💎

Worthiness: -(으)ㄹ 만하다

Keywords
만하다
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Intermediate Grammar
🎯
TL;DR 🦄
  • 💎 -(으)ㄹ 만하다 [-(eu)l man-ha-da] means worth doing, deserving of doing, good enough to do, or bearable/doable enough.
  • 👍 Use it for reviews, recommendations, trust, value judgments, and “not perfect, but acceptable” situations.
  • ✍️ Learner-safe spacing: write it with a space before 만하다: 볼 만해요, 먹을 만해요, 믿을 만해요.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets
and type 볼 만해요, 먹을 만해요, 믿을 만해요, 참을 만해요, and 읽을 만한 책이에요 to hear how 만하다 attaches after the future modifier form. 🎧
 

🌈 The Big Picture

-(으)ㄹ 만하다 is a very useful Korean pattern for saying something has enough value, quality, reason, or possibility to do.
 
It often feels like:
  • “worth watching / reading / visiting”
  • “good enough to eat / use / buy”
  • “trustworthy / worth trusting”
  • “bearable / tolerable”
  • “understandable / reasonable”
 
Examples:
  • 이 영화는 볼 만해요.
    • [i yeong-hwa-neun bol man-hae-yo] — This movie is worth watching. 🎬
      영화 = movie; 보다 = to watch/see.
  • 그 식당은 가 볼 만해요.
    • [geu sik-dang-eun ga bol man-hae-yo] — That restaurant is worth checking out. 🍽️
      식당 = restaurant; 가 보다 = to go and try/check out.
  • 그 사람은 믿을 만해요.
    • [geu sa-ra-meun mi-deul man-hae-yo] — That person is trustworthy / worth trusting. 🤝
      사람 = person; 믿다 = to believe/trust.
 
The pattern is especially common in reviews: food, movies, books, places, apps, information, and experiences. It is also a polite way to say “decent enough” without overselling it. 🧃

🎨 The Core -(으)ㄹ 만하다 Family

1. Vowel stem + ㄹ 만하다

Use this when the verb stem ends in a vowel.
  • 보다 [bo-da] — to watch/see → 볼 만해요 — worth watching/seeing
  • 가다 [ga-da] — to go → 갈 만해요 — worth going / possible to go
  • 사다 [sa-da] — to buy → 살 만해요 — worth buying / affordable enough
  • 쓰다 [sseu-da] — to use/write → 쓸 만해요 — worth using / usable
 

2. Consonant stem + 을 만하다

Use this when the verb stem ends in a consonant.
  • 먹다 [meok-da] — to eat → 먹을 만해요 — worth eating / edible enough
  • 읽다 [ik-da] — to read → 읽을 만해요 — worth reading
  • 참다 [cham-da] — to endure → 참을 만해요 — bearable
  • 믿다 [mit-da] — to believe/trust → 믿을 만해요 — trustworthy
 

3. ㄹ-ending stems: keep + 만하다

Do not add another .
  • 만들다 [man-deul-da] — to make → 만들 만해요 — worth making / possible to make
  • 놀다 [nol-da] — to hang out/play → 놀 만해요 — worth hanging out / playable enough
  • 살다 [sal-da] — to live → 살 만해요 — livable / worth living in
 

4. Irregulars and common forms

Some verbs change before -(으)ㄹ 만하다.
  • 듣다 [deut-da] — to listen → 들을 만해요 — worth listening to
  • 걷다 [geot-da] — to walk → 걸을 만해요 — walkable / worth walking
  • 돕다 [dop-da] — to help → 도울 만해요 — worth helping / possible to help
  • 짓다 [jit-da] — to build/make → 지을 만해요 — worth building/making
 

5. Before a noun: -(으)ㄹ 만한 N

Use 만한 before a noun.
  • 볼 만한 영화 — a movie worth watching
  • 읽을 만한 책 — a book worth reading
  • 믿을 만한 정보 — trustworthy information
  • 걸을 만한 거리 — a walkable distance

🛠️ How It Works in a Sentence

-(으)ㄹ 만하다 can sound like a recommendation, a review, or a judgment that something is reasonable enough.
 
Examples:
  • 이 책은 조금 길지만 읽을 만해요.
    • [i chae-geun jo-geum gil-ji-man il-geul man-hae-yo] — This book is a little long, but it is worth reading. 📘
      = book; 조금 = a little; 길다 = to be long.
  • 이 정도 통증은 참을 만해요.
    • [i jeong-do tong-jeung-eun cha-meul man-hae-yo] — This level of pain is bearable. 🩹
      이 정도 = this level/degree; 통증 = pain.
  • 그 자료는 참고할 만해요.
    • [geu ja-ryo-neun cham-go-hal man-hae-yo] — That material is worth referencing. 📌
      자료 = material/data; 참고하다 = to refer to.

🧩 General Formation Rule

Vowel stems

Remove , then add ㄹ 만해요.
  • 보다볼 만해요
  • 가다갈 만해요
  • 사다살 만해요
  • 쓰다쓸 만해요
 

Consonant stems

Remove , then add 을 만해요.
  • 먹다먹을 만해요
  • 읽다읽을 만해요
  • 참다참을 만해요
  • 믿다믿을 만해요
 

ㄹ stems

Keep the existing , then add 만해요.
  • 만들다만들 만해요
  • 놀다놀 만해요
  • 살다살 만해요
 

Common sentence forms

  • 볼 만해요. — It is worth watching.
  • 볼 만했어요. — It was worth watching.
  • 볼 만할 거예요. — It will probably be worth watching.
  • 볼 만하지 않아요. — It is not worth watching.
  • 볼 만한 영화예요. — It is a movie worth watching.
✍️
Spacing note
For clean learner writing, put a space before 만하다:
  • 볼 만해요
  • 먹을 만해요
  • 믿을 만한 정보예요
  • 볼만 해요
  • 먹을만해요

🚨 Nuance: Worth It, Decent, Doable, or Bearable?

-(으)ㄹ 만하다 has a useful range.
 

Worth doing

  • 이 전시회는 볼 만해요.
    • [i jeon-si-hoe-neun bol man-hae-yo] — This exhibition is worth seeing. 🖼️
 

Decent / good enough

  • 음식은 먹을 만해요.
    • [eum-si-geun meo-geul man-hae-yo] — The food is edible/decent enough. 🍜
      This can be mild praise, not “amazing.”
 

Doable / possible enough

  • 혼자 할 만해요.
    • [hon-ja hal man-hae-yo] — It is doable alone. 💪
 

Bearable / tolerable

  • 춥지만 견딜 만해요.
    • [chup-ji-man gyeon-dil man-hae-yo] — It is cold, but bearable. 🧥
 
Context decides the exact English translation. Korean loves a multitool. This one is a Swiss Army spoon. 🥄

🔍 -(으)ㄹ 만하다 vs Related Grammar

-(으)ㄹ 만하다

Natural review, value judgment, or “enough to do.”
  • 이 영화는 볼 만해요. — This movie is worth watching / decent.
 

-(으)ㄹ 가치가 있다

Stronger and more formal: “has value to do.”
  • 이 책은 읽을 가치가 있어요. — This book has value / is worth reading.
 

-(으)ㄹ 수 있다

Ability or possibility, without the “worth/decent” feeling.
  • 혼자 할 수 있어요. — I can do it alone / it is possible to do alone.
 

괜찮다

General “okay/fine,” less specific than worth doing.
  • 그 식당은 괜찮아요. — That restaurant is okay.
 

Noun + 만 하다

Comparison: “as big/much as.”
  • 집만 해요. — It is as big as a house.
 
Do not confuse 볼 만해요 “worth seeing” with noun-comparison 집만 해요 “as big as a house.” Same-looking pieces, different grammar beast. 🐾

📚 Cross-check note

This lesson was checked against korean.go.kr. Their guidance treats 만하다 in this pattern as a supporting adjective after the adnominal form -(으)ㄹ, with spacing as the principle and attached writing sometimes allowed in supporting-verb cases. For learner clarity, this lesson consistently uses the spaced form: 볼 만하다, 먹을 만하다, 믿을 만하다. ✅

🪞 Synonym Alert

Possible English translations:
  • “worth...” → 볼 만해요. — It is worth watching.
  • “decent enough...” → 먹을 만해요. — It is good enough to eat.
  • “doable...” → 혼자 할 만해요. — It is doable alone.
  • “bearable...” → 참을 만해요. — It is bearable.
  • “trustworthy...” → 믿을 만해요. — It is trustworthy.
 
Useful review words:
  • 한 번 — once
  • 가 보다 — to go and try/check out
  • 해 보다 — to try doing
  • 생각해 보다 — to think over
  • 참고하다 — to refer to

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • 먹는 만해요 → ✅ 먹을 만해요. Use -(으)ㄹ, not -는.
  • 읽는 만해요 → ✅ 읽을 만해요.
  • 듣을 만해요 → ✅ 들을 만해요. 듣다 is ㄷ-irregular here.
  • 걷을 만해요 → ✅ 걸을 만해요. 걷다 is ㄷ-irregular here.
  • ❌ Assuming 먹을 만해요 always means “delicious” → ✅ It can mean “edible/decent enough.”
 
🎉 Now you can review things naturally in Korean: 볼 만해요, 가 볼 만해요, 믿을 만해요, 참을 만해요. Worthiness grammar unlocked. 💎✨
 

Try this exercise

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct -(으)ㄹ 만하다 form. Say the full sentence aloud, then check the Answer toggle for the meaning and form.
1. 보다 → 이 영화는 ____.
[bo-da → i yeong-hwa-neun ____]
This movie is worth watching. 🎬
Answer
볼 만해요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 만해요.
2. 먹다 → 이 음식은 ____.
[meok-da → i eum-si-geun ____]
This food is worth eating / edible enough. 🍜
Answer
먹을 만해요 — consonant stem + 을 만해요.
3. 읽다 → 이 책은 ____.
[ik-da → i chae-geun ____]
This book is worth reading. 📘
Answer
읽을 만해요.
4. 참다 → 이 정도는 ____.
[cham-da → i jeong-do-neun ____]
This level is bearable. 😌
Answer
참을 만해요.
5. 믿다 → 그 사람은 ____.
[mit-da → geu sa-ra-meun ____]
That person is trustworthy. 🤝
Answer
믿을 만해요.
6. 듣다 → 이 노래는 ____.
[deut-da → i no-rae-neun ____]
This song is worth listening to. 🎧
Answer
들을 만해요 — ㄷ-irregular: 듣다들을.
7. 걷다 → 역까지 ____ 거리예요.
[geot-da → yeok-kka-ji ____ geo-ri-ye-yo]
It is a walkable distance to the station. 🚉
Answer
걸을 만한 — before a noun, use 만한.
8. Choose the learner-safe spacing:
볼 만해요 / ② 볼만 해요
Answer
볼 만해요 — spaced form is learner-safe.
9. 먹을 만해요 can mean:
Answer
It is worth eating / edible or decent enough — not always “delicious.”
10. -(으)ㄹ 만하다 is strongest when:
Answer
Something has enough value, quality, or possibility to do: worth doing, doable, or bearable.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 보다 → to watch/see
  • 영화 → movie
  • 먹다 → to eat
  • 음식 → food
  • 읽다 → to read
  • → book
  • 참다 → to endure
  • 이 정도 → this level/degree
  • 믿다 → to believe/trust
  • 사람 → person
  • 듣다 → to listen
  • 노래 → song
  • 걷다 → to walk
  • → station
  • 거리 → distance
Tip 💡 만해요 ends a sentence; 만한 describes a noun.

🚀
Want more reps? The Practice Hub below gives you a full worthiness workout. 💎
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Worthiness: -(으)ㄹ 만하다
 
Welcome to the worthiness lab. 💎 You’ll practice making recommendations, judging whether something is decent enough, saying a task is doable, and describing things as trustworthy or bearable. By the end, you’ll be able to review movies, cafés, books, apps, distances, and people without sounding like a robot critic with a clipboard. 🤖📝
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets
whenever you want to hear a sentence aloud.
 
📝 Instructions: Complete each sentence with the right -(으)ㄹ 만하다 form. Watch for vowel stems, consonant stems, ㄹ stems, irregular verbs, sentence-ending 만해요, and noun-modifying 만한.
 

Exercise 1 — Form Builder 🔧

A. 보다 → 이 드라마는 ____.
[bo-da → i deu-ra-ma-neun ____]
This drama is worth watching. 📺
Answer
볼 만해요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 만해요.
B. 가다 → 제주도는 한 번 ____.
[ga-da → je-ju-do-neun han beon ____]
Jeju Island is worth going to once. 🏝️
Answer
갈 만해요.
C. 사다 → 이 가방은 ____.
[sa-da → i ga-bang-eun ____]
This bag is worth buying. 👜
Answer
살 만해요.
D. 쓰다 → 이 앱은 ____.
[sseu-da → i ae-beun ____]
This app is worth using / usable. 📱
Answer
쓸 만해요.
E. 먹다 → 이 빵은 ____.
[meok-da → i ppang-eun ____]
This bread is worth eating / decent enough. 🍞
Answer
먹을 만해요 — consonant stem + 을 만해요.
F. 읽다 → 이 글은 ____.
[ik-da → i geu-reun ____]
This article is worth reading. 📄
Answer
읽을 만해요.
G. 만들다 → 이 케이크는 ____.
[man-deul-da → i ke-i-keu-neun ____]
This cake is worth making. 🍰
Answer
만들 만해요 — ㄹ stem keeps .
H. 놀다 → 이 공원은 ____.
[nol-da → i gong-wo-neun ____]
This park is worth hanging out in. 🌳
Answer
놀 만해요.
I. 듣다 → 이 강의는 ____.
[deut-da → i gang-ui-neun ____]
This lecture is worth listening to. 🎧
Answer
들을 만해요 — ㄷ-irregular.
J. 걷다 → 이 길은 ____.
[geot-da → i gi-reun ____]
This road/path is worth walking. 🚶
Answer
걸을 만해요 — ㄷ-irregular.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 드라마 → drama/show
  • 제주도 → Jeju Island
  • 한 번 → once
  • 가방 → bag
  • → app
  • → bread
  • → writing/article
  • 케이크 → cake
  • 공원 → park
  • 강의 → lecture
  • → road/path
Tip 💡 Vowel → ㄹ 만해요, consonant → 을 만해요, ㄹ stem → keep + 만해요.
 

Exercise 2 — Reviews and Recommendations 👍

A. 그 카페는 가 ____.
[geu ka-pe-neun ga ____]
That café is worth checking out. ☕
Answer
볼 만해요가 볼 만해요 = worth going to try/check out.
B. 이 전시회는 ____.
[i jeon-si-hoe-neun ____]
This exhibition is worth seeing. 🖼️
Answer
볼 만해요.
C. 이 박물관은 가 ____.
[i bang-mul-gwa-neun ga ____]
This museum is worth visiting. 🏛️
Answer
볼 만해요.
D. 이 노래는 ____.
[i no-rae-neun ____]
This song is worth listening to. 🎵
Answer
들을 만해요.
E. 이 게임은 한 번 해 ____.
[i ge-i-meun han beon hae ____]
This game is worth trying once. 🎮
Answer
볼 만해요해 볼 만해요 = worth trying.
F. 그 제품은 ____.
[geu je-pu-meun ____]
That product is worth buying. 🛍️
Answer
살 만해요.
G. 이 자료는 ____.
[i ja-ryo-neun ____]
This material is worth referencing. 📌
Answer
참고할 만해요.
H. 이 정보는 ____.
[i jeong-bo-neun ____]
This information is trustworthy / worth trusting. 🔐
Answer
믿을 만해요.
I. 이곳은 사진을 찍을 ____ 곳이에요.
[i-go-seun sa-ji-neul jji-geul ____ go-si-e-yo]
This is a place worth taking photos. 📷
Answer
만한찍을 만한 곳 modifies .
J. 그 공연은 볼 ____ 공연이에요.
[geu gong-yeo-neun bol ____ gong-yeo-ni-e-yo]
That performance is a performance worth watching. 🎭
Answer
만한.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 카페 → café
  • 전시회 → exhibition
  • 박물관 → museum
  • 게임 → game
  • 해 보다 → to try doing
  • 제품 → product
  • 자료 → material/data
  • 정보 → information
  • 사진을 찍다 → to take a photo
  • → place
  • 공연 → performance
Tip 💡 가 볼 만해요 and 해 볼 만해요 are review-power phrases.
 

Exercise 3 — Doable, Bearable, Trustworthy 💪

A. 혼자 할 ____.
[hon-ja hal ____]
It is doable alone. 💪
Answer
만해요.
B. 이 통증은 참을 ____.
[i tong-jeung-eun cha-meul ____]
This pain is bearable. 🩹
Answer
만해요.
C. 춥지만 견딜 ____.
[chup-ji-man gyeon-dil ____]
It is cold, but bearable. 🧥
Answer
만해요.
D. 이 문제는 풀 ____.
[i mun-je-neun pul ____]
This problem is solvable / doable. 🧩
Answer
만해요.
E. 역까지 걸을 ____ 거리예요.
[yeok-kka-ji geo-reul ____ geo-ri-ye-yo]
It is a walkable distance to the station. 🚉
Answer
만한.
F. 기다릴 ____ 일이에요.
[gi-da-ril ____ i-ri-e-yo]
It is something worth waiting for. ⏳
Answer
만한.
G. 이 설명은 이해할 ____.
[i seol-myeong-eun i-hae-hal ____]
This explanation is understandable. 💡
Answer
만해요.
H. 그 선택은 생각해 볼 ____.
[geu seon-tae-geun saeng-ga-kae bol ____]
That choice is worth thinking over. 🤔
Answer
만해요.
I. 그 사람은 믿을 ____ 사람이에요.
[geu sa-ra-meun mi-deul ____ sa-ra-mi-e-yo]
That person is a person worth trusting. 🤝
Answer
만한.
J. 이 계획은 도울 ____.
[i gye-hoe-geun do-ul ____]
This plan is worth helping with. 🧭
Answer
만해요돕다도울.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 혼자 → alone
  • 하다 → to do
  • 통증 → pain
  • 춥다 → to be cold
  • 견디다 → to endure/bear
  • 풀다 → to solve
  • 기다리다 → to wait
  • → thing/work/matter
  • 설명 → explanation
  • 이해하다 → to understand
  • 선택 → choice
  • 생각해 보다 → to think over
  • 계획 → plan
  • 돕다 → to help
Tip 💡 만하다 can mean worth doing, doable, bearable, or trustworthy.
 

Exercise 4 — Spacing, Modifier, and Meaning 🧱

A. Choose the learner-safe spacing:
볼 만해요 / ② 볼만 해요
Answer
볼 만해요.
B. Choose the learner-safe spacing:
먹을 만해요 / ② 먹을만 해요
Answer
먹을 만해요.
C. 읽을 ____ 책이에요.
[il-geul ____ chae-gi-e-yo]
It is a book worth reading. 📘
Answer
만한.
D. 믿을 ____ 정보예요.
[mi-deul ____ jeong-bo-ye-yo]
It is trustworthy information. 🔐
Answer
만한.
E. 볼 ____ 않아요.
[bol ____ a-na-yo]
It is not worth watching. 🎬
Answer
만하지볼 만하지 않아요.
F. 갈 ____.
[gal ____]
It was worth going. 🚶
Answer
만했어요.
G. 해 볼 ____.
[hae bol ____]
It will probably be worth trying. 🧪
Answer
만할 거예요.
H. Choose “as big as a house”:
집만 해요 / ② 집 만해요
Answer
집만 해요 — noun + 만 하다 comparison.
I. 먹을 만해요 can sound like:
Answer
Worth eating / edible / decent enough — context decides how enthusiastic it sounds.
J. 믿을 만해요 means:
Answer
Trustworthy / worth trusting, not simply “I believe.”
🧭
Decision Box
  • 볼 만해요 → worth watching
  • 볼 만한 영화 → movie worth watching
  • 볼 만하지 않아요 → not worth watching
  • 볼 만했어요 → was worth watching
  • 집만 해요 → as big as a house
Tip 💡 Verb + 만하다 and noun + 만 하다 are different patterns.
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 먹는 만해요 → ✅ ____
[meong-neun man-hae-yo → ____]
Fix the worthiness form. 🍜
Answer
먹을 만해요 — use -(으)ㄹ, not -는.
B. ❌ 읽는 만해요 → ✅ ____
[ing-neun man-hae-yo → ____]
Fix the reading form. 📘
Answer
읽을 만해요.
C. ❌ 듣을 만해요 → ✅ ____
[deu-deul man-hae-yo → ____]
Fix the ㄷ-irregular. 🎧
Answer
들을 만해요.
D. ❌ 걷을 만해요 → ✅ ____
[geo-deul man-hae-yo → ____]
Fix the ㄷ-irregular. 🚶
Answer
걸을 만해요.
E. ❌ 만들을 만해요 → ✅ ____
[man-deu-reul man-hae-yo → ____]
Fix the ㄹ-stem form. 🛠️
Answer
만들 만해요 — keep ; do not add .
F. ❌ 볼만 해요 → ✅ ____
[bol-man hae-yo → ____]
Fix the learner-safe spacing. ✍️
Answer
볼 만해요.
G. ❌ 먹을 만해요 always means “delicious” → ✅ ____
Answer
It can mean “worth eating,” but also “edible/decent enough.”
H. ❌ 집 만해요 for “as big as a house” → ✅ ____
Answer
집만 해요 — comparison with a noun.
I. 그 자료는 참고할 ____.
[geu ja-ryo-neun cham-go-hal ____]
That material is worth referencing. 📌
Answer
만해요.
J. -(으)ㄹ 만하다 is strongest when:
Answer
You want to say something is worth doing, decent enough, doable, bearable, or trustworthy.
📚
Final Check
  • 볼 만해요 → worth watching
  • 먹을 만해요 → worth eating / edible
  • 읽을 만해요 → worth reading
  • 들을 만해요 → worth listening to
  • 걸을 만해요 → walkable / worth walking
  • 만들 만해요 → worth making / possible to make
  • 참고하다 → to refer to
  • → house/home
Tip 💡 The magic piece is -(으)ㄹ: 먹을, 읽을, 들을, 걸을.
 
🎉 Worthiness mastered! With -(으)ㄹ 만하다, you can make natural reviews and recommendations: 볼 만해요, 가 볼 만해요, 믿을 만해요, 참을 만해요. Review Korean unlocked. 💎✨