Make/Let someone do

This pattern, -게 하다, is a causative form. It means the subject of the sentence causes the object to perform an action or be in a certain state. It's versatile, covering both making someone do something and letting them do it.

Formation

Attach -게 하다 directly to the stem of any verb or adjective, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.

Verb: 가다 (to go) → 가게 하다 (to make/let go)

Verb: 먹다 (to eat) → 먹게 하다 (to make/let eat)

Adjective: 슬프다 (to be sad) → 슬프게 하다 (to make sad)

Adjective: 행복하다 (to be happy) → 행복하게 하다 (to make happy)

Usage

The pattern generally expresses two main ideas:

To make/cause: The subject causes an action or emotional state in the object. (e.g., 엄마를 화나게 했어. - I made Mom angry.)

To let/allow: The subject permits the object to do something. (e.g., 집에 가게 해 주세요. - Please let me go home.)

엄마를 화나게 했어. / 이 노래는 나를 슬프게 해. / 집에 가게 해 주세요. / 동생은 부모님을 행복하게 해.

The English translations "make" and "let" highlight the two main functions of -게 하다. The exact meaning is determined by the context and the other words in the sentence.

"Make" (to cause an action or feeling)

This usage implies the subject is the cause of the object's state or action. It's often used with adjectives describing emotions or situations where one person's action directly impacts another.

Example: 이 노래는 나를 슬프게 해. (This song makes me sad.)

Example: 걱정하게 해서 미안해. (Sorry for making you worry.)

"Let" (to allow or permit)

This usage is about giving permission. It's very common in requests, especially when combined with 주다 (to give) to form -게 해 주다. This construction softens the request to "Please allow me to..."

Example: 집에 가게 해 줘. (Let me go home.)

Example: 여기서 일하게 해 주세요. (Please let me work here.)

나를 미치게 해. / 자게 해 줘. / 두 번 말하게 하지 마. / 알게 해 주세요.

The -게 하다 pattern frequently appears in a few highly reusable chunks. Learning these as set phrases will make your Korean sound more natural.

-게 해서 미안하다/죄송하다 (Sorry for making you...)

This is a standard way to apologize for causing someone an inconvenience or a negative feeling.

기다리게 해서 미안해. (Sorry for making you wait.)

걱정하게 해서 죄송해요. (Sorry for making you worry.)

-게 하지 말다 (Don't make me...)

This is a negative command used to tell someone to stop causing a particular action or state.

나를 실망하게 하지 마. (Don't make me disappointed / Don't let me down.)

두 번 말하게 하지 마세요. (Don't make me say it twice.)

-게 해 주다 (Please let/make me...)

This is a common way to make a request, either for permission or for an action.

저를 웃게 해 주세요. (Please make me laugh.)

알게 해 줘. (Let me know.)

기다리게 해서 미안해. / 걱정하게 해서 죄송해요. / 나를 실망하게 하지 마. / 저를 웃게 해 주세요.

The overall politeness of the sentence is determined by how you conjugate the final verb, 하다. The script lines show clear pairs for practice.

Casual Form (반말)

Use -게 해 for speaking with close friends, family, or those younger than you. This is the informal, non-polite form.

나를 울게 하지 마. (Don't make me cry.)

기다리게 해서 미안해. (Sorry for making you wait.)

Polite Form (해요체)

Use -게 해요 or -게 하세요 for most everyday polite situations. This is the standard form for speaking to strangers, colleagues, or elders.

저를 울게 하지 마세요. (Don't make me cry.)

기다리게 해서 죄송해요. (Sorry for making you wait.)

나를 울게 하지 마. / 저를 울게 하지 마세요. / 못 가게 해 줘. / 못 가게 해 주세요. / 편하게 해. / 편하게 하세요.