Korean Grammar Bank

HOW TO SAY ONLY IN KOREAN

In this lesson we will learn how to use 만 in all its variations to express only in Korean.

Learning these sentence structures will help you communicate more precisely when something is unique or the sole focus of attention.

ONLY IN KOREAN WITH 만

Subject / Object + 만

만 can be placed after either subject or object/complement in the sentence.

PATTERN #1

Subject + 만 (+이)

When 만 is used with a subject, an article ‘이’ could be added as an option.

Both the following sentences have exactly the same meaning:

  • 어린이 입장이 가능하다.
  • 어린이만이 입장이 가능하다.
  • = only a child can enter.
View More Examples:
학부모만이 학교에 들어갈 수 있다.Only the parents of the children can enter the school.
이 가게에서는 유로 사용할 수 있다.We can use only Euros at this store.
이 학교에서는 영어 사용할 수 있You can use only English at this school.
PATTERN #2

Object+ 만 +을

When 만 is used as an object/complement, an article ‘을’ is added.

이 공원은 어린이만을 위한 곳이다

This park is only for children
View More Examples:
이 화장실은 여성만을 위한 것이다This bathroom is only for women.

When used with name of a person

PATTERN

Name + (이)만

Examples:

  • If name ends with a consonant: 유진이만 , where the name 유진 ends with a consonant ㄴ
  • If the name ends with a vowel: 지수만 , where the name 지수 ends with a vowel ㅜ
View More Examples:
수진이만 어제 저녁에 참석했다.Only Sujin came to the dinner yesterday.
지혜 숙제를 다 끝냈다.Only Ji-hye finished the homework.

When used with a place or time / day

PATTERN #1

Place / time / day + 에서만

에서만 is used to express only in this way = only ~at / in place / time / day.

과자는 식탁에서만 먹어야 한다.

You can eat the snack only at the table.
View More Examples:
올해는 프랑스에서만 여행할 계획이다.We will only travel in France this year.
PATTERN #2

Place / time / day + 까지만

까지만 is used to express only in this way = only ~ until place / time / day.

과제는 오늘까지만 제출할 수 있다.

The assignment can be submitted only until today
View More Examples:
1 월 까지만 휴가를 사용하기로 했다.I will use the paid leave only until January.

ONLY WITH 밖에 / 말고는 / 이외에는

The structure ‘noun + 밖에 / 말고는 / 이외에는’ is usually followed by a negative sentence, to
indicate that given action is not allowed for anyone else but for the ‘noun’ in the expression.

It is more like the use of ‘except or but’ in English.

PATTERN

Noun + 밖에 / 말고는 / 이외에는

For example, the three following sentences have the same meaning:

  • 이 공원에는 어린이밖에 못들어 간다.
  • 이 공원에는 어린이말고는 못들어 간다.
  • 이 공원에는 어린이 이외에는 못들어 간다.
  • = Nobody can enter this park except the children.
View More Examples:
여성밖에는 이 화장실을사용할 수 없다.Nobody can use this bathroom except women.
학부모밖에는 학교에 들어갈수 없다.Nobody can enter the school except the parents of the students.
이 가게에서는 유로밖에 사용할 수 없다.We cannot use any other currencies but euros at this store.
이 학교에서는 영어밖에는사용할 수 없다.We cannot use any other languages but English at this school.
그녀의 부모님밖에는 이 소식을 알지 못한다.Nobody knows about the news except her parents.
지혜 말고는 아무도 숙제를 끝내지 않았다.Nobody finished the homework except Ji-Hye.
수진이 이외에는 어제저녁에 아무도 오지 않았다Nobody came to dinner yesterday except Sujin.
올해는 프랑스 이외에는 여행하지 않을 것 이다We will not travel anywhere else but France this year.

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FAQs

How to use 만 to express only in Korean?

When used with a subject, the structure is:

Subject + 만 (+이)

어린이 입장이 가능하다. Only a child can enter.

When used with an object, the structure is:

Object+ 만 +을

이 화장실은 여성만을 위한 것이다. This bathroom is only for women.

Place / time / day + 에서만

올해는 프랑스에서만 여행할 계획이다. We will only travel in France this year.


Learn more about 만 in our free lesson.

How to use 밖에?

The structure ‘noun + 밖에’ is usually followed by a negative sentence, to indicate that given action is not allowed for anyone else but for the ‘noun’ in the expression.

It is more like the use of ‘except or but’ in English.

Examples:

이 가게에서는 유로밖에 사용할 수 없다.

We cannot use any other currencies but euros at this store.

녀의 부모님밖에는 이 소식을 알지 못한다.

Nobody knows about the news except her parents.

How to use 이외에는?

Just like 밖에, the structure with 이외에는 is usually followed by a negative sentence.

Noun + 이외에는

수진이 이외에는 어제저녁에 아무도 오지 않았다

Nobody came to dinner yesterday except Sujin.

올해는 프랑스 이외에는 여행하지 않을 것 이다

We will not travel anywhere else but France this year.

How to express purpose in Korean?

There are 3 sentence structures to express purpose in Korean, all meaning “in order to” in Korean.

#1 Verb + 려고 / 러

#2 Verb + 기 위해 / 기 위해서

#3 Noun + 을 / 를 + 위해 / 위해서

Learn more about purpose in Korean in this free lesson.

Where to find more lessons like this?

You can visit our Korean Grammar Bank for more lessons on levels A1, A2 and B1.

Can I study Korean with LTL?

Of course!

We offer courses abroad in Seoul with both group and individual classes, as well as online on our Flexi Classes platform.

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