밖에 (bakk-e, bakke) · 만 (man)
밖에 is used mainly with negatives to emphasize 'only' or 'nothing but,' while 만 is used with affirmatives to indicate 'only' or 'just' limiting something.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
A particle used with negative sentences to emphasize limitation meaning 'only' or 'nothing but'
When to use
negative limitation, quantity restriction emphasis, expressing negative contexts
The nuance
밖에 must be used with negative sentences, commonly in the pattern '~밖에 없다' to express limitation.
A particle used with affirmative sentences to indicate limitation meaning 'only' or 'just'
When to use
affirmative limitation, expressing positive contexts, simple limitation emphasis
The nuance
만 is used with affirmative sentences to simply indicate limitation or emphasis.
나에게는 동생밖에 없어요.
na-e-ge-neun dong-saeng-bakk-e eop-eo-yo., na e ge neun dong saeng bakk e eop eo yo.
Correctly uses 밖에 with the negative verb '없어요' to express 'only a younger sibling' limitation.
나에게는 동생만 있어요.
na-e-ge-neun dong-saeng-man iss-eo-yo., na e ge neun dong saeng man iss eo yo.
Correctly uses 만 with the affirmative verb '있어요' to indicate 'only a younger sibling'.
나는 사과밖에 좋아해요.
na-neun sa-gwa-bakk-e joh-a-hae-yo., na neun sa gwa bakk e joh a hae yo.
밖에 must be used with negative sentences; '좋아해요' is affirmative, so 만 should be used instead.
나는 사과만 좋아하지 않아요.
na-neun sa-gwa-man joh-a-ha-ji an-a-yo., na neun sa gwa man joh a ha ji an a yo.
만 is for affirmative sentences; using it with a negative verb is incorrect. 밖에 should be used here.
이 문제는 나밖에 몰라요.
i mun-je-neun na-bakk-e mol-ra-yo., i mun je neun na bakk e mol ra yo.
Although '몰라요' is negative in meaning, 밖에 is correctly used to emphasize 'only me'.
이 문제는 나만 알아요.
i mun-je-neun na-man al-a-yo., i mun je neun na man al a yo.
Correctly uses 만 with affirmative verb '알아요' to indicate 'only me'.
그는 10명밖에 왔어요.
geu-neun 10myeong-bakk-e wass-eo-yo., geu neun 10myeong bakk e wass eo yo.
밖에 must be used with negatives; '왔어요' is affirmative, so 만 should be used.
그는 10명만 안 왔어요.
geu-neun 10myeong-man an wass-eo-yo., geu neun 10myeong man an wass eo yo.
만 is for affirmative sentences; using it with a negative verb like '안 왔어요' is incorrect.
Which particle is used with negative sentences to emphasize 'only' or 'nothing but'?
Which particle is used with affirmative sentences to indicate 'only' or 'just'?
Which sentence is correct?
