Korean grammar patterns › Level 4
-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다
only, merely; it's just that … (nothing more)
Level 4 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Limits the situation to just this, often to play something down or explain: 'it's only that …'. Past: -았/었을 뿐이다.
Forming it
| 하다 | → 할 뿐이에요 |
| 듣다 | → 들을 뿐이에요 |
| 하다 | → 했을 뿐이에요 |
| 친구 | → 친구일 뿐이에요 |
Examples
감사하긴요, 저는 제가 할 일을 했을 뿐이에요.
No need to thank me — I only did what I had to do.
그 사람과는 그냥 친한 친구일 뿐이에요.
He's just a close friend, nothing more.
Compared with similar patterns
-기만 하다 (G3-020) means 'do nothing but' one action. -(으)ㄹ 따름이다 (G5-036) is a more formal version. -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 (G3-024) means 'not only … but also'.