Lesson 09 · N도 · N만 (Also & Only)
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean Grammar Class · Lesson 09
N도 · N만 (Also & Only)
Say “me too,” add another favorite thing, or explain that you want only one option.
HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · ENGLISH EXPLANATIONS
Watch Lesson 9 with Hyeju
Learn the vocabulary and grammar with English explanations, then review the examples and try the practice below.
Do You Remember Lesson 08?
Now you can add one more interest—or limit your choice to just one.
Today’s Grammar
| Pattern | Core meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| N도 | also; too | 저도 좋아해요. — I like it too. |
| N만 | only; just | 커피만 마셔요. — I drink only coffee. |
Both particles stay the same after consonants and vowels: 책도 / 영화도, 책만 / 영화만. Attach them directly to the noun.
Part 1 · 도: Add Something
Use 도 when something is included in addition to something already stated or understood.
🌿 Hyeju’s Note · Put 도 on What You Are Adding
저도 영화를 좋아해요. adds another person: “I, too, like movies.”
저는 영화도 좋아해요. adds another interest: “I like movies, too.” The English wording can look similar, so pay attention to which Korean noun has 도.
Part 2 · 만: Limit the Choice
The position of 만 changes what is limited. Attach it to the person, thing, or time you mean to restrict. 주말에만 is a preview: 주말 = weekend, 에 = at/on, 만 = only.
What Happens to Other Particles?
| Basic sentence | With 도 | With 만 |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 학생이에요. | 저도 학생이에요. | 저만 학생이에요. |
| 책이 있어요. | 책도 있어요. | 책만 있어요. |
| 커피를 마셔요. | 커피도 마셔요. | 커피만 마셔요. |
In these simple patterns, 도 or 만 takes the place of 은/는, 이/가, or 을/를. Learn 저도, not 저는도; 커피도, not 커피를도.
🌿 Hyeju’s Note · This Is a Beginner Pattern, Not a Universal Ban
You will later meet combinations such as 만이 and 만을. Place particles may remain before 도 or 만: 학교에도 (at school too), 집에서만 (only at home). For now, practice the simple sentences above.
Mini Dialogue
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 11
N밖에 + negative
지갑에 천 원밖에 없어요.만 is a neutral “only”. 밖에 + a negative also means “only”, but with a feeling of “not enough”.
Look ahead: Lesson 11 →LESSON 22
은/는 (contrast)
커피는 마셔요. 그런데 차는 안 마셔요.은/는 can contrast: “Coffee I do drink (but not tea).” 도 adds, 만 limits.
Look ahead: Lesson 22 →LESSON 8
하고
저하고 친구가 같이 가요.하고 lists people or things together. 도 adds “too” to something already mentioned.
Review Lesson 8 →LESSON 15
도 + 안
저도 안 가요.도 with a negative means “not … either”: 저도 안 가요 (I’m not going either).
Look ahead: Lesson 15 →| Pattern | Meaning | Replaces 이/가 · 을/를? | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 도 | also, too | Yes | 저도 가요 |
| 만 | only | Usually | 물만 마셔요 |
| 밖에 | only (+ negative) | Yes | 물밖에 안 마셔요 |
| 은/는 | as for (contrast) | Yes | 물은 마셔요 |
Common mistakes
도 adds; 만 limits. They are not interchangeable.
만 does not require a negative verb: 커피만 마셔요 is a complete positive sentence.
Check the focus: 저만 = only me; 커피만 = only coffee.
도 replaces 이/가. Don’t stack them.
도 replaces 을/를 as well.
도 and 만 attach to the noun with no space.
To say “me too”, use 도. 만 would mean “only I am”.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blankA: 저는 고양이를 좋아해요. B: 저___ 고양이를 좋아해요.
Check answer
저도 고양이를 좋아해요.
B likes cats too, so use 도: 저도.
- Fill in the blank저녁에는 샐러드___ 먹어요. 다른 건 안 먹어요.
Check answer
저녁에는 샐러드만 먹어요.
Nothing else, so it’s “only salad”: 샐러드만.
- Choose the better form배가 불러요. 물(도 / 만) 주세요.
Check answer
만
You’re full, so you want only water: 물만.
- Choose the better form형은 키가 커요. 동생(도 / 만) 키가 커요.
Check answer
도
Both brothers are tall, so the younger one is tall “too”: 동생도.
- Find and fix the mistake오늘은 시간이도 없어요.
Check answer
오늘은 시간도 없어요.
도 replaces 이: 시간도.
- Say it in KoreanIn the morning, I only drink coffee.
Check answer
아침에는 커피만 마셔요.
만 replaces 를: 커피만. 아침에는 makes the morning the topic.
Today’s Key Point
도 = also / too; 만 = only / just.
Attach the particle to the noun you want to add or limit.
저도 and 영화도 add different information.
Practice simple forms first: 저도, 책만, 커피도.
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