-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다

-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다 says that something is just this and nothing more, and is often used to downplay a fact or to sound modest.

정도·비교Degree & comparison

Han: To say someone 'is merely N', keep 이다: N + 일 뿐이다. 친구뿐이에요 means 'there are only friends', not 'he's just a friend'.

Examples

그 사람과는 몇 번 만났을 뿐이지 친한 사이는 아니에요.I've only met him a few times; we're not close.

화가 난 게 아니라 조금 피곤할 뿐이에요.I'm not angry, I'm just a little tired.

저는 제가 해야 할 일을 했을 뿐이에요.I only did what I had to do.

이건 시작일 뿐이다.This is only the beginning.

V/A+(으)ㄹ 뿐이다

V/A+았/었을 뿐이다 (past)

N+일 뿐이다

가다 → 갈 뿐이다, 먹다 → 먹을 뿐이다, 하다 → 했을 뿐이다, 시작 → 시작일 뿐이다

For an action that is already finished, use the past form -았/었을 뿐이다: 제 일을 했을 뿐이에요 'I only did my job'.
After a noun, keep 이다: 친구일 뿐이다 'is just a friend'. 친구뿐이다 without 이다 means 'there are only friends'.
It states facts or feelings; it cannot be turned into a command or a suggestion (not *갈 뿐이세요, *갈 뿐이자).
It is often used together with 그냥, 단지 or 다만 to stress that nothing more is involved.

Wrong: ~~그 사람은 그냥 친구뿐이에요.~~

Right: 그 사람은 그냥 친구일 뿐이에요.

To say someone 'is merely N', keep 이다: N + 일 뿐이다. 친구뿐이에요 means 'there are only friends', not 'he's just a friend'.

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