Level 3 Lesson 18 / nothing but, only / 밖에 + 부정형
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안녕하세요! Welcome to Level 3 Lesson 18! In this lesson, we look at how to say “nothing but” or “only” in Korean. We learned the expression -만 [-man] which means “only” too in a previous lesson, but in this lesson we look at an expression more commonly used to mean “nothing but” in Korean.
Thank you for studying with us, as always, and if you have any questions, feel free to leave us comments!
Lesson PDF in other languages (Participate in the translation!)

Level 3 Lesson 18 / nothing but, only / 밖에 + 부정형








Discussion( leave a comment )
Hi!
Is it also possible to say:
왜 공부 밖에 하지 않아요?
Thanks!
Yeah, it is possible. Good job!
You can also say “왜 공부밖에 안 해요?”.
In the past week, I’ve asked questions on 4 different lessons, and have gotten them all answered within 24 hours!! It would be redundant to repeat on all four lessons, so I will say it here on the latest one:
I really appreciate it, 석진씨! This website is amazing, and the teachers are fantastic.
감사합니다 !!
I had a face-palm moment after going through this lesson (hit self on the forehead with the palm of my hand) because of how often random people will say to me “와우.. 한국말 잘 하시네요!” and I would always reply “아니요. 한국말 조금만 해요.” Thanks for illustrating a very useful grammar point that I use almost every day here in Korea! Now I know 한국말 조금 밖에 못 해요.
수고와셨어요!
So it’s like saying “except for…”
Wow,
Now I finally understand the grammar for “사랑밖엔 난 물라” !
티티및 사람들 천재 같아요!
감사해요! ~ 신시아
I don’t know for sure, as I’m not a native speaker (therefore, forgive my boldness) but when it comes to the sample sentences (the English translations), they seem to me a little bit odd because of that “only” (where it is placed). When I read the sentences below I understand something else. Let me explain:
“I only have one Korean friend.” (The “only” thing in this sentence is the action of having a Korean friend)
“I can only speak a little bit of Korean” (The “only” thing I can do is speak a little bit of Korean but I can’t write even a little bit of it)
As opposed to “I can speak only a little bit of Korean” (But I’m able to write it pretty well).
Oh, I’m afraid I didn’t make it clear – here’s another example:
“I only meet them on Friday.” (I won’t hang around with them I’m just meeting them and that’s all).
“I meet only them on Friday.” (I won’t be meeting anyone else but them)
(or)
“My cat only eats mice” (My cat doesn’t play with them, she just eats them).
“My cat eats only mice” (My cat won’t eat anything but mice).
I know this may be just a wrong idea of mine, so please forgive me.
우리를 한국어 가르쳐서 정말 감사합니다!!! ^^
Hmm.. 밖에 isn’t an action of the sentence. It’s seems to have many means depends on position.
밖 by it self is a noun, that means outside. 창문 밖을 청소하세요. – Clean the outside of window (external side of window).
밖에서 – means to do something located outside. 밖에서 테니스를 쳐요. – I play tennis outside.
Now 밖에 seems can have different roles in the sentence, based on context.
밖에 with verbs like 가다 and 오다 means to go/come outside (location).
밖에 after a noun can aslo also mean preposition. 상자 밖에 생각하세요. – Think outside of the box. (I wonder if such expression possible).
밖에 before verb (sometimes at same time after a noun), can act like adverb, and modify the the verb, instead preposition for noun before it, especially if the noun marked with 는가를. So it’s based on context I guess, and how you use the particles.
In this lesson it was acting as an adverb all the time.
I guess another way to look at [밖에 + negative verb] is “except”.
I don’t have, Korean friends, except one.
I can’t speak Korean, except a little bit.
You don’t have a thing, except this?
My cat doesn’t eat anything, except tuna.
Why you don’t do anything, except study?
So maybe that’s why it’s stupid to say:
“Don’t give me, except colla” instead “Give me only cola”
“I don’t hate food, except chicken” – negative on negative – in other words “I only hate chicken”
Actually it was all acting as preposition, in the pdf examples, I think, because of the nouns before 밖에. It would be adverb in example like:
다 물건이 밖에 있어요 – All stuff is outside.
선생님…
1. 저는 유명한 영화 밖에 안 봐요. (I only watch famous movies)
2. 집에서 요리하는 음식 먹는 것 밖에 안 좋아해요. (I only like food cooked at home)
3. 점심은 친구랑 밖에 안 먹어요. 혼자 먹는 것 안 좋아해서… (As for lunch, I only eat with friends. I don’t like eating alone…that’s why…).
4. 냉장고에 과일 밖에 없어요. (There are only fruits in the fridge)
5. 아침 여섯 시 부터 오후 두 시 까지 연구실에 저 밖에 없어요. (From 6 in the morning till 2 in the afternoon, I’m the only person in the lab)
어때요? 사실은 마지막 문장 진짜예요. ㅜㅜ
감사합니다! ^_^
1. 사랑한 사람은 너 한 명 밖에 없어. You’re the only one I love.
2. 돈밖에 안 모아요. I save only money.
3. 너만 나쁜 사람 이에요. Only you are a bad person.
4. 샘플 문장만 남겨 주세요. Please leave only sample sentences.
다 밖에 거기 안 먹어요.
너무 너무 너무 너무 감사합니다 !
i’m sooo happy that TTMIK exists, it makes learning korean much easier for me! and i think for a lot other people too :)
studying online isnt always good, but it is with TTMIK ^__^
especially for me, as an 13 year old xD..
감사합니다 ^__^ and pleaaase keep up your great job :)
안녕하세요 !
I can see on his face nothing but happiness.
그의 얼굴에 너는 행복 밖에 안 볼수있다.
(It’s because he listen TTMIK)
감사합니다!
Sorry, my error! ” he listens”
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