-만 Particle

Category
Basic Grammar
Premium
Keyword #
Only
Lesson
3

TL;DR

  • -만 means "only" or "just" and emphasizes exclusivity 🎯
  • Attach it directly to nouns, numbers, or verb stems to limit your statement to that one thing ✨
  • It creates a natural contrast with everything else that's excluded 🚫

What is -만? πŸ€”

-만 is your "only" particle! πŸ’œ
It limits something to just one thing, person, amount, or action. Think of it like a spotlight πŸ”¦ β€” it highlights exactly what you're talking about while pushing everything else into the shadows.

How to Use It πŸ“

With Nouns 🏷️

Just stick -만 right after the noun! No space needed 😊
Pattern: Noun + 만
β†’ λ‚˜λ§Œ μ•Œμ•„μš”.
(Only I know.)
β†’ 물만 λ§ˆμ…”μš”.
(I drink only water.)
β†’ ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ§Œ κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”.
(I study only Korean.)

With Numbers & Counters πŸ”’

Perfect for talking about amounts! πŸ’°
β†’ 5λΆ„λ§Œ κΈ°λ‹€λ¦¬μ„Έμš”.
(Please wait only 5 minutes.)
β†’ ν•œ 개만 μ£Όμ„Έμš”.
(Please give me only one.)
β†’ 1,000μ›λ§Œ μžˆμ–΄μš”.
(I have only 1,000 won.)

With Verb Stems ⚑

You can attach -만 directly to verb stems too! This gets cool 🎨
Pattern: Verb stem + 기만 ν•˜λ‹€
β†’ 자기만 ν•΄μš”.
(I only sleep. / All I do is sleep.)
β†’ 먹기만 ν•΄μš”.
(I only eat.)

Common Combinations 🌟

μ΄κ²ƒλ§Œ / μ €κ²ƒλ§Œ / κ·Έκ²ƒλ§Œ

These are super useful! πŸ‘
β†’ μ΄κ²ƒλ§Œ μ£Όμ„Έμš”.
(Please give me only this.)
β†’ μ €κ²ƒλ§Œ ν•„μš”ν•΄μš”.
(I need only that.)

λ„ˆλ§Œ / λ‚˜λ§Œ / 우리만

Great for emphasizing specific people! πŸ‘₯
β†’ λ„ˆλ§Œ μ’‹μ•„ν•΄.
(I like only you.)
β†’ 우리만 μ•Œμ•„μš”.
(Only we know.)

The Contrast Effect 🎭

Here's the magic ✨ β€” when you use -만, you're automatically saying "NOT anything else!"
β†’ μ»€ν”Όλ§Œ λ§ˆμ…”μš”.
(I drink only coffee. = I don't drink tea, juice, etc.)
β†’ 주말만 μ‰¬μ–΄μš”.
(I rest only on weekends. = I work on weekdays.)
This implied contrast is super powerful in Korean! πŸ’ͺ

Position with Particles 🎯

When you're using -만 with other particles, -만 usually comes first! πŸ₯‡
β†’ λ¬Όλ§Œμ„ λ§ˆμ…”μš”. (less common)
β†’ 물만 λ§ˆμ…”μš”. (natural! βœ…)
β†’ μ„œμšΈλ§Œμ—μ„œ μ‚΄μ•„μš”. (❌)
β†’ μ„œμšΈμ—λ§Œ μ‚΄μ•„μš”. (βœ…)
Pro tip: With location particles like 에, μ—μ„œ, ν•œν…Œ, the -만 goes BEFORE them! πŸ”„
β†’ μ§‘μ—λ§Œ μžˆμ–΄μš”.
(I'm only at home.)
β†’ μΉœκ΅¬ν•œν…Œλ§Œ λ§ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
(I told only my friend.)

Exceptions ⚠️

There aren't really grammar exceptions with -만 β€” it's pretty consistent! πŸŽ‰
Just remember: Don't confuse -만 (only) with -λ§ˆλ‹€ (every) β€” they look similar but mean totally different things! πŸ‘€
β†’ μ›”μš”μΌλ§Œ = Only Monday
β†’ μ›”μš”μΌλ§ˆλ‹€ = Every Monday

Final Thoughts πŸ’­

-만 is one of the most useful particles you'll learn! 🌈
It's everywhere in daily conversation and super easy to use. Just slap it on whatever you want to emphasize as "the only one" and you're good to go! πŸš€
Happy learning! ν™”μ΄νŒ…! πŸ’ͺ✨
Β 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -만. πŸ“
Β 
  • μ €λŠ” 컀피___ λ§ˆμ…”μš”.
      • Answer
      μ €λŠ” μ»€ν”Όλ§Œ λ§ˆμ…”μš”.
Β 
Β 
  • μ˜€λŠ˜μ€ 사과___ μžˆμ–΄μš”.
      • Answer
      μ˜€λŠ˜μ€ μ‚¬κ³Όλ§Œ μžˆμ–΄μš”.
Β 
Β 
  • μ €λŠ” ν•œκ΅­μ–΄___ κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”.
      • Answer
      μ €λŠ” ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ§Œ κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”.
Β 
Β 
  • μ—¬κΈ°μ—μ„œ λ¬Ό___ λ§ˆμ‹€ 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”.
      • Answer
      μ—¬κΈ°μ—μ„œ 물만 λ§ˆμ‹€ 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”.
Β 
Β 
  • μš°λ¦¬λŠ” 주말에___ λ§Œλ‚˜μš”.
      • Answer
      μš°λ¦¬λŠ” μ£Όλ§μ—λ§Œ λ§Œλ‚˜μš”.
Β 
Β 
  • 이 κ°€κ²ŒλŠ” ν˜„κΈˆ___ λ°›μ•„μš”.
      • Answer
      이 κ°€κ²ŒλŠ” ν˜„κΈˆλ§Œ λ°›μ•„μš”.
Β 
Β 
  • μ €λŠ” μ§‘μ—μ„œ___ μΌν•΄μš”.
      • Answer
      μ €λŠ” μ§‘μ—μ„œλ§Œ μΌν•΄μš”.
Β 
Β 
  • κ·Έ μ‚¬λžŒμ€ μ±„μ†Œ___ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.
      • Answer
      κ·Έ μ‚¬λžŒμ€ μ±„μ†Œλ§Œ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.
Β 
Β 
  • μ €λŠ” μ–΄μ œ 두 μ‹œκ°„___ μž€μ–΄μš”.
      • Answer
      μ €λŠ” μ–΄μ œ 두 μ‹œκ°„λ§Œ μž€μ–΄μš”.
Β 
Β 
  • 이 책은 학생___ 읽을 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”.
      • Answer
      이 책은 ν•™μƒλ§Œ 읽을 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”.
Β 
Vocabulary
컀피 - coffee
λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€ - to drink
사과 - apple
μžˆλ‹€ - to exist, to have
ν•œκ΅­μ–΄ - Korean language
κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€ - to study
λ¬Ό - water
주말 - weekend
λ§Œλ‚˜λ‹€ - to meet
κ°€κ²Œ - store
ν˜„κΈˆ - cash
λ°›λ‹€ - to receive, to accept
집 - home
μΌν•˜λ‹€ - to work
μ±„μ†Œ - vegetables
λ¨Ήλ‹€ - to eat
μ‹œκ°„ - hour(s)
μžλ‹€ - to sleep
μ±… - book
학생 - student
읽닀 - to read
Common mistakes
  • 🚫 Forgetting that -만 attaches directly to the noun or particle without spacing
  • 🚫 Confusing -만 (only) with -도 (also/too) - they have opposite meanings
  • 🚫 Using -만 after both the subject and object when only one restriction is intended
  • 🚫 Placing -만 in the wrong position in the sentence - it should come right after what you want to limit
Β