3 · Further patterns
Worth doing: -(으)ㄹ 만하다
worth, adequacy and justification
-(으)ㄹ 만하다 says that something is worth doing, good enough to do, or understandable.
The pattern is the future modifier -(eu)l followed by 만하다. After a vowel the stem takes a final l, after a consonant it takes -을, and a stem that already ends in l stays as it is. So 보다 gives 볼 만해요, 읽다 gives 읽을 만해요, and 살다 gives 살 만해요. 만하다 is written after a space, because -(eu)l is a modifier ending and 만하다 a separate word.
Its best-known use is a recommendation: 이 영화는 볼 만해요, “this film is worth seeing”. Before a noun it takes the modifier form 만한: 가 볼 만한 곳, “a place worth visiting”. That is how Korean says “sights”, “books worth reading”, “something worth eating”.
The second use is more modest than English speakers expect: “acceptable, good enough”. 처음에는 힘들었는데 이제 살 만해요 is “it was hard at first, but now life is bearable”. Said about food, 먹을 만해요 often means “it's edible, it's all right” — faint praise, not “it is worth eating”. Tone and context decide; if you want to praise a dish, say 맛있어요.
The third use is a judgement: someone had good reason to do something. 그 사람이 화낼 만해요 is “no wonder he is angry, he has every reason to be”. In all three uses, 만하다 behaves like an adjective: its present modifier is 만한, never 만하는.
The form
| after a vowel | 보다 → 볼 만해요 |
| after a consonant | 읽다 → 읽을 만해요 |
| stem ending in l | 살다 → 살 만해요 |
| before a noun | 가 볼 만한 곳 |
| in the past | 볼 만했어요 |
| negative | 볼 만한 게 없어요 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
After a vowel the stem takes a final l (볼 만하다); after a consonant it takes -을 만하다.
이 책은 한번 읽을 만해요.This book is worth a read.
Before a noun the form is 만한, as for an adjective.
서울에는 가 볼 만한 곳이 많아요.There are many places worth visiting in Seoul.
It can mean only “acceptable, good enough” — often faint praise.
아주 맛있지는 않지만 먹을 만해요.It isn't delicious, but it's all right.
With a reaction such as anger or praise, it means “has good reason to”.
그 사람이 화를 낼 만해요.He has every reason to be angry.
A closer look
Praise, or politeness about a disappointment
Whether -(eu)l manhada is a warm recommendation or a cool “it'll do” depends on the verb and on what surrounds it. 볼 만해요 about a film, a view or an exhibition is normally a recommendation. 먹을 만해요, 입을 만해요 or 쓸 만해요 about food, clothes or a tool usually means “still usable, good enough”, and the speaker is choosing not to complain.
Words around it tip the balance: 꼭 and 정말 push it towards praise (정말 볼 만해요); 그런대로, “more or less”, and 아직 push it towards “acceptable” (그런대로 먹을 만해요).
How to spot it
- -(으)ㄹ 만하다
- -(으)ㄹ 만한
- 한번
- 꼭
Example sentences
그 식당은 좀 비싸지만 갈 만해요.That restaurant is a bit expensive, but it's worth going to.
처음엔 힘들었는데 이제는 살 만해요.It was hard at first, but now life is bearable.
이 근처에 먹을 만한 데 있어요?Is there anywhere decent to eat around here?
그 전시회는 시간을 내서 볼 만해요.That exhibition is worth making time for.
그 정도면 칭찬받을 만해요.With a result like that, he deserves praise.
이 정도 가격이면 살 만해요.At that price it's worth buying.
8 more example sentences
이번 주말에 할 만한 일이 있어요?Is there anything worth doing this weekend?
아직 입을 만한 옷인데 왜 버려요?These clothes are still wearable — why throw them away?
그 이야기는 믿을 만해요.That story is believable.
이 상자는 혼자서 들 만해요.This box is light enough to carry on your own.
그 영화는 두 번 볼 만했어요.That film was worth seeing twice.
이 노트북은 오래됐지만 아직 쓸 만해요.This laptop is old, but it is still usable.
그 친구가 서운해할 만해요.My friend has good reason to feel hurt.
요즘은 읽을 만한 책이 별로 없어요.There aren't many books worth reading these days.
Worth knowing (1)
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Spacing
The rules allow 볼 만하다 and 볼만하다, because 만하다 is an auxiliary. This site writes it with a space throughout, which shows where the modifier ending -(eu)l ends.
제주도에는 구경할 만한 곳이 많아요.There is a lot worth seeing on Jeju Island.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
만하다 describes a quality, so it conjugates like an adjective. The present modifier of an adjective ends in -(eu)n: 좋은 곳, and so also 볼 만한 곳. -는 belongs to action verbs.
Bol manhaeyo recommends; meogeul manhaeyo may only mean it is edible.
Your turn
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