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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!
You can download a free PDF for this lesson here, or if you want to study with our TalkToMeInKorean textbooks, you can get them here. And after you learn the basics, try writing your own Korean sentences and get corrections from native speakers through HaruKorean, our 1:1 correction service.
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.
Hi Gregos, thank you for such comprehensive explanation.
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”
Well… I have some questions . Maybe not questions but i`m not sure about few things.
Firstly, the place of a verb when we have –고 싶다.
여기에서 살고 밖에 안 싶어요/싶지않아요. Or 여기에서 밖에 살고 안싶어요.
Which one is correct? (maybe both are not correct haha)
Then i`ve also been thinking to try to make some more complicated sentences. As i`ve been also studying different grammar in the previous lessons, I thought that i`d be good to try to connect those grammars and make one sentence. But.. haha i`m not sure if it`s correct so.. please check it out
겅강을 위해서 겅강한 음식을 빡에 안 먹어요.
민영씨는 몰을 밖에 안 마시는 것 같아요.
한국에 비행기로 밖에 갈수없은 것 같아요.
Well… I think making a little bit more complicated sentences is better cause only by getting corrections I can get better. I prefer to make it more difficult and make a mistake than simple and do it correctly.. so, i`m waiting for your response, 석진 선생님
그 남자 밖에 난 몰라
IS this correct?
Did you know that in America and Jamaica, (I’m not sure about anywhere else) we do not call it Cola? We call it Coke. In most foreign countries they call it cola. It’s quite odd. XD 이상해요~
In my country Malaysia , they often call Coca Cola or Coke ..haha
it’s coca here in brasil -g
안녕하세요!
Ah, this is probably most difficult lesson for me until now ㅠ_ㅠ I have feeling that I’m saying ‘don’t’ in all these sentences with 밖에… like ‘don’t do’, ‘don’t have’ or ‘I can’t’ something… but actually its ‘only’, and with 안… soo confusing…
Can you please tell me how will be ‘I can only speak a little bit of Korean’ without 밖에 ?
왜 공부 밖에 안 해요? can be also translated as ‘Why do you only study and don’t do nothing else?’ literally?
and in 우리 고양이는 참치 밖에 안 먹어요. My cat only eats tuna. 안 먹어요.is don’t eat so can be the sentence translated as My cat only eats tuna and no other thing?
If yes, will be much easy to understand it~ And then how would be ‘My cat don’t eat tuna.’ ?
Thanks!
There is only one thing that kind of confusing me , why do you have to put 안 in all sentence ?
Thanks for finally explaining how to say only speaking a little Korean. I did the same sentence, but without ~만, so just: 한국어를 조금 말할 수 있어요.
제 개가 닭고기를 밖에 안 먹어요. (My dog eats nothing outside of chicken.)
It’s a bit hard to grasp, but if I think of the translation that way, using 밖에 to mean “outside” still, it makes sense. Outside of chicken (except for chicken), my dog doesn’t eat anything.
맞아요?
EDIT: I have a question. My practice sentence turns up in google translate as “My dogs do not eat chicken only”. If I remove 안, it becomes “My dog only eats chicken”. I assume this is just an error with google translate, but it does make me scratch my head.
In the lesson you said the way to say my mother is “우리 엄마”. This makes sense to me if you have siblings, she doesn’t just belong to you but to all of the children. Do you say the same thing if you do NOT have any siblings?
Thank you very much!
“줄 수 있는게 이 노래 밖에 없다
가진 거라곤 이 목소리 밖에 없다”
This song–2am
http://youtu.be/cp1VhZ3AR_c?t=1m30s
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You’re wonderful!
Thanks!
Would ” I have nothing outside of my ~~~~” be a more accurate translation for. ” 제 ~~~~ 밖에 없어요.” because when I break it down I see :
없어요 : have not
밖에 : outside
제 ~~~~ : my ~~~~
Or would I HAVE to translate it has “I have nothing but my ~~~~” or “my ~~~~ is all I have”??
Please answer I’m very curious about this.
Just don’t use “my”. It’s already obvious you’re talking about something that the subject have/don’t have, so kinda silly to say “my” afaik.
Of course literally it’s something like: for me/him, outside of abc don’t exist.
But unless you use your imagination, in English it doesn’t make much sense I think. So it’s just whatever it says in pdf: nothing but.. nothing except this… only this…
You understand it correctly!
수정해 주세요
아이들을 위해서 마카로니 앤 치즈를 만들어요
(I make macaroni and cheese for the sake of my children)
명민한 머리를 있기 위해서 한국어를 공부해요
(In order to have a sharp mind, I study Korean)
명민한 머리를 위해서 한국어를 공부해요
(I study Korean for the sake of a sharp mind)
성공을 거두기 위해서 계획 반듯이 있어야 해요
(In order to achieve success, there must be a plan)
저는 밖에 없는 하루 더 겨울 방학까지 끝냈어요
(I only have one more day until winter break is done)
감사합니다!
명민한 머리를 있기 위해서 한국어를 공부해요
> “명민”이란 말을 평소에 잘 안 써요. I would say like “영리해지기 위해서 한국어를 공부해요”.
반듯이> 반드시
성공을 거두기 위해서 계획이 반드시 있어야 해요.
저는 밖에 없는 하루 더 겨울 방학까지 끝냈어요
> 저는 겨울 휴가가 끝나기까지 단 하루 밖에 없어요.
Seokjin, Thanks very much!
vocabulary:(
That last one was kind of a “shot in the dark”…
한국 음악중에서 투에니원 밖에 안 들어요.
I had to cheat for this one (look through more advanced lessons) and I’m still not convinced it’s the right way to say “from” or “out of”.
I am not so sure if the following practice sentences sounds natural.
In order to read a Korean book I study Korean language every day.
저는 한국어 책 읽기 위해서 매일 한국어 공부해요.
From now on I am going to listen to nothing but Korean songs.
지금부터 저는 한국어 노래를 밖에 안 듣고 있을 게요.
In that case, will I remember more and more Korean?
그러면 점점 더 한국어를 기억할까요?
저는 한국어 책 읽기 위해서 매일 한국어 공부해요. > Perfect!
지금부터 저는 한국어 노래를 밖에 안 듣고 있을 게요.
안 듣고 있을 게요 > 안 들을 거예요. or 안 듣고 있을 거예요. Former one is rather used a lot.
지금부터 저는 한국어 노래 밖에 안 들을 거예요.
그러면 점점 더 한국어를 기억할까요? > Correct!
석진 씨, 정말요?
좋아요! ^^
선생님 정말 감사합니다!
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체식으자는 밖에안 먹어요. I eat nothing but vegetarian food.
한국 랑 춘국 영흐ㅏ는 밖에안 봐요. I watch nothing but Korean and Chinese movies.
요즘여자친구는 한명 사랑 밖어 없어요. These days I only have one girlfriend.
체식으자는 밖에안 먹어요. > 채식밖에 안 해요.
한국 랑 춘국 영흐ㅏ는 밖에안 봐요. > 한국과 중국 영화밖에 안 봐요.
요즘여자친구는 한명 사랑 밖어 없어요. > 요즘엔 여자친구 한 명밖에 없어요.
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제가 남동생을 한 명 밖에 없어요. (I only have one younger brother.)
여기 우리가 돈을 밖에 없어요? (Is this money all we have?)
여기에 햄버거는 밖에 안 팔아요. (Here only sells hamburgers.)
제이팍의 노래를 밖에 안 듣어요. (He only listens to Jay Park’s songs.)
저는 다삿 시 밖에 만날수 없어요. (I can only meet you at 6 o’clock.)
감사합니다!
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