4 · Prepositions and fixed patterns
Only, merely: -(으)ㄹ 뿐이다
nothing more than this
-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다 says that something is only so and nothing more; -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 means “not only … but also”.
At a glance
- Remember
- L ppunida: only this; l ppunman anira: this, and more besides.
- Form
- 피곤하다 → 피곤할 뿐이에요after a vowel
- Signal words
- -(으)ㄹ 뿐이다
- 뿐
- 뿐만 아니라
- 그냥
- -도
- Trap
- Wrong:저는 그냥 물어봤을뿐이에요.Right:저는 그냥 물어봤을 뿐이에요.
Your turn
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The form
From the base form to the new form
Each row first says what the form expresses, then shows it in Korean: the base form before the arrow, the result after it.
| after a vowel | 피곤하다 → 피곤할 뿐이에요 |
| after a consonant | 웃다 → 웃을 뿐이에요 |
| past | 물어보다 → 물어봤을 뿐이에요 |
| after a noun | 친구뿐이에요 |
| not only … but also | 맛있을 뿐만 아니라 |
| after a noun: not only | 한국뿐만 아니라 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다 limits what is said: only this, nothing more.
조금 피곤할 뿐이에요. 괜찮아요.I'm just a little tired. I'm fine.
For the past, it is -았/었을 뿐이다.
저는 그냥 물어봤을 뿐이에요.I was only asking.
After a noun, 뿐 is written onto it.
제가 믿을 수 있는 사람은 엄마뿐이에요.The only person I can trust is my mum.
-(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 means “not only … but also”.
그 사람은 친절할 뿐만 아니라 재미있어요.He is not only kind, but funny too.
Example sentences
저는 제 일을 했을 뿐이에요.I only did my job.
그냥 얼굴을 보고 싶었을 뿐이에요.I just wanted to see you, that was all.
지갑에는 천 원뿐이었어요.There was only a thousand won in the wallet.
그는 웃을 뿐 아무 말도 하지 않았어요.He only smiled and did not say a word.
이 동네는 조용할 뿐만 아니라 교통도 편리해요.This area is not only quiet, but has good transport too.
학생들뿐만 아니라 선생님들도 그 행사에 왔어요.Not only the students but the teachers too came to the event.
7 more example sentences
아니에요, 저는 도와 드렸을 뿐이에요.Not at all, I only helped.
그 사람에 대해서 이름만 알 뿐이에요.All I know about him is his name.
지금 필요한 건 휴식뿐이에요.All I need now is a rest.
아이는 울기만 할 뿐 대답을 안 했어요.The child only cried and would not answer.
이 책은 재미있을 뿐만 아니라 유익해요.This book is not only enjoyable but useful too.
그 가게는 주말뿐만 아니라 평일에도 붐벼요.That shop is busy not only at weekends but on weekdays too.
저는 사실을 말했을 뿐이에요.I only told the truth.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
After a modifier, 뿐 is a bound noun and stands as a word of its own: 물어봤을 뿐이에요. Only after a plain noun is it a particle written onto it: 천 원뿐이에요.
The full explanation
Read it all · about 1 min
뿐 means “only this”. After the modifier -(으)ㄹ, it limits what is said: 조금 피곤할 뿐이에요, “I'm just a little tired, that's all”. After a vowel the modifier is -ㄹ, after a consonant -을; for the past it is -았/었을: 그냥 물어봤을 뿐이에요, “I was only asking”.
The pattern plays something down or rules out a further meaning: 저는 제 일을 했을 뿐이에요, “I only did my job” — no thanks needed. It sounds modest and a little formal, and it is common in replies to praise or to an accusation.
After a noun, 뿐 is a particle and is written onto it: 믿을 사람은 너뿐이야, “you are the only one I can trust”. With 이다: 친구뿐이에요, “it is only a friend”. In the middle of a sentence -(으)ㄹ 뿐 can stand without 이다: 웃을 뿐 아무 말도 안 했어요.
With 만 아니라, the limit is lifted: -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 means “not only … but also”. 이 식당은 맛있을 뿐만 아니라 값도 싸요. After a noun it is 뿐만 아니라 written onto it: 한국뿐만 아니라 일본에서도.
A closer look
Modest replies
When somebody thanks you warmly, 제가 할 일을 했을 뿐이에요, “I only did what I had to”, turns the thanks aside. When somebody suspects a motive, 그냥 궁금했을 뿐이에요, “I was just curious”, denies it.
In both cases the pattern draws a line round what was meant. Its everyday cousin is 그냥 …(이)에요; 뿐 adds that nothing lies beyond the line.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
-
뿐 follows a noun rather than a modifier
it is written onto the noun: 너뿐, 한국뿐만 아니라.
냉장고에 물뿐이에요.There is nothing but water in the fridge.
After a noun, 뿐 is a particle; after a modifier it is a bound noun and takes a space.
Worth knowing (1)
-
Nothing but: -(으)ㄹ 따름이다
In formal speeches, -(으)ㄹ 따름이에요 means the same as -(으)ㄹ 뿐이에요 and sounds even more modest: 감사할 따름입니다, “I can only be grateful”.
그저 감사할 따름입니다.I can only say thank you.
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