 커피 말고 차 마실래요 (Instead of coffee, I'll drink tea)
• 오늘 말고 내일 만나요 (Instead of today, let's meet tomorrow)

Casual (반말)

Examples:

• 이거 말고 저거 줘 (Not this, give me that)
• 게임 말고 공부해 (Instead of games, study)
• 여기 말고 저기 가자 (Not here, let's go there)

Comparing with Similar Patterns

말고 vs. 외에

말고:

• Suggests replacement
• "Instead of" focus
• Preferential choice
• More casual

외에:

• Addition or exception
• "Besides/except" focus
• Neutral exclusion
• More formal

Examples:

• 이것 말고 주세요 (Not this, give me something else - preferring different)
• 이것 외에 주세요 (Besides this, give me [something more] - adding)

말고 vs. -지 말고

말고 (noun):

• With nouns only
• Rejecting item/choice
• Suggesting alternative

-지 말고 (verb):

• With verbs
• Don't do this, do that
• Action alternatives

Examples:

• 커피 말고 차 마셔 (Not coffee, drink tea - noun)
• 자지 말고 공부해 (Don't sleep, study - verb)

말고 vs. 안/못

말고:

• Rejecting in favor of alternative
• Suggesting better option
• Comparative choice

안/못:

• Simple negation
• Not doing something
• No alternative implied

Examples:

• 이거 말고 저거 먹어 (Not this, eat that - alternative)
• 이거 안 먹어 (I don't eat this - simple negation)

Time Expressions

Days

Examples:

• 월요일 말고 화요일에 와요 (Not Monday, come on Tuesday)
• 주말 말고 평일에 가요 (Not weekend, go on a weekday)
• 오늘 말고 내일 해요 (Not today, do it tomorrow)

Time of Day

Examples:

• 아침 말고 점심에 먹어요 (Not breakfast, eat at lunch)
• 지금 말고 나중에 해요 (Not now, do it later)
• 낮 말고 밤에 전화해 (Not daytime, call at night)

Place Expressions

Locations

Examples:

• 여기 말고 저기로 가요 (Not here, let's go there)
• 식당 말고 집에서 먹어요 (Not restaurant, eat at home)
• 서울 말고 부산 가요 (Not Seoul, let's go to Busan)

Food and Drink

Common in restaurants

Examples:

• 물 말고 콜라 주세요 (Not water, give me cola)
• 밥 말고 면 먹을래요 (Not rice, I'll eat noodles)
• 매운 거 말고 순한 거 주세요 (Not spicy, give me mild)
• 이거 말고 다른 메뉴 추천해 주세요 (Not this, please recommend another menu item)

People

Choosing different people

Examples:

• 나 말고 다른 사람 시켜 (Not me, make someone else do it)
• 선생님 말고 친구한테 물어봐 (Not the teacher, ask a friend)
• 너 말고 누구 갔어? (Other than you, who went?)

Shopping Contexts

At stores

Examples:

• 이거 말고 더 싼 거 있어요? (Other than this, do you have something cheaper?)
• 빨간색 말고 다른 색깔 있어요? (Other than red, do you have other colors?)
• 큰 거 말고 작은 거 보여 주세요 (Not the big one, show me the small one)

Common Situations

Changing Plans

Examples:

• 영화 말고 쇼핑 가자 (Instead of movies, let's go shopping)
• 걷기 말고 택시 타자 (Instead of walking, let's take a taxi)
• 공부 말고 쉬어 (Instead of studying, rest)

Making Suggestions

Examples:

• 혼자 말고 같이 가자 (Instead of alone, let's go together)
• 전화 말고 직접 만나자 (Instead of calling, let's meet in person)
• 사 말고 만들어 먹자 (Instead of buying, let's make it)

Corrections

Examples:

• A: 이거 네 거야? (Is this yours?)

• B: 그거 말고 이거 (Not that, this one)

• A: 내일 갈까? (Shall we go tomorrow?)

• B: 내일 말고 모레 (Not tomorrow, the day after)

Emphasis Patterns

절대 말고 (Absolutely not)

Strong rejection:

Examples:

• 이거 절대 말고 저거 사 (Absolutely not this, buy that)
• 혼자 절대 말고 같이 가 (Absolutely not alone, go together)

제발 말고 (Please not)

Pleading:

Examples:

• 제발 지금 말고 나중에 해 (Please not now, do it later)
• 제발 거기 말고 여기 와 (Please not there, come here)

With -요 for Politeness

말고요 - Polite rejection

Softening the rejection:

Examples:

• 이거 말고요 (Not this one - polite)
• 오늘 말고요 (Not today - polite)
• 그거 말고요, 다른 거 주세요 (Not that, please give me another one)

Special Patterns

말고 뭐 (What else)

Common colloquial pattern:

Examples:

• 이거 말고 뭐 있어? (Other than this, what else is there?)
• 공부 말고 뭐 해? (Other than studying, what are you doing?)

A 말고 B(이)나 (Not A but B instead)

Suggesting specific alternative:

Examples:

• 커피 말고 차나 마셔 (Not coffee, drink tea instead)
• 여기 말고 저기나 가자 (Not here, let's go there instead)

Cultural Notes

Directness

말고 can sound direct:

• Add -요 for politeness
• Use softer expressions in formal contexts
• Consider relationship when using

Softening examples:

• 이것 말고요 (softer)
• 이것보다 저것이 좋을 것 같아요 (even softer - I think that would be better than this)

Common in Daily Life

Very frequently used:

• Restaurants: choosing menu
• Shopping: selecting items
• Planning: changing arrangements
• Suggestions: offering alternatives

Summary Table

Pattern	Meaning	Politeness	Example	Translation
[Noun] 말고	Not [noun], but	Neutral	이거 말고	Not this
[Noun] 말고 [Noun]	Not A, but B	Neutral	커피 말고 차	Not coffee, but tea
[Noun] 말고요	Not [noun] (polite)	Polite	이거 말고요	Not this one (polite)
[Noun] 말고 다른	Other than [noun]	Neutral	이거 말고 다른 거	Something other than this
[Noun] 말고 뭐	What other than [noun]	Casual	이거 말고 뭐 있어?	What else besides this?

Key point: 말고 is used with nouns to reject one option in favor of an alternative. It's direct and commonly used in daily conversation when making choices, ordering food, or changing plans.