-만 Particle

 
 
3 Sentence Summary of This Lesson:
  • 만 means "only" and attaches directly to nouns to restrict meaning.
  • Drop subject/object particles before 만, but stack it with time/place particles (에만, 에게만, 에서만).
  • Moving 만 changes what element in the sentence is being limited.
 
만 adds the meaning of ‘only’. It is a particle added to the end of a noun.
 
오늘만 출근을 안 해요.
Only today, I’m not going to work.
 
Like all others, the word that 만 is stuck to is the one affected. You can move the particle and change the meaning.
 
오늘은 출근만 안 해요.
Today, I’m only not going to work. (But doing everything else.)
 
When you there are times the subject and object particles coincide to be next to 만, you should only use 만.
 
X 샐러드를만 먹을 거예요. → O 샐러드만 먹을 거예요.
 
Another way you can use 만, is to stack it with time and place particles.
 
일요일에만 쉬어요.
Only on Sundays, I rest.
 
그 식당에만 가요.
I only go to that restaurant.
 
만 can also be stacked with other particles like 에게/한테, 으로, 까지, and 하고.
 
The words 오늘, 어제, 내일 often act as adverbs in a sentence, which leads to not needing to add the time particle 에.
 
  • 오늘 (Today)
  • 내일 (Tomorrow)
  • 어제 (Yesterday)
  • 모레 (Day after tomorrow)
  • 지금 (Now)
  • 올해 (This year) / 내년 (Next year)/ 작년 (Last year) (← These can work with or without 에)
  • 매일 (Every day)
  • 언제 (When)
 
This one is similar to English, just like how you wouldn’t put “at” or “on” in front of tomorrow, today, or yesterday.
 
 
Try the following exercise.
Place 만 in the correct blank to match the translation. Fill in the other blanks with subject, object, topic, and time/place particles.
 
  1. 이 토끼___ 당근___ 먹어요.
      2. This rabbit only eats carrots.
Answer
토끼는, 당근만
 
  1. 저___ 콜라___ 마셔요.
      2. I only drink coke.
Answer
저는, 콜라만
 
  1. 오늘___ 철수___ 안 왔어요.
      2. Only today, Chul Soo didn’t come.
Answer
오늘만, 철수가
 
  1. 마트___ 아이스크림___ 살 수 있어요.
      2. You can only buy ice cream at the supermarket.
Answer
마트에서만, 아이스크림을
 
  1. 2월___ 공부___ 할 거예요.
      2. In February, I am only going to study.
Answer
2월에는, 공부만
 
  1. 그사람___ 답장___ 할 수 있어요.
      2. Only he can answer.
Answer
그사람만, 답장을
 
  1. 산책___ 하고 집___ 들어가요.
      2. I only go for a walk and then go back home.
Answer
산책만, 집에
 
 
  1. 저___ 요리___ 잘해요.
      2. I’m only good at cooking.
Answer
저는, 요리만
 
  1. 게임___ 하고 공부___ 안 해요.
      2. I only play video games and don’t study.
Answer
게임만, 공부는
 
  1. 지금___ 문자___ 할 수 있어요.
      2. Right now, I can only text.
Answer
지금은, 문자만
 
 
 
* For more practice exercises, visit the ‘Practice Hub’.
 
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