Korean Grammar Basic #5 – How to Use “만 / -기만 하다” (Only / Just)

Learn how to use 만 (man) and -기만 하다 (gi-man ha-da) — to express “only” or “just” in Korean. These forms are used when you want to limit or emphasize that there is nothing else except that person, thing, or action.

1️⃣ Introduction

In English, we say:

“I only have one friend.”“I just watch dramas on weekends.”

In Korean, you can use 만 after nouns,and -기만 하다 after verbs to express “only” or “just.”

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2️⃣ Grammar Explanation

🔹만 (man) — “only / just” (after nouns)

Attach 만 directly after a noun to mean “only” or “just.”

It replaces particles like 이/가, 을/를, 은/는, depending on the sentence.

Form

Noun + 만

Example	Meaning
물만 마셔요. (mul-man ma-syeo-yo)	I only drink water.
친구 한 명만 있어요. (chin-gu han myeong-man i-sseo-yo)	I have only one friend.
오늘만 일해요. (o-neul-man il-hae-yo)	I work only today.

Tip:

• When used after a subject or object, 만 replaces other particles:

  저는 커피를 마셔요 → 저는 커피만 마셔요 ✅

  
  

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🔹 -기만 하다 (gi-man ha-da) — “only do / just do” (after verbs)

Attach -기만 하다 to the verb stem to show that someone does only that action and nothing else.

Form

Verb stem + 기만 하다

Example	Meaning
놀기만 해요. (nol-gi-man hae-yo)	I only play / I just hang out.
먹기만 해요. (meok-gi-man hae-yo)	I only eat.
자기만 해요. (ja-gi-man hae-yo)	He/she only sleeps.

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3️⃣ Difference Between “만” and “-기만 하다”

Both express “only,” but they attach to different parts of the sentence.

Also, with 하다 verbs, “만” can go in the middle (공부만 해요).

Grammar	Attached To	Meaning	Example	Translation
만 (man)	Noun	only / just (noun-based)	물만 마셔요 (mul-man ma-syeo-yo)	I only drink water.
-기만 하다 (gi-man ha-da)	Verb	only do / just do (verb-based)	놀기만 해요 (nol-gi-man hae-yo)	I only play.

With “하다” verbs (Noun + 하다 type)

When a verb is made of [Noun + 하다],

만 can go between the noun and 하다.

Example	Translation	Explanation
공부만 해요 (gong-bu-man hae-yo)	I only study.	Focus on the noun “study” — doing only that activity.
일만 해요 (il-man hae-yo)	I only work.	The speaker does nothing else but work.
운동만 해요 (un-dong-man hae-yo)	I only exercise.	Restricts the action to exercising only.

If you say 공부하기만 해요 (gong-bu-ha-gi-man hae-yo),it emphasizes the action itself as being the only thing done — more formal or descriptive.

➡ 공부만 해요 → common in conversation (noun focus).

➡ 공부하기만 해요 → more descriptive or formal (action focus).

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4️⃣ Mini Practice

Fill in the blanks 👇

(Choose between 만 or -기만 해요 depending on the sentence.)

1️⃣ 저는 물_____ 마셔요.

2️⃣ 아이는 공부하지 않고 놀_____ 해요.

3️⃣ 오늘은 김치_____ 먹어요.

4️⃣ 남동생은 자기_____ 해요.

5️⃣ 저는 일_____ 해요.

Answers: 

1️⃣ 물만 마셔요. (mul-man ma-syeo-yo)

2️⃣ 놀기만 해요. (nol-gi-man hae-yo)

3️⃣ 김치만 먹어요. (gim-chi-man meo-geo-yo)

4️⃣ 자기만 해요. (ja-gi-man hae-yo)

5️⃣ 일만 해요. (il-man hae-yo)

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Vocabulary Check

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
물	(mul)	water
김치	(gim-chi)	kimchi
친구	(chin-gu)	friend
자다	(ja-da)	to sleep
놀다	(nol-da)	to play
공부하다	(gong-bu-ha-da)	to study
일하다	(il-ha-da)	to work

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Summary

Grammar	Function	Example	Meaning
만 (man)	“only / just” — noun-based	물만 마셔요 (mul-man ma-syeo-yo)	I only drink water.
-기만 하다 (gi-man ha-da)	“only do / just do” — verb-based	놀기만 해요 (nol-gi-man hae-yo)	I only play.
하다 verbs	“만” goes between noun + 하다	공부만 해요 (gong-bu-man hae-yo)	I only study.

• Use 만 after nouns for “only [thing].”

• Use -기만 하다 after verbs for “only do [action].”

  
  

• With 하다 verbs, say 공부만 해요, 일만 해요, etc.

• If you emphasize the act itself, use 공부하기만 해요.

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