Next up in our line of particles is -밖에. -밖에 and -만 are two very similar particles and because of that people sometimes mix them up when knowing the difference is important. Though, once you understand the difference between these two particles, you’ll be using them as a pro.
Nothing But -밖에
-밖에 and -만 are very similar and in a lot of cases you can use either of the two. While they are similar, though, they are not the same. There is a strong difference in nuance. The major difference in nuance is the tone. -밖에 has an inherently negative connotation, because it can only be used in negative sentences. -만 doesn’t have that inherent negativity. So when you use 밖에 is somewhat expresses disappointment with the amount of what is talked about. You can translate -밖에 to English with “only”, “nothing but” or “just”. Let’s take a look at an example:
Example: 이만 원밖에 내 지갑 안에 없어요.
Translation: There is only twenty thousand won in my wallet.
How To Use
Like any particle -밖에 is rather easy to use. You just have to attach it at the end of the word you need to use it with. However, unlike any particles, this one forces you to use a specific kind of sentence type. Your sentence always needs to be a negative sentence. This means you will have to use sentences using one of these grammar topics:
- 안/-지 않다
- 못/-지 못하다
Furthermore sentence with -밖에 can never use an imperative form, such as -지 마세요, or a propositive form, such as -(으)ㄹ까요. Once again for those kinds of expressions you will have to resort to using the particle -만.