Introduction to Limiting Particles
Choosing Just One
In Korean, you can add special particles ( 보조사 ) to nouns to give them extra shades of meaning. This lesson covers three important particles that help you single something out from a group: 만 , 밖에 , and 뿐 .
All three can be translated as 'only' or 'just', but they are used in different grammatical situations and carry slightly different nuances.
The 'Only' Particle: 만
The Most Common 'Only': 만
만 is the most straightforward and common way to say 'only' in Korean. It attaches directly to a noun, pronoun, or even other particles.
How it Works
만 can either replace the basic subject ( 이/가 ) and object ( 을/를 ) particles, or it can be added after location or time particles like 에 or 에서 .
Original · With 만 · Meaning
학생이 와요. · 학생만 와요. · Only the student comes.
커피를 마셔요. · 커피만 마셔요. · I drink only coffee.
주말에 쉬어요. · 주말에만 쉬어요. · I rest only on the weekend.
Key Characteristic
The most important thing to remember is that 만 is neutral. It works perfectly with both positive and negative sentences.
저는 사과만 먹어요.
저는 사과만 안 먹어요.
'Nothing But': 밖에 + Negative
The 'Only' with a Rule: 밖에
밖에 also translates to 'only', but it has one very important rule that you must follow.
The Golden Rule: 밖에 must always be followed by a negative predicate.
A negative predicate includes verbs like 없다 (to not exist), 모르다 (to not know), or verbs combined with 안 (not) or 못 (cannot).
만 vs. 밖에
While the meaning is often similar, the sentence structure is opposite. Using 밖에 with a positive verb is a very common mistake for learners.
With 만 (Positive Verb) · With 밖에 (Negative Verb) · Meaning