TOPIK II · LEVEL 3
-뿐
Attached to a noun, it means 'only N, nothing but N', usually as N뿐이다 'it is only N' or N뿐만 아니라 'not only N'. More emphatic than 만.
조사ParticlesHan: 뿐 is not used before an ordinary verb like 마시다; use 만, or rephrase as 마신 건 커피뿐이에요.
Examples
이 식당은 맛뿐만 아니라 분위기도 좋아요.This restaurant is good not only for the food but also for the atmosphere.
지금 나를 이해해 주는 사람은 너뿐이야.You're the only one who understands me right now.
그는 하나뿐인 아들을 위해 평생 일했다.He worked his whole life for his one and only son.
Don’t mix up
-뿐vs-만만 attaches to a noun in any sentence; 뿐 normally needs 이다 or 만 아니라: 커피만 마셔요 vs 마실 건 커피뿐이에요.-뿐vs-밖에밖에 needs a negative verb; 뿐 uses 이다: 천 원밖에 없어요 vs 가진 돈은 천 원뿐이에요.-뿐vs-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다After a verb or adjective 뿐 comes after (으)ㄹ with a space: 조금 피곤할 뿐이에요; after a noun it attaches directly: 친구뿐이에요.How to build it
N+뿐 (+ 이다 / + 만 아니라 / + 인 N)
너 → 너뿐이야; 한 명 → 한 명뿐이에요; 하나 → 하나뿐인 딸; 한국어 → 한국어뿐만 아니라
- It is normally followed by 이다: 남은 건 이것뿐이에요. Before an ordinary verb use 만: 물만 마셨어요, not 물뿐 마셨어요.
- Before a noun it becomes N뿐인 N: 하나뿐인 딸 'my one and only daughter'.
- N뿐만 아니라 B도 = 'not only N but also B': 학생뿐만 아니라 선생님도 왔어요.
- Written attached to the noun; after a verb or adjective 뿐 is a separate dependent noun: -(으)ㄹ 뿐이다.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 저는 아침에 커피뿐 마셨어요.
Right: 저는 아침에 커피만 마셨어요.
뿐 is not used before an ordinary verb like 마시다; use 만, or rephrase as 마신 건 커피뿐이에요.
Practise -뿐 on real TOPIK questions
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All TOPIK grammar- -(이)야-(이)야 emphasizes a topic as obvious or as the only one meant: 'as for N, of course …'.
- -(이)라도N(이)라도 means "at least N": you settle for something that is not ideal but is better than nothing.
- -요 (높임 조사)A particle added to a word, phrase or connective ending to make a short or unfinished utterance polite (해요-style): 저요, 커피요, 왜요?, 그래서요.
- -보고Colloquial particle marking the person a remark, request or label is aimed at: 'to (someone)', with verbs of saying. Often carries a note of complaint or surprise.
- -에다가-에다가 marks the place where something is put or added ('onto / into'), or something added on top ('in addition to').
- N대로The particle 대로 on a noun means 'according to N, just as N says' (약속대로, 계획대로), 'as one likes' in 마음대로, and, in N은 N대로, 'each on its own, separately'.
- -(으)ㅁ-(으)ㅁ turns a verb or adjective into a noun; it is used in notes, notices, memos and written records.
- -(으)며-(으)며 is a formal, written 'and' (listing) or 'while' (two actions at once).
- -(으)ㄹ 겸-(으)ㄹ 겸 gives one of two or more purposes for a single action: 'partly to …, and also to …'.
