The particle 만 (man) means "only" or "just." It limits the scope to a single item, person, or quantity, indicating exclusivity and emphasizing that nothing else applies.
Form
만 (man) - invariable form (doesn't change)
Basic Function
Marks exclusivity—indicating that only the marked item applies, and nothing else.
Translation: "only," "just," "merely"
Basic Usage
Only One Item
Limiting to a single thing:
- 물만 마셔요. (Mul-man masyeoyo.) - Drink only water.
- 이것만 주세요. (Igeos-man juseyo.) - Give me only this.
- 사과만 먹어요. (Sagwa-man meogeoyo.) - Eat only apples.
- 한국어만 배워요. (Hangugeo-man baewoyo.) - Learn only Korean.
Only One Person
Limiting to a specific person:
- 저만 왔어요. (Jeo-man wasseoyo.) - Only I came.
- 친구만 초대했어요. (Chingu-man chodaehaesseoyo.) - Invited only friend.
- 엄마만 알아요. (Eomma-man arayo.) - Only mom knows.
Only a Quantity
Limiting to a specific amount:
- 하나만 주세요. (Hana-man juseyo.) - Give me only one.
- 조금만 먹었어요. (Jogeum-man meogeosseoyo.) - Ate only a little.
- 이천 원만 있어요. (Icheon won-man isseoyo.) - Have only 2,000 won.
Replacing Other Particles
만 replaces subject (이/가) and object (을/를) particles:
Subject replacement:
- 저만 알아요. (Only I know.) - 만 replaces 가
- 친구만 왔어요. (Only friend came.) - 만 replaces 가
Object replacement:
- 물만 마셔요. (Drink only water.) - 만 replaces 를
- 책만 읽어요. (Read only books.) - 만 replaces 을
Can combine with other particles:
- 친구에게만 (only to friend) - 만 after 에게
- 학교에서만 (only at school) - 만 after 에서
Common Patterns
Pattern 1: Only This/That
[Demonstrative + 만]
- 이것만 (only this)
- 그것만 (only that)
- 저것만 (only that over there)
Examples:
- 이것만 주세요. (Give me only this.)
- 그것만 먹어요. (Eat only that.)
Pattern 2: Only Person
[Person + 만] + [Verb]
- 저만 가요. (Only I go.)
- 친구만 알아요. (Only friend knows.)
- 선생님만 계세요. (Only teacher is here.)
Pattern 3: Only Quantity
[Number/Amount + 만]
- 하나만 (only one)
- 조금만 (only a little)
- 많이는 안 되고 조금만 (not a lot, only a little)
Examples:
- 하나만 주세요. (Give me just one.)
- 조금만 먹어요. (Eat just a little.)
Emphasis and Nuance
Restriction
만 emphasizes limitation—nothing else, nothing more:
- 물만 마셔요. (Drink only water.) - not juice, not coffee
- 저만 알아요. (Only I know.) - nobody else knows
Minimization
Can suggest "just" or "merely" to downplay:
- 조금만 먹었어요. (Ate just a little.)
- 잠깐만 기다려 주세요. (Wait just a moment.)
- 한 번만 봤어요. (Saw it only once.)
만 with Different Particles
에 + 만 = 에만
Location exclusivity:
- 집에만 있어요. (Stay only at home.)
- 학교에만 가요. (Go only to school.)
에서 + 만 = 에서만
Action location exclusivity:
- 도서관에서만 공부해요. (Study only at library.)
- 집에서만 일해요. (Work only at home.)
(으)로 + 만 = (으)로만
Method/means exclusivity:
- 버스로만 가요. (Go only by bus.)
- 한국어로만 말해요. (Speak only in Korean.)
에게/한테 + 만 = 에게만/한테만
Recipient exclusivity:
- 친구에게만 말했어요. (Told only friend.)
- 엄마한테만 이야기해요. (Talk only to mom.)
Negative Context
만 with negatives emphasizes "not even" or "not just":
- 물만 안 마셔요. (Don't drink just water.) - drink other things too
- 책만 안 읽어요. (Don't just read books.) - do other things
Note: For "only" with negatives (nothing but), use 밖에 + negative verb.
Time Expressions with 만
Duration
Emphasizing short time:
- 5분만 기다려 주세요. (Wait just 5 minutes.)
- 하루만 쉬었어요. (Rested just one day.)
- 일주일만 있어요. (Have only one week.)
Frequency
Limiting occurrences:
- 한 번만 봤어요. (Saw only once.)
- 두 번만 갔어요. (Went only twice.)
Common Expressions
잠깐만 (jamkkan-man)
"Just a moment":
- 잠깐만 기다려 주세요. (Wait just a moment.)
- 잠깐만요! (Just a moment!)
조금만 (jogeum-man)
"Just a little":
- 조금만 주세요. (Give me just a little.)
- 조금만 먹어요. (Eat just a little.)
하나만 (hana-man)
"Just one":
- 하나만 주세요. (Give me just one.)
- 하나만 물어볼게요. (I'll ask just one thing.)
이것만 (igeos-man)
"Only this" / "Just this":
- 이것만 주세요. (Just this, please.)
- 이것만 알아요. (Know only this.)
만 vs 밖에
Both express "only," but with different constructions:
만 (with any verb form)
- 물만 마셔요. (Drink only water.)
- 친구만 왔어요. (Only friend came.)
밖에 (must use negative verb)
- 물밖에 안 마셔요. (Don't drink anything except water. / Drink only water.)
- 친구밖에 안 왔어요. (No one came except friend. / Only friend came.)
Nuance: 밖에 + negative has a stronger sense of limitation or disappointment.
See "밖에 (bakke)" article for detailed comparison.
Multiple 만 in Sentence
Can use multiple times for compound exclusivity:
- 저만 친구만 알아요. (Only I and friend know.) - awkward
- Better: 저하고 친구만 알아요. (Only friend and I know.)
Note: Multiple 만 sounds awkward. Better to connect items first, then add 만.
With Question Words
뭐만 (what only)
- 뭐만 먹어요? (What do you eat only? / What's the only thing you eat?)
누구만 (who only)
- 누구만 알아요? (Who is the only one who knows?)
언제만 (when only)
- 언제만 가요? (When is the only time you go?)
Polite Requests with 만
Using 만 softens requests by minimizing what you're asking:
- 잠깐만 기다려 주세요. (Please wait just a moment.)
- 조금만 도와주세요. (Please help just a little.)
- 한 번만 봐 주세요. (Please look just once.)
This makes the request sound smaller and less burdensome.
Position in Sentence
만 attaches directly to the word it limits:
Subject position:
- 저만 가요. (Only I go.)
Object position:
- 물만 마셔요. (Drink only water.)
Time position:
- 오늘만 쉬어요. (Rest only today.)
Place position:
- 집에만 있어요. (Stay only at home.)
Emphasis Through Intonation
Intonation can strengthen the "only" meaning:
- 물만 마셔요. (Drink only water.) - neutral
- 물만! 마셔요. (Only water! Drink.) - emphasized
Context and tone determine if 만 is restrictive (limiting) or minimizing (just a little).
Common Sentence Patterns
Pattern 1: Request with 만
[Quantity + 만] + [Request]
- 조금만 주세요. (Give me just a little.)
- 하나만 주세요. (Give me just one.)
Pattern 2: Exclusive Action
[Subject + 만] + [Verb]
- 저만 알아요. (Only I know.)
- 친구만 왔어요. (Only friend came.)
Pattern 3: Limited Object
[Object + 만] + [Verb]
- 물만 마셔요. (Drink only water.)
- 한국어만 공부해요. (Study only Korean.)
Pattern 4: Time Limitation
[Time + 만]
- 오늘만 바빠요. (Busy only today.)
- 5분만 기다려 주세요. (Wait just 5 minutes.)
With Counters
만 can follow counters to specify exact quantities:
- 한 개만 (only one item)
- 두 명만 (only two people)
- 세 권만 (only three books)
Examples:
- 사과 두 개만 주세요. (Give me just two apples.)
- 친구 한 명만 초대했어요. (Invited only one friend.)
Summary Table
| Context | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Only item | 물만 마셔요 | Drink only water |
| Only person | 저만 알아요 | Only I know |
| Only quantity | 하나만 주세요 | Give me just one |
| Only location | 집에만 있어요 | Stay only at home |
| Only time | 오늘만 바빠요 | Busy only today |
| Polite request | 잠깐만 기다려 주세요 | Wait just a moment |
Key Points
- ✅ Form: 만 (invariable)
- ✅ Meaning: Only, just, merely
- ✅ Function: Marks exclusivity, limits scope
- ✅ Replaces: 이/가 and 을/를
- ✅ Combines with: 에, 에서, 에게, (으)로 + 만
- ✅ Softens requests: Makes requests sound smaller
- ✅ Different from: 밖에 (requires negative verb)
Understanding 만 is essential for expressing limitation and exclusivity in Korean. It's one of the most frequently used particles for emphasizing "only" in everyday conversation.