What Does 만 Mean in Korean?
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · Updated · How we write & review
After this page, you can say "only" and "just" with 만 (man), and see how it follows the same rules as 도.
10-second answer
What does Man mean?
만 (man) means "only" or "just." Like 도 (do), it usually replaces 은/는 (eun/neun), 이/가 (i/ga), and 을/를 (eul/reul) — but unlike 도, it can also combine with location particles like 에서 (eseo) without replacing them.
Quick check — did that land?
1. How do you say "I only drink coffee"?
저도 갈게요. 저만 갈게요. 도는 또한, 만은 오직이라는 뜻이에요. 다이브인 코리안에서 더 배워보세요.
Quick Examples
저만 몰랐어요.
jeoman mollasseoyo.
Only I didn't know.
저 + 만 (replacing 는/가).
커피만 마셔요.
keopiman masyeoyo.
I only drink coffee.
커피 + 만 (replacing 를).
여기서만 팔아요.
yeogiseoman parayo.
It's only sold here.
여기서 (에서 contracted) + 만 — 에서 stays.
See also: What Does 도 Mean in Korean?
만 vs 도: Opposites With Similar Rules
| 도 (also) | 만 (only) | |
|---|---|---|
| Replaces 은/는/이/가/을/를 | Yes | Yes |
| Stacks with 에/에서/에게 | Yes | Yes |
| Meaning | Adds to the set | Narrows to one thing |
저도 갈 거예요. / 저만 갈 거예요.
I'll go too. / Only I'll go.
Same slot, opposite meaning.
On the Road: 버스만 and 전용
Signs rarely spell out 만. This one says 버스전용 (beoseu jeonyong): 전용 means something is reserved for one kind of use, so the sign is the written way of saying 버스만 — "buses only." Explaining it out loud, you'd use 만: 이 차선은 버스만 다닐 수 있어요.
It's worth knowing if you rent a car in Korea: this median lane is not for you, and ordinary cars must stay out of it. And 만 stacks with location particles, as the table above shows — 주말에만 (on weekends only), 여기서만 (only here) — which is how you'd say when and where something is allowed. Its opposite, "also," is 도 (do).
이 차선은 버스만 다닐 수 있어요.
i chaseoneun beoseuman danil su isseoyo.
Only buses can use this lane.
렌터카는 여기 들어가면 안 돼요.
renteokaneun yeogi deureogamyeon an dwaeyo.
Rental cars can't go in here.
저는 주말에만 운전해요.
jeoneun jumareman unjeonhaeyo.
I only drive on weekends.
Common Phrases With 만
- 조금만 (jogeumman) — just a little
- 잠깐만 (jamkkanman) — just a moment / hold on
- 한 번만 (han beonman) — just once
- 너만 (neoman) — only you
잠깐만(요) is one of the most useful casual phrases in Korean — "hold on a sec" — you'll hear it constantly.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Stacking 만 with 는/가/를
커피를만 is wrong — 만 replaces 를 just like 도 does.
Mistake #2 — Confusing 만 (only) with 만 (10,000)
만 is also the number 10,000 in Korean! Context makes it obvious (만 원 = 10,000 won vs 저만 = only me), but it surprises beginners searching dictionaries.
Mini Quiz
2 short questions — about 1 minute
2. What does 잠깐만(요) mean?
3. 여기서만 팔아요 — what does 만 attach to?
Part of Korean Grammar Basics — Particles, Tense, and Negation
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
안 vs 못: Two Ways to Say 'Not' in Korean
You've covered the core particles — negation is the next wall every beginner hits.
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