The particle 밖에 (bakke) means "only" or "nothing but," but it MUST be used with a negative verb. It emphasizes limitation and often carries a nuance of disappointment or insufficiency.
Form
밖에 (bakke) - invariable form (doesn't change)
Critical Rule
밖에 REQUIRES a negative verb. This is non-negotiable.
❌ 물밖에 마셔요. (WRONG - positive verb) ✅ 물밖에 안 마셔요. (CORRECT - negative verb)
Basic Function
Marks strong limitation—emphasizing that only one thing exists or occurs, often with disappointment.
Translation: "only," "nothing but," "no more than"
Basic Usage
With Negative Verbs
Always paired with negation:
- 물밖에 없어요. (Mul-bakke eopseoyo.) - Have only water. / Have nothing but water.
- 한 개밖에 안 남았어요. (Han gae-bakke an namasseoyo.) - Only one remains.
- 친구밖에 몰라요. (Chingu-bakke mollayo.) - Know only friend. / Don't know anyone except friend.
Conveying Limitation
Often implies "unfortunately only" or "merely":
- 천 원밖에 없어요. (Cheon won-bakke eopseoyo.) - Have only 1,000 won. (implying: not enough)
- 조금밖에 안 먹었어요. (Jogeum-bakke an meogeosseoyo.) - Ate only a little. (implying: wanted more)
밖에 vs 만
Both mean "only," but differ in construction and nuance:
만 (with any verb)
Can use with positive or negative verbs:
- 물만 마셔요. (Drink only water.) - neutral statement
- 물만 안 마셔요. (Don't drink only water.)
밖에 (requires negative verb)
Must use with negative:
- 물밖에 안 마셔요. (Don't drink anything except water. / Drink only water.)
- Stronger emphasis on limitation
Nuance Difference
만: Neutral "only"
- 하나만 있어요. (Have only one.) - neutral
밖에: "Only" with disappointment/insufficiency
- 하나밖에 없어요. (Have only one.) - implies: wish there were more
Common Patterns
Pattern 1: Quantity + 밖에 없다
[Number + Counter + 밖에] + 없다
- 하나밖에 없어요. (Have only one.)
- 두 명밖에 없어요. (There are only two people.)
- 조금밖에 없어요. (Have only a little.)
Pattern 2: Item + 밖에 안
[Noun + 밖에] + [안 + Verb]
- 물밖에 안 마셔요. (Drink only water.)
- 이것밖에 안 해요. (Do only this.)
- 한국어밖에 안 배워요. (Learn only Korean.)
Pattern 3: Person + 밖에 모르다
[Person + 밖에] + 모르다
- 친구밖에 몰라요. (Don't know anyone except friend.)
- 저밖에 몰라요. (Don't know anyone except me.)
With Different Negative Forms
없다 (to not exist)
Most common with 밖에:
- 돈이 천 원밖에 없어요. (Have only 1,000 won.)
- 시간이 10분밖에 없어요. (Have only 10 minutes.)
안 (short negative)
- 이것밖에 안 해요. (Do only this.)
- 한국어밖에 안 배워요. (Learn only Korean.)
-지 못하다 (cannot)
- 한 개밖에 못 먹었어요. (Could eat only one.)
- 조금밖에 못 했어요. (Could do only a little.)
모르다 (to not know)
- 이것밖에 몰라요. (Know only this.)
- 친구밖에 몰라요. (Know only friend.)
Expressing Disappointment
밖에 often conveys that the amount is insufficient:
Small Quantities
- 조금밖에 없어요. (Have only a little.) - wish had more
- 하나밖에 안 남았어요. (Only one left.) - running out
Short Time
- 5분밖에 없어요. (Have only 5 minutes.) - not enough time
- 이틀밖에 안 걸렸어요. (Took only two days.) - shorter than expected
Few People
- 한 명밖에 안 왔어요. (Only one person came.) - expected more
- 우리밖에 없어요. (There's only us.) - alone
Common Expressions
하나밖에 없다 (have only one)
Very common:
- 기회가 하나밖에 없어요. (Have only one chance.)
- 선택이 하나밖에 없어요. (Have only one choice.)
-ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (have no choice but to)
Idiomatic expression:
- 갈 수밖에 없어요. (Have no choice but to go.)
- 기다릴 수밖에 없어요. (Have no choice but to wait.)
이것밖에 (only this)
- 이것밖에 없어요. (Have only this.)
- 이것밖에 못 해요. (Can do only this.)
Time Expressions
Duration
- 하루밖에 안 걸렸어요. (Took only one day.)
- 일주일밖에 못 쉬었어요. (Could rest only one week.)
Remaining Time
- 10분밖에 없어요. (Have only 10 minutes left.)
- 내일밖에 없어요. (Have only tomorrow.)
Quantity Expressions
Small Amounts
- 조금밖에 없어요. (Have only a little.)
- 반밖에 안 먹었어요. (Ate only half.)
Money
- 천 원밖에 없어요. (Have only 1,000 won.)
- 만 원밖에 못 냈어요. (Could pay only 10,000 won.)
People
- 한 명밖에 안 왔어요. (Only one person came.)
- 우리밖에 몰라요. (Only we know.)
-ㄹ 수밖에 없다 Construction
Special idiomatic pattern meaning "have no choice but to":
Formation
[Verb stem + (으)ㄹ] + 수밖에 없다
- 갈 수밖에 없어요. (Have no choice but to go.)
- 믿을 수밖에 없어요. (Have no choice but to believe.)
- 기다릴 수밖에 없어요. (Have no choice but to wait.)
Usage
Expresses inevitability or lack of alternatives:
- 혼자 할 수밖에 없어요. (Have no choice but to do it alone.)
- 포기할 수밖에 없었어요. (Had no choice but to give up.)
With Pronouns
Personal Pronouns
- 저밖에 없어요. (There's only me.)
- 나밖에 몰라요. (Only I know. / Nobody knows except me.)
- 우리밖에 없어요. (There's only us.)
Demonstratives
- 이것밖에 없어요. (Have only this.)
- 그것밖에 못 해요. (Can do only that.)
Position in Sentence
밖에 appears mid-sentence, attached to what it limits:
Standard position:
- 저는 물밖에 안 마셔요. (I drink only water.)
- 천 원밖에 없어요. (Have only 1,000 won.)
Emphasis
밖에 is inherently emphatic due to the negative construction:
Stronger than 만:
- 하나만 있어요. (Have only one.) - neutral
- 하나밖에 없어요. (Have only one.) - emphasizes scarcity
Questions with 밖에
Confirming Limitation
- 이것밖에 없어요? (Is this all there is?)
- 한 개밖에 안 남았어요? (Is there only one left?)
Expressing Surprise
- 이것밖에 못 해요? (Can you do only this?)
- 조금밖에 안 먹었어요? (Did you eat only a little?)
Common Mistakes
Using Positive Verb
❌ 물밖에 마셔요. (WRONG) ✅ 물밖에 안 마셔요. (CORRECT) ✅ 물만 마셔요. (CORRECT - using 만 instead)
Forgetting Negative
Always remember: 밖에 = negative verb required
Double Negative Confusion
밖에 + negative = positive meaning ("only"):
- 물밖에 안 마셔요. (Drink only water.)
- Literally: "Don't drink except water" = "Drink only water"
Comparison Summary
| Particle | Verb Type | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 만 | Any | Neutral "only" | 물만 마셔요 |
| 밖에 | Negative required | Limitation/disappointment | 물밖에 안 마셔요 |
Formal vs Casual
밖에 works in all formality levels:
Formal:
- 이것밖에 없습니다. (Have only this.)
Polite:
- 이것밖에 없어요. (Have only this.)
Casual:
- 이것밖에 없어. (Have only this.)
Literary Usage
밖에 appears in formal writing and literature:
- 그밖에 (besides that / in addition)
- 이밖에 (besides this / other than this)
Examples:
- 그밖에 다른 방법이 없어요. (There's no other method besides that.)
Key Points
- ✅ Form: 밖에 (invariable)
- ✅ Critical rule: MUST use with negative verb
- ✅ Meaning: Only, nothing but, no more than
- ✅ Nuance: Limitation, disappointment, insufficiency
- ✅ Different from 만: Requires negative, stronger emphasis
- ✅ Common: -ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (no choice but to)
- ✅ With 없다: Very frequent (하나밖에 없어요)
Understanding 밖에 is essential for expressing strong limitation in Korean. Remember: it always requires a negative verb, distinguishing it from the more neutral 만.