VS + 기만 하다
1. Title
How to Use -기만 하다 in Korean
2. Grammar Explanation
The Korean grammatical structure -기만 하다 is used to express that someone only does one specific action and does nothing else. It is often used with a negative connotation, implying laziness, one-sidedness, or lack of balance.
Structure:
Verb stem + -기만 하다
You attach -기 to the verb stem to nominalize it (turn it into a noun).
Then add 만 하다 to indicate “only doing that action.”
Meaning:
"only do ~"
"do nothing but ~"
It emphasizes exclusivity of action and is commonly used to criticize or highlight the limitation in someone's behavior.
Examples of the base forms:
먹다 → 먹기만 하다 = to only eat
자다 → 자기만 하다 = to only sleep
공부하다 → 공부하기만 하다 = to only study
This form can also be conjugated into various tenses:
Present: 먹기만 해요
Past: 먹기만 했어요
Future: 먹기만 할 거예요
It’s often used with negative expressions like:
아무 것도 안 하고 (without doing anything else)
항상 (always)
3. Example Sentences
제 동생은 놀기만 해요.
(My younger sibling only plays.)저는 주말에 자기만 했어요.
(I only slept on the weekend.)친구는 불평하기만 해요.
(My friend only complains.)우리 강아지는 먹기만 해요.
(Our dog only eats.)요즘에 일하기만 해서 피곤해요.
(I’m tired because I’ve been only working these days.)
4. Sample Dialogues
Dialogue 1
A: 주말에 뭐 했어요?
(What did you do over the weekend?)
B: 그냥 자기만 했어요. 너무 피곤했거든요.
(I just slept. I was really tired.)
Dialogue 2
A: 민수 씨는 운동 안 해요?
(Minsu, don’t you exercise?)
B: 아니요, 먹기만 해요. 그래서 살이 좀 쪘어요.
(No, I only eat. So I gained a bit of weight.)
5. Make Korean Sentences from English!
I only drink coffee in the morning.
My mom only watches dramas at night.
My brother only plays computer games.
My friend only talks and never listens.
I only worked yesterday.
My sister only reads books in her room.
My teacher only gives homework.
I only cleaned the kitchen.
My coworker only checks emails.
My dad only watches sports.
Personalized feedback ➡️ Fewer mistakes, more natural Korean 🇰🇷
Audio files for every lesson ➡️ Sharpen your pronunciation and intonation 🗣️
Vocabulary list for every lesson ➡️ Stop speaking like a 3-year-old kid 👧🏻 ❌
Weekly quizzes ➡️ Review and feedback to help you shine 💯
Group chat for paid subscribers ➡️ Stop studying alone. That’s boring 🥱

