elementary · freeInteractive lesson
“Only” with negatives
Try it freeCompare + self-checkRead the contrast, then take the on-page quiz.Open →Explanation
N 밖에 + negative = only: 천 원밖에 없어요 (I only have 1,000 won).
Do not translate word-for-word as “outside not have.”
만 also means only but does not require negation: 물만 마셨어요.
Focus on construction pairs: 밖에 + 없다/못/안 patterns.
Examples
한국어밖에 몰라요.
I only know Korean.
한 명밖에 안 왔어요.
Only one person came.
물만 주세요.
Only water, please. (만, no negative needed)
Common mistakes
- 물밖에 있어요 intending “only water.”
- Avoiding 밖에 entirely and overusing awkward English calques.
Related
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