KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄹ 뿐이다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 4)
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 뿐이다 | bol ppunida |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽을 뿐이다 | ilgeul ppunida |
| 하다 | to do | 할 뿐이다 | hal ppunida |
| 살다 | to live | 살 뿐이다 | sal ppunida |
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
저는 시킨 대로 했을 뿐 아무것도 몰랐어요.
“-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다” means “only / nothing but …,” showing that there is nothing more than that. The sentence means “I only did as I was told and knew nothing else.” In the middle of a sentence it appears as “-(으)ㄹ 뿐,” and 뿐 is written with a space after the verb form.
저는 시킨 일을 했을 뿐이에요. 잘못한 것은 없어요.
“-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다” means “it is only that ~ / just ~” and limits things to that one point, with nothing else involved. Attach “-(으)ㄹ” to a verb or adjective stem and end with “뿐이에요.” The sentences mean “I only did what I was told to do. I did nothing wrong.” With nouns, use it as in 학생일 뿐이에요 (“I’m just a student”).
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 저는 시킨 대로 했을 뿐 아무것도 몰랐어요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 | ||
| 저 | ㅈ+ㅓ | jeo |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 시킨 | ||
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 킨 | ㅋ+ㅣ+ㄴ | kin |
| 대로 | ||
| 대 | ㄷ+ㅐ | dae |
| 로 | ㄹ+ㅗ | ro |
| 했을 | ||
| 했 | ㅎ+ㅐ+ㅆ | [해] hae |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [쓸] sseul |
| 뿐 | ㅃ+ㅜ+ㄴ | ppun |
| 아무것도 | ||
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 무 | ㅁ+ㅜ | mu |
| 것 | ㄱ+ㅓ+ㅅ | [걷] geot |
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | [또] do |
| 몰랐어요 | ||
| 몰 | ㅁ+ㅗ+ㄹ | mol |
| 랐 | ㄹ+ㅏ+ㅆ | [라] la |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 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. 했을 → [해쓸]
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 것도 → [걷또]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하다 | verb | to do | TOPIK level 1 |
| 없다 | adjective | to not exist, to not have | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 저는 시킨 대로 했을 ____ 아무것도 몰랐어요.
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Answer: 저는 시킨 대로 했을 뿐 아무것도 몰랐어요.
Question 2 Choose the word that fits the blank: 저는 시킨 일을 했을 ____이에요. 잘못한 것은 없어요.
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Answer: 저는 시킨 일을 했을 뿐이에요. 잘못한 것은 없어요.
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄹ 뿐이다?
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Answer: 볼 뿐이다
Question 4 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄹ 뿐이다?
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Answer: 읽을 뿐이다
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