N + 밖에 negative ending

Description

Noun + 밖에 negative ending : This pattern basically means 'only.' This pattern requires a negative tense after 밖에 such as 없다 or any other negation (안 ~, 못 ~, etc). 밖에 means outside, so saying N밖에 없다 would mean there is nothing besides N, you don't have anything outside of N, or you only have N. For example: '1000원밖에 없어요' means I only have 1000원, I don't anything besides 1000원 and literally means I don't have anything outside of 1000원.

Sentence Examples

Korean	English	Notes
한국말을 조금밖에 못해요.	I only speak a little Korean.	Polite informal form
어제 두 시간밖에 못잤어요.	I slept only 2 hours last night.	Polite informal form
이가 아파서 물밖에 못 먹어요.	I have a toothache, so I can eat only water.	Polite informal form
A : 한국말 하세요?" "B : 아니요. 영어 밖에 못 해요.	A : Do you speak Korean?" "B : No, I can only speak English.	Polite informal form
지금 200원밖에 없어.	I have only 200won now.	Low form(반말)
저는 술을 한 잔밖에 못 마셔요.	I can drink only a cup of alcohol.	Polite informal form
A : 한국인 친구 있어요?" "B : 한 명 밖에 없어요.	A : Do you have Korean friends?" "B : I have only one.	Polite informal form
10분 밖에 안 남았어.	We have only 10 minutes.	Low form(반말)
A : 펜 하나 더 있어?" "B : 미안해. 하나밖에 없어.	A : Do you have a spare pen?" "B : Sorry, I have only this one.	Low form(반말)
A : 동전있어?" "B : 지폐밖에 없어.	A : Do you have a coin?" "B : Sorry, I have only paper money."	Low form(반말)

Pronunciation

• 밖에 → [바께]

See Also

• N + 만
• N + 뿐이다
• N + 도