Korean word

맘대로

Pronunciation

Romanizationmamdaero

Meaning

  • adverbas you please

Example

맘대로 해.mam dae ro hae

Do as you please.

Illustration for 맘대로 (as you please)

More examples

그 물건을 맘대로 쓰지 마세요.keu mul geo neul mam dae ro sseu ji ma se yo

Please don't use that item however you like.

Core concept

A person's own choice guides an action freely, without permission from others or limits set by rules.

Common phrases

  • 맘대로 굴다mam dae ro kul da

    act as you please

  • 맘대로 쓰다mam dae ro sseu da

    use as you please

  • 맘대로 말하다mam dae ro mal ha da

    say whatever you want

Similar words

마음대로maeumdaero: Choosing or doing something according to one's own wishes.
제멋대로chemeotttaero: Acting selfishly while ignoring other people's wishes or accepted rules.
자유롭게chayuropkke: Acting or expressing oneself freely without restrictions.
마음껏maeumkkeot: Doing or enjoying something to the fullest extent one wants.

Definition in Korean

남의 허락이나 규칙에 얽매이지 않고 자기 뜻대로 행동함을 나타내는 부사.na mui heo ra gi na kyu chi ge eong mae i ji an ko cha gi tteut ttae ro haeng dong ha meul na ta nae neun pu sa

Word origin

The colloquial form 맘대로 (mamdaero, "as one wishes") combines 맘 (mam, "personal wishes") with 대로 (daero, "in the manner of"), giving the sense of acting according to one's wishes.

Usage tips

  • Depending on the speaker's tone, this word can sound like permission or like criticism of someone who ignores limits, so context matters.

Other meanings

  • arbitrarilyadverb
  • freelyadverb

Opposites

  • 규정대로kyujeongdaeroaccording to regulationsadverb
  • 제대로chedaeroproperlyadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word