Korean grammar patterns › Level 4
-기만 하면
whenever …, every time; as long as (you just) …
Level 4 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Every time clause 1 happens, clause 2 follows (a habit or tendency). It can also mean 'as long as you just …': 열심히 하기만 하면 돼요.
Forming it
| 타다 | → 타기만 하면 |
| 듣다 | → 듣기만 하면 |
| 보다 | → 보기만 하면 |
Examples
저는 버스를 타기만 하면 졸려요.
Whenever I get on a bus, I get sleepy.
이 노래를 듣기만 하면 고향 생각이 나요.
Every time I hear this song, I think of my hometown.
Compared with similar patterns
-기만 하다 (G3-020) means 'only do, do nothing but'. -(으)면 (G1-028) is a plain condition; -기만 하면 stresses 'every single time' or 'that's all it takes'.