Meaning
"Didn't I tell you to"는 상대방에게 이전에 어떤 요구나 명령을 전달했음을 상기시키는 표현입니다. 이 표현은 상대방이 그 요청을 따르지 않았거나 잊어버린 상황에서 주로 사용됩니다. 예를 들어, "Didn't I tell you to clean your room?"이라는 문장은 "내가 너에게 방을 청소하라고 말하지 않았니?"라는 의미로, 상대방이 방을 청소하지 않은 상황에서 말하는 것입니다.
이 표현은 약간의 불만이나 짜증을 담고 있을 수 있으며, 상대방에게 자신의 말을 기억하고 따르기를 기대하는 뉘앙스를 전달합니다. 강조하고 싶은 부분은 "Didn't I tell you to"라는 표현이 과거에 이미 한 말을 상기시키고, 그 행동이 이루어지지 않았음을 지적하는 데 사용된다는 점입니다.
일상 대화에서 이 표현을 사용할 때는, 상대방이 요청을 잊었거나 무시한 것에 대한 실망감을 전달할 수 있으니 신중하게 사용하는 것이 좋습니다. 상대방과의 관계나 상황에 따라 이 표현이 다르게 받아들여질 수 있으므로, 맥락에 맞게 적절히 활용하는 것이 중요합니다.
Today's Sentences
- Didn’t I tell you to wear a hat?
- Didn’t I tell you to lock the door?
- Didn’t I tell you to mop the floor?
- Didn’t I tell you to wash the dishes?
- Didn’t I tell you to finish painting the walls?
- Writer's Note
01
Didn’t I tell you to wear a hat?
Situation 1
It’s really sunny today!
Didn’t I tell you to wear a hat?
I brought one, don’t worry.
Hats are a must when the weather is this clear and sunny.
Situation 2
Didn’t I tell you to wear a hat?
Yea, but I forgot to bring one.
Let’s see if we can buy one for you then.
I saw a vendor selling hats down the street.
02
Didn’t I tell you to lock the door?
Situation 1
Didn’t I tell you to lock the door?
I did.
Can you go check again?
Fine.
Situation 2
You know what?
I think the office doors are still open.
내 생각에 사무실 문이 아직 열려 있는 것 같아.
Didn’t I tell you to lock the door?
You did.
But I completely forgot to go back and lock it after the meeting.
하지만 회의 후에 돌아가서 잠그는 것을 완전히 잊어버렸어요.
I’ll drop by the office so you don't have to but next time I’d like you to double check please.
03
Didn’t I tell you to mop the floor?
Situation 1
The floors are so sticky.
Didn’t I tell you to mop the floor?
내가 바닥을 닦으라고 말하지 않았나요?
I was about to but then I spilt juice everywhere.
I’ll help you clean up.
Thanks.
Situation 2
These black marks are still here.
Didn’t I tell you to mop the floor?
바닥을 닦으라고 하지 않았나요?
I’ll do it right now.
Were there a lot of customers in this morning?
We had a weekday rush and also some deliveries that made more marks on the floor.
04
Didn’t I tell you to wash the dishes?
Situation 1
Why is the kitchen such a mess?
What mess?
Didn’t I tell you to wash the dishes?
I totally forgot, sorry.
Situation 2
Didn’t I tell you to wash the dishes?
I was busy and couldn’t get to it.
If you don’t wash the dishes the kitchen will start to smell bad.
I’ll try to be more responsible with the house chores.
05
Didn’t I tell you to finish painting the walls?
Situation 1
Didn’t I tell you to finish painting the walls?
I’m so tired from painting the rooms all day yesterday.
Once you open the can you should try to use it as soon as you can.
But I think I need a day of rest in between.
Situation 2
What’s up with this room?
Didn’t I tell you to finish painting the walls?
내가 벽 칠 작업 끝내라고 했잖아?
I just can’t anymore.
Why?
I started with excitement but now painting the house feels overwhelming.
Writer's Note
Say vs. Tell
"Say" and "tell" are both used to communicate information from one person to another. When using "say", you don't need to include whom the information was given by however, when using "tell" you must include "I/he/she/they/we".
*REMEMBER: "Say = said", "Tell = told"* Maintain the tense within the sentence.
Say/Said
- She says that she doesn't like pizza.
- I always say, 'Better safe than sorry'.
- He said that he'd come to visit me in the summer.
- We said what we said, no regrets.
- He said something in Spanish and it sounded heavenly.
Tell/Told
- I came to tell you that he didn't make it. I'm so sorry.
- If you see him, tell him I say hello.
- They told us to leave the property.
- He told them to come into work on their day off.
- I haven't told you the good news! I just got a book deal!
BONUS - Use two in the same sentence! She says she can't tell you because it's a secret.
Therefore this is why we don't use "Did I tell you" NOT "Did I say you" and "Didn't I tell you" NOT "Didn't I say you".