뿐 (ppun) means "only, just".
Means 'only' or 'just'. Used for exclusivity.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- It usually ends the sentence: 뿐이에요 ppunieyo, 뿐이야 ppuniya.
Build it
When to use it
That's all there is
Nothing else besides this.
Just doing my job
After a verb, use the ㄹ form: "I only …".
The only one
뿐인 ppunin before a noun.
Watch out
Mid-sentence, use 만 man. This one usually ends the sentence.
After a verb, add 을 eul: 했을 뿐 haesseul ppun.
In context
8 examples- 1
남은 것은 이것뿐이에요.
Nameun geoseun igeotppunieyo.
The only thing left is this.
- 2
웃음뿐인 하루였어요.
Useumppunin haruyeosseoyo.
It was a day full of only laughter.
- 3
제가 아는 건 그것뿐이에요.
Jega aneun geon geugeotppunieyo.
That's all I know.
- 4
지갑에 천 원뿐이야.
Jigabe cheon wonppuniya.
All I've got in my wallet is a thousand won.
- 5
그냥 물어봤을 뿐이에요.
Geunyang mureobwasseul ppunieyo.
I was just asking.
- 6
세상에 하나뿐인 선물이에요.
Sesange hanappunin seonmurieyo.
It's a one-of-a-kind gift.
- 7
저는 시키는 대로 했을 뿐이에요.
Jeoneun sikineun daero haesseul ppunieyo.
I only did what I was told.
- 8
그 사람은 말뿐이야.
Geu sarameun malppuniya.
He's all talk.
Practice
8 questions저는 커피뿐 마셔요.
Jeoneun keopippun masyeoyo.
I only drink coffee.
뿐 vs 만
만 man works anywhere in the sentence and with any verb. 뿐 usually closes the sentence with 이다 ida, and it sounds more final, like "and that's it":
- 물만 있어요. mulman isseoyo "There's only water."
- 물뿐이에요. mulppunieyo "It's just water. Nothing else."
The opposite: 뿐만 아니라
Add 만 아니라 and the meaning flips from "only this" to "not only this": 이것뿐만 아니라 igeotppunman anira, "not just this". It has its own 뿐만 아니라 lesson.
A formal cousin: 따름이다
In speeches and formal writing, you'll see 따름이다 ttareumida after the ㄹ form, with the same "simply, only" meaning. It's mostly used for feelings:
- 감사할 따름입니다. gamsahal ttareumimnida "I'm simply grateful."
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 뿐 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
