KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄹ 만하다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄹ 만하다”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 3)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 볼 만하다 | bol manhada |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽을 만하다 | ilgeul manhada |
| 하다 | to do | 할 만하다 | hal manhada |
| 살다 | to live | 살 만하다 | sal manhada |
What changes
- After a stem ending in a vowel, ㄹ is added to the last syllable (보 → 볼). After a stem ending in a consonant, 을 is added (읽 → 읽을). A stem ending in ㄹ keeps it (살 → 살), and 하 becomes 할.
Explanation
이 영화는 재미있어서 한번 볼 만해요.
“-(으)ㄹ 만하다” means “to be worth ~ing” and is used to recommend or evaluate something. The sentence means “This movie is fun, so it’s worth watching once.” Add “-(으)ㄹ” to a verb stem, as in 볼 만해요. Unlike “-(으)ㄹ 수 있다” (ability or possibility), it says that the thing has enough value to be done.
이 영화는 가족과 함께 볼만한 영화예요.
“-(으)ㄹ 만하다” means “to be worth ~ing” and shows that an action is worthwhile or that there is good reason to do it. It attaches to a verb stem; before a noun it becomes “-(으)ㄹ 만한.” The sentence means “This is a movie worth watching with your family.”
이 영화는 온 가족이 함께 볼 만한 작품이에요.
“-(으)ㄹ 만하다” means “be worth ~ing / be good enough to ~”; before a noun it takes the form “-(으)ㄹ 만한.” The sentence means “This film is worth watching together with the whole family.” The similar-looking “-(으)ㄹ 법하다” expresses “it would be natural that ~” (a supposition), so it cannot be used for recommending something.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 이 영화는 재미있어서 한번 볼 만해요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [이 영화는 재미이써서 한번 볼 만해요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | i |
| 영화는 | ||
| 영 | ㅇ+ㅕ+ㅇ | yeong |
| 화 | ㅎ+ㅘ | hwa |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 재미있어서 | ||
| 재 | ㅈ+ㅐ | jae |
| 미 | ㅁ+ㅣ | mi |
| 있 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅆ | [이] i |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 서 | ㅅ+ㅓ | seo |
| 한번 | ||
| 한 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ | han |
| 번 | ㅂ+ㅓ+ㄴ | beon |
| 볼 | ㅂ+ㅗ+ㄹ | bol |
| 만해요 | ||
| 만 | ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄴ | man |
| 해 | ㅎ+ㅐ | hae |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 있어 → [이써]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 재미있다 | adjective | fun, interesting | TOPIK level 1 |
| 작품 | noun | work (of art) | TOPIK level 4 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 이 영화는 재미있어서 한번 볼 ____.
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Answer: 이 영화는 재미있어서 한번 볼 만해요.
Question 2 Choose the word that fits the blank: 이 영화는 가족과 함께 볼____ 영화예요.
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Answer: 이 영화는 가족과 함께 볼만한 영화예요.
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄹ 만하다?
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Answer: 볼 만하다
Question 4 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄹ 만하다?
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Answer: 읽을 만하다
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