Lesson 18
In Level 2 Lesson 15, you learned how to use -만 with nouns, pronouns, or noun forms of verbs. The expression introduced in this lesson can only be used with negative verb conjugations and consists of two parts: -밖에 + negative verb conjugation.
The way this works is similar to saying “nothing else but” or “do not do anything other than” in English.
밖 = outside; outdoors
밖에 = outside something; other than something; out of the range of something
-밖에 + negative verb conjugation = ONLY + verb
Conjugation:
Noun + -밖에 + negative conjugation
Ex)
콜라(를) 마시다 = to drink cola
콜라밖에 안 마시다 = to only drink cola
돈(이) 있다 = to have money
돈(이) 없다 = to not have money
돈밖에 없다 = to have nothing but money, to only have money
Q: Are -만 and -밖에 interchangeable?
A: The answer is yes and no. Sometimes they are interchangeable, but you have to change the verb to a negative form when using -밖에. -밖에 is generally used more than -만.
-밖에 cannot be used with imperative sentences (sentences which request something or give instructions) including -아/어/여 주세요 (“do something for me”), so -만 must be used instead (i.e. 이것만 주세요 = Give me this one only).
In addition, when the verb itself has a negative meaning, -만 is more commonly used than 밖에 (i.e. 저는 닭고기만 싫어해요 = I only hate chicken.)
Sample Sentences
한국인 친구가 한 명밖에 없어요.
= I only have one Korean friend.
한국인 친구는 한 명밖에 없어요.
= As for Korean friends, I only have one.
한국어 조금밖에 못해요.
= I can only speak a little bit of Korean.
* Please note that this is not “한국어 조금만 할 수 있어요. (I can speak a little bit of Korean.)” Although you will be understood if you say this, to sound more natural, please say “한국어 조금밖에 못해요.”
이것밖에 없어요?
= This is it?
= You only have this?
우리 고양이는 참치밖에 안 먹어요.
= My cat only eats tuna.
왜 공부밖에 안 해요?
= Why do you only study?
= Why do you do nothing but study?