KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -만
Korean Grammar “-만”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 1)
How to attach it
This particle does not change: it attaches to every noun in the same way, whatever the last sound is.
| Korean | Meaning | With the particle | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 나라 | country | 나라만 | naraman |
| 음식 | food | 음식만 | eumsingman |
| 선물 | gift | 선물만 | seonmulman |
Explanation
저는 물만 마셔요. 다른 음료는 안 마셔요.
“-만” means “only,” limiting the action to one item and excluding the others. Its form never changes, and it replaces “을/를.” The sentences mean “I drink only water. I don’t drink other beverages.” “-도” means “also,” which would contradict the second sentence.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 저는 물만 마셔요. 다른 음료는 안 마셔요.
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 |
| 물만 | ||
| 물 | ㅁ+ㅜ+ㄹ | mul |
| 만 | ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄴ | man |
| 마셔요 | ||
| 마 | ㅁ+ㅏ | ma |
| 셔 | ㅅ+ㅕ | syeo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
| 다른 | ||
| 다 | ㄷ+ㅏ | da |
| 른 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄴ | reun |
| 음료는 | ||
| 음 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㅁ | eum |
| 료 | ㄹ+ㅛ | [뇨] nyo |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 안 | ㅇ+ㅏ+ㄴ | an |
| 마셔요 | ||
| 마 | ㅁ+ㅏ | ma |
| 셔 | ㅅ+ㅕ | syeo |
| 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
- Nasalization: a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ becomes ㅇ, ㄴ or ㅁ before ㄴ or ㅁ (and a ㄹ after ㅁ or ㅇ becomes ㄴ). 음료 → [음뇨]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안 | adverb | not (negation) | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 저는 물____ 마셔요. 다른 음료는 안 마셔요.
Show the answer
Answer: 저는 물만 마셔요. 다른 음료는 안 마셔요.
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