TOPIK I: Particle Master - 만, 도, 부터, 까지

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TOPIK I Prep
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TL;DR
  • 만 means “only/just,” and limits the meaning to one person, thing, time, or amount.
  • 도 means “also/too/even,” and adds one more item to the same idea.
  • 부터 marks the start point, and 까지 marks the end point: time, place, or range.
🎧
🎧 Helper Note: Read the Korean examples aloud in pairs: 저만 가요 / 저도 가요, 아홉 시부터 / 다섯 시까지. TOPIK I listening often tests the small difference made by one particle.

🔑 The Big Picture

Particles are small, but they change the whole meaning of a TOPIK I sentence. The particles 만, 도, 부터, 까지 are especially common because they express:
  • Limitation: only this, only me, only today
  • Addition: also this, me too, even that
  • Range: from A to B, from morning to night, from Seoul to Busan
TOPIK I often tests these particles in short conversations, schedules, notices, invitations, and simple reading passages. Your goal is to notice the particle quickly and match the exact meaning.

🧩 Core Concepts / Patterns

1) N만 = only N

Use 만 after a noun, number, or time to mean only / just.
  • 저만 가요. = Only I go.
  • 물만 마셔요. = I drink only water.
  • 오늘만 쉬어요. = I rest only today.
  • 만 원만 있어요. = I have only 10,000 won.
만 can replace subject/topic/object particles in many simple sentences:
  • 제가 가요. → 저만 가요.
  • 사과를 먹어요. → 사과만 먹어요.

2) N도 = N too / also N / even N

Use 도 after a noun to add something to the same idea.
  • 저도 가요. = I go too.
  • 사과도 먹어요. = I eat apples too.
  • 한국어도 공부해요. = I study Korean too.
  • 주말에도 일해요. = I work even on weekends.
도 often means “too/also,” but in some contexts it means “even.”

3) N부터 = from N / starting at N

Use 부터 for the starting point of time, order, or sometimes place.
  • 아홉 시부터 공부해요. = I study from 9 o’clock.
  • 오늘부터 운동해요. = I exercise starting today.
  • 1쪽부터 읽으세요. = Please read from page 1.
  • 서울부터 부산까지 가요. = I go from Seoul to Busan.

4) N까지 = until N / to N / up to N

Use 까지 for the ending point of time, place, or range.
  • 다섯 시까지 일해요. = I work until 5 o’clock.
  • 학교까지 걸어가요. = I walk to school.
  • 여기까지 읽으세요. = Please read up to here.
  • 월요일부터 금요일까지 학교에 가요. = I go to school from Monday to Friday.

5) N부터 N까지 = from N to N

Use 부터 + 까지 together to show a complete range.
Range type
Korean
Meaning
Time
아홉 시부터 열두 시까지
from 9:00 to 12:00
Date/day
월요일부터 금요일까지
from Monday to Friday
Place
집부터 학교까지
from home to school
Order
1번부터 10번까지
from number 1 to number 10

6) Meaning contrast: 만 vs 도

This is a major TOPIK trap.
  • 민수 씨만 왔어요. = Only Minsu came.
  • 민수 씨도 왔어요. = Minsu came too.
  • 커피만 마셔요. = I drink only coffee.
  • 커피도 마셔요. = I drink coffee too.
One particle changes whether the sentence limits or adds information.

✅ Exam Strategy

What TOPIK I usually checks

  1. Exact meaning
      • 만 = only
      • 도 = also/too/even
      • 부터 = from/starting
      • 까지 = until/to/up to
  1. Schedule interpretation
      • 오전 9시부터 오후 6시까지 = from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
      • 오늘부터 = starting today
      • 내일까지 = by/until tomorrow
  1. Quantity or limitation
      • 두 개만 = only two
      • 천 원만 = only 1,000 won
  1. Inclusion
      • 친구도 = friend too
      • 주말에도 = even on the weekend
  1. Range
      • 서울부터 부산까지 = from Seoul to Busan

Fast solving method

  • Circle or mentally mark the particle.
  • Ask one question:
    • 만: What is limited?
    • 도: What is added?
    • 부터: Where/when does it start?
    • 까지: Where/when does it end?
  • If both 부터 and 까지 appear, identify the full range before choosing an answer.

⚠️ Pitfalls

Pitfall 1: Treating 만 and 도 as similar

They are opposites in exam logic:
  • 저만 먹어요. = Only I eat.
  • 저도 먹어요. = I eat too.

Pitfall 2: Missing the end point

  • 3시부터 = from 3 o’clock
  • 3시까지 = until 3 o’clock
If you confuse them, the schedule answer will be wrong.

Pitfall 3: Translating 까지 only as “to”

까지 can mean “to,” “until,” or “up to” depending on the noun:
  • 학교까지 = to school
  • 내일까지 = until/by tomorrow
  • 10번까지 = up to number 10

Pitfall 4: Ignoring 도 with time words

  • 오늘도 = today too
  • 주말에도 = even on the weekend / on weekends too
  • 내일도 = tomorrow too

Pitfall 5: Forgetting that particles replace other markers

You usually do not say 저는도 or 사과를만 in standard TOPIK I grammar. Use:
  • 저도
  • 저만
  • 사과도
  • 사과만
🧪
Practice Hub: Particle Master Drill — 50 TOPIK I-style Questions

Exercise 1 — Choose the correct particle

Choose the best particle to complete each sentence.
  1. 저는 커피___ 마셔요. 차는 안 마셔요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. 민수 씨가 가요. 저___ 가요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. 수업은 아홉 시___ 시작해요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. 숙제는 내일___ 하세요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. 월요일___ 금요일까지 학교에 가요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. 저는 사과___ 먹어요. 배도 먹어요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. 집___ 학교까지 걸어가요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. 여기___ 읽으세요. 다음 쪽은 읽지 마세요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. 오늘은 저___ 집에 있어요. 가족은 밖에 갔어요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. 한국어___ 공부해요. 일본어도 공부해요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
Answer
1) 1 — “차는 안 마셔요” shows limitation: coffee only.
2) 2 — Another person goes, and I go too.
3) 3 — A start time uses 부터.
4) 4 — A deadline/end point uses 까지.
5) 3 — The range begins on Monday: 월요일부터 금요일까지.
6) 2 — “배도” shows addition; apples too.
7) 3 — The starting place is home.
8) 4 — “Up to here” uses 여기까지.
9) 1 — Only I am home; family members went out.
10) 2 — Japanese is also studied, so Korean also fits.

Exercise 2 — Meaning check

Choose the best English meaning.
  1. 저만 왔어요.
      2. 1) I came too. 2) Only I came. 3) I came from there. 4) I came until today.
  1. 저도 왔어요.
      2. 1) I came too. 2) Only I came. 3) I came first. 4) I came late.
  1. 아홉 시부터 공부해요.
      2. 1) I study until 9. 2) I study from 9. 3) I study only at 9. 4) I study at 9 too.
  1. 다섯 시까지 일해요.
      2. 1) I work from 5. 2) I work only at 5. 3) I work until 5. 4) I work at 5 too.
  1. 물만 마셔요.
      2. 1) I drink water too. 2) I drink only water. 3) I drink from water. 4) I drink until water.
  1. 물도 마셔요.
      2. 1) I drink water too. 2) I drink only water. 3) I do not drink water. 4) I drink water first.
  1. 서울부터 부산까지 가요.
      2. 1) I go only to Seoul. 2) I go from Seoul to Busan. 3) I go to Seoul too. 4) I go until Seoul.
  1. 오늘부터 운동해요.
      2. 1) I exercise only today. 2) I exercise starting today. 3) I exercise until today. 4) I exercise today too.
  1. 내일까지 보내세요.
      2. 1) Please send it by tomorrow. 2) Please send it from tomorrow. 3) Please send only tomorrow. 4) Please send tomorrow too.
  1. 주말에도 일해요.
      2. 1) I work only on weekends. 2) I work even on weekends. 3) I work from weekends. 4) I work until weekends.
Answer
11) 2 — 만 means only.
12) 1 — 도 means too/also.
13) 2 — 부터 marks the starting time.
14) 3 — 까지 marks the ending time.
15) 2 — 물만 means water only.
16) 1 — 물도 means water too.
17) 2 — 부터…까지 marks from Seoul to Busan.
18) 2 — 오늘부터 means starting today.
19) 1 — 내일까지 means by/until tomorrow.
20) 2 — 주말에도 can mean even on weekends.

Exercise 3 — Dialogue completion

Choose the best response.
  1. A: 누가 파티에 왔어요?
    B: 민수 씨___ 왔어요. 다른 사람은 안 왔어요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. A: 수미 씨도 커피를 마셔요?
    B: 네, 수미 씨___ 커피를 마셔요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. A: 수업이 언제 시작해요?
    B: 열 시___ 시작해요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. A: 몇 시까지 기다릴까요?
    B: 세 시___ 기다리세요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. A: 어디까지 가세요?
    B: 서울역___ 가요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. A: 책을 몇 권 샀어요?
    B: 한 권___ 샀어요. 돈이 없었어요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. A: 오늘도 일해요?
    B: 네, 오늘___ 일해요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. A: 언제부터 한국어를 배웠어요?
    B: 작년___ 배웠어요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. A: 어디에서 어디까지 걸었어요?
    B: 집___ 학교까지 걸었어요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
  1. A: 이 문제만 풀어요?
    B: 아니요, 1번부터 10번___ 푸세요.
      2. 1) 만 2) 도 3) 부터 4) 까지
Answer
21) 1 — “다른 사람은 안 왔어요” means only Minsu came.
22) 2 — Sumi also drinks coffee.
23) 3 — Starting time uses 부터.
24) 4 — Ending time uses 까지.
25) 4 — Destination/end point uses 까지.
26) 1 — Only one book was bought.
27) 2 — 오늘도 means today too.
28) 3 — 작년부터 means since/from last year.
29) 3 — The route starts at home.
30) 4 — The range ends at number 10.

Exercise 4 — TOPIK-style reading

Read the sentence and choose what is true.
  1. 저는 아침에 빵만 먹었어요.
      2. 1) I ate only bread. 2) I ate bread too. 3) I ate from morning. 4) I ate until morning.
  1. 동생도 시장에 갔어요.
      2. 1) Only my younger sibling went. 2) My younger sibling also went. 3) My younger sibling went from the market. 4) My younger sibling went to the market only.
  1. 회의는 두 시부터 네 시까지입니다.
      2. 1) The meeting starts at 4. 2) The meeting is from 2 to 4. 3) The meeting is only at 2. 4) The meeting is until 2.
  1. 이 가게는 월요일부터 토요일까지 문을 엽니다.
      2. 1) The store opens only Monday. 2) The store opens from Monday to Saturday. 3) The store opens from Saturday. 4) The store opens until Monday.
  1. 오늘은 물만 사세요.
      2. 1) Buy only water today. 2) Buy water too today. 3) Buy water from today. 4) Buy water until today.
  1. 저는 한국 음식도 좋아해요.
      2. 1) I like only Korean food. 2) I like Korean food too. 3) I like food from Korea only. 4) I liked Korean food until today.
  1. 여기부터 읽으세요.
      2. 1) Read from here. 2) Read up to here. 3) Read only here. 4) Read here too.
  1. 여기까지 쓰세요.
      2. 1) Write from here. 2) Write up to here. 3) Write only here. 4) Write here too.
  1. 만 원만 있어요.
      2. 1) I have 10,000 won too. 2) I have only 10,000 won. 3) I have from 10,000 won. 4) I have until 10,000 won.
  1. 주말에도 도서관에 가요.
      2. 1) I go only on weekends. 2) I go to the library on weekends too. 3) I go from the weekend. 4) I go until the weekend.
Answer
31) 1 — 빵만 means only bread.
32) 2 — 동생도 means younger sibling too.
33) 2 — 두 시부터 네 시까지 means from 2 to 4.
34) 2 — 월요일부터 토요일까지 means Monday through Saturday.
35) 1 — 물만 means water only.
36) 2 — 한국 음식도 means Korean food too.
37) 1 — 여기부터 means from here.
38) 2 — 여기까지 means up to here.
39) 2 — 만 원만 means only 10,000 won.
40) 2 — 주말에도 means on weekends too/even on weekends.

Exercise 5 — Error correction and logic

Choose the best sentence or interpretation.
  1. Which sentence means “Only Jisoo studies Korean”?
      2. 1) 지수 씨도 한국어를 공부해요. 2) 지수 씨만 한국어를 공부해요. 3) 지수 씨부터 한국어를 공부해요. 4) 지수 씨까지 한국어를 공부해요.
  1. Which sentence means “Jisoo also studies Korean”?
      2. 1) 지수 씨만 한국어를 공부해요. 2) 지수 씨도 한국어를 공부해요. 3) 지수 씨부터 한국어를 공부해요. 4) 지수 씨까지 한국어를 공부해요.
  1. Which is correct for “from 8 to 10”?
      2. 1) 여덟 시만 열 시도 2) 여덟 시도 열 시만 3) 여덟 시부터 열 시까지 4) 여덟 시까지 열 시부터
  1. Which is correct for “until tomorrow”?
      2. 1) 내일부터 2) 내일도 3) 내일만 4) 내일까지
  1. Which is correct for “starting today”?
      2. 1) 오늘부터 2) 오늘까지 3) 오늘만 4) 오늘도
  1. A notice says: “금요일까지 신청하세요.” What should you do?
      2. 1) Apply by Friday. 2) Apply from Friday. 3) Apply only Friday. 4) Apply Friday too.
  1. A friend says: “저는 커피도 마셔요.” What is true?
      2. 1) The friend drinks only coffee. 2) The friend drinks coffee too. 3) The friend drinks from coffee. 4) The friend drinks until coffee.
  1. A sign says: “입구부터 줄을 서세요.” Where does the line start?
      2. 1) At the entrance. 2) Until the entrance. 3) Only at the entrance. 4) Also at the entrance.
  1. Which sentence is natural?
      2. 1) 저는도 가요. 2) 저도 가요. 3) 제가도 가요. 4) 저를도 가요.
  1. Which sentence is natural?
      2. 1) 사과를만 먹어요. 2) 사과만 먹어요. 3) 사과가만 먹어요. 4) 사과는만 먹어요.
Answer
41) 2 — 만 gives the meaning “only.”
42) 2 — 도 gives the meaning “also/too.”
43) 3 — From A to B is A부터 B까지.
44) 4 — Until/by tomorrow is 내일까지.
45) 1 — Starting today is 오늘부터.
46) 1 — 금요일까지 means by/until Friday.
47) 2 — 커피도 means coffee too.
48) 1 — 입구부터 means starting at the entrance.
49) 2 — 도 replaces the subject/topic particle: 저도.
50) 2 — 만 replaces the object particle: 사과만.

🧭 Final Review

Memorize these four quick meanings:
  • 만 = only
  • 도 = also / too / even
  • 부터 = from / starting
  • 까지 = until / to / up to
On TOPIK I, do not ignore small particles. One syllable can decide the correct answer.