3 · Particles
Nothing but: 밖에 with a negative
only, with a negative verb
밖에 means "only", but the verb after it must be negative — literally "outside this, nothing".
밖 is the noun "outside", and 밖에 written onto another noun means "apart from that": 천 원밖에 없어요 is "apart from a thousand won there is nothing" — I have only a thousand won. The verb must be negative: 없다, a verb with 안 or 못, 모르다, or a form in -지 않다.
Compared with 만, the neutral "only", 밖에 carries a feeling: the amount is less than wanted or expected. 다섯 명밖에 안 왔어요, "only five people came", sounds disappointed; 다섯 명만 왔어요 reports the number. Said about yourself, the same tone sounds modest: 조금밖에 몰라요, "I only know a little".
Like 만, it takes the place of 이/가 and 을/를, and comes after the other particles: 여기에서밖에 안 팔아요, "it is sold only here", 엄마한테밖에 말 안 했어요, "I have told only my mum". After the dependent noun 수 it gives "have no choice but": 기다릴 수밖에 없어요, "there is nothing for it but to wait".
English says "I have only …" with a positive verb, so the typical mistake is to keep the verb positive — which leaves the Korean sentence without a meaning. If the verb has to be positive, use 만. And mind the spacing: as a particle, 밖에 is written onto the noun; as "outside of" a place, 밖 is a noun of its own and stands apart: 건물 밖에, "outside the building".
The form
| only, with there is not | 천 원밖에 없어요. |
| only, with an, not | 두 명밖에 안 왔어요. |
| only, with mot, cannot | 조금밖에 못 먹었어요. |
| after another particle | 여기에서밖에 안 팔아요. |
| no choice but | 기다릴 수밖에 없어요. |
| compare: the place outside | 건물 밖에 있어요. |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
밖에 is followed by a negative verb — 없다, 안, 못, 모르다.
지갑에 만 원밖에 없어요.I only have ten thousand won in my wallet.
밖에 suggests that the amount is less than wanted or expected; 만 is neutral.
어제 세 시간밖에 못 잤어요.Yesterday I only got three hours of sleep.
It replaces 이/가 and 을/를, and follows the other particles.
이 빵은 이 가게에서밖에 안 팔아요.This bread is sold only in this shop.
After the dependent noun 수, it means "have no choice but to".
차가 없어서 걸어갈 수밖에 없었어요.I had no car, so I had no choice but to walk.
A closer look
Why "outside" means "only"
English has the same idea in "nothing but" and "none other than": you name what is there by saying that everything else is absent. 밖에 works exactly like that, and the negative verb is not decoration — it is the "nothing" half of "nothing but".
This makes 밖에 the natural choice for modesty and for strong feelings. 저는 이것밖에 못 해요, "this is all I can do", plays your own ability down; 고맙다는 말밖에 할 말이 없어요, "I have no words but thank you", is a heartfelt way of thanking someone.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
-
밖 means the place outside something
it is a noun of its own, written apart from the noun before it, and the verb can be positive.
아이들이 건물 밖에서 놀아요.The children are playing outside the building.
Here nothing is being limited; 밖 simply names a place, like 안 (inside) or 앞 (in front).
How to spot it
- 밖에
- 밖에 없어요
- 밖에 안
- 밖에 못
- 수밖에 없다
Example sentences
냉장고에 우유밖에 없어요.There is nothing in the fridge but milk.
파티에 친구가 두 명밖에 안 왔어요.Only two friends came to the party.
저는 한국어를 조금밖에 몰라요.I only know a little Korean.
이 비밀은 너밖에 몰라.Only you know this secret. (to a friend)
시간이 오 분밖에 안 남았어요.There are only five minutes left.
버스가 끊겨서 택시를 탈 수밖에 없었어요.The buses had stopped running, so I had no choice but to take a taxi.
8 more example sentences
제 동생은 고기밖에 안 먹어요.My younger sibling eats nothing but meat.
교실에 학생이 한 명밖에 없어요.There is only one student in the classroom.
방법이 이것밖에 없어요.This is the only way.
저는 그 사람 이름밖에 몰라요.I only know that person's name.
오늘은 커피 한 잔밖에 안 마셨어요.Today I have had only one cup of coffee.
너무 바빠서 점심을 조금밖에 못 먹었어요.I was so busy that I only managed to eat a little lunch.
이 사실은 우리밖에 몰라요.Only we know this.
제가 실수해서 사과할 수밖에 없었어요.It was my mistake, so all I could do was apologise.
Worth knowing (1)
-
The same fact, two feelings
두 명만 왔어요 and 두 명밖에 안 왔어요 report the same number. The first simply states it; the second says it was not enough. In a reply about yourself, 밖에 also sounds modest.
아직 일 년밖에 안 배웠어요.I've only been learning for a year.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English says "I have only a thousand won" with a positive verb, so English speakers keep it positive. But 밖에 means "outside": "outside a thousand won, there is nothing". Without the negative the sentence falls apart. If you want a positive verb, use 만: 천 원만 있어요.
Bakke always waits for a "no": outside this, nothing.
Your turn
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