Korean Grammar Beginner -Particles- (13): N밖에

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I. Examples

밖에 signifies the sole thing or option available, leaving no room for any alternatives. It can be translated as ‘only’, ‘nothing but’, ‘other than that’, ‘aside from that’, ‘willingly accepting’, inevitable’ in English. Thus, the term preceding 밖에 typically implies a scarcity or a small number. It is primarily followed by a negative form.

망고수박이 한 개밖에 안 남았어요.
(There is only one mango watermelon left.)

냉장고에 우유밖에 없어요.
(There is only milk in the fridge.)

파티에 2명밖에 안 왔어요.
= 파티에 2명만 왔어요.
(Only two people came to the party.)

II. Grammar Point

1. 밖에 + 안/못/없어요/몰라요

밖에’ itself carries a negative meaning and is used in negative sentences. If this usage seems confusing, simply think of it as a form of double negation. In other words, the structure of a sentence with ‘밖에’ is negative, but it emphasizes only the noun preceding ‘밖에’, making it an emphatic statement.

A. 밖에 안

관람객이 열 명밖에 안 왔어요.
(Only ten spectators came.)

B. 밖에 못

그 돈으로 햄버거 하나밖에 못 사요.
(With that money, I can only buy one hamburger.)

C. 밖에 없어요

지금 음식이 조금밖에 없어요.
(There is only a little food left now.)

당신밖에 없어요.
(You are the only one (for me).)

D. 밖에 몰라요

스페인어는 ‘Si’ 밖에 몰라요.
(I only know “Si” in Spanish.)

당신밖에 몰라요.
(I pay attention to nobody but you.)

2. 밖에 + 아니다/imperative/propositive –> X

However, there are specific negative forms that can be used together with “밖에”. It cannot be followed by 아니다, nor can it be followed by imperative or propositive forms amongst types of sentences.

레아는 학생밖에 아니에요.

양파는 조금 밖에 사지 마세요. (X)
(=imperative form)
–> 양파는 조금만 사세요.
(Please buy only a little bit of onions.)

10분밖에 기다리지 맙시다. (X)
(=propostive form)
–> 10분만 기다립시다. (O)
(Let’s wait just 10 minutes.)

3. 밖에 vs 만

A. 밖에 –> in only negative sentence

교실에 준호밖에 있어요. (X)
교실에 준호만 있어요. (O)
(Only Junho is in the classroom.)

슈퍼에서 과일밖에 샀어요. (X)
슈퍼에서 과일만 샀어요. (O)
(I only bought fruit at the supermarket.)

B. 만 –> in both positive and negative sentence

교실에 준호만 있어요. (O)
(Only Junho is left in the classroom)
교실에 준호만 없어요. (O)
(Everyone but Junho is in the classroom.)

슈퍼에서 과일만 샀어요. (O)
(I only bought fruit at the store.)
슈퍼에서 과일만 안 샀어요. (O)
(I bought things other than
fruit at the supermarket.)

III. Practice

집에서 회사까지 걸어서 10분___ 안 걸려요.
어제 세 시간___ 못 잤어요.
우리반에 여학생이 10명___ 없어요.