-만 하다

To Be As...as

Level 6Sounds Like man hada

-만 하다 is a comparative expression that means something is 'as big as' or 'the size of' a noun. For example, '주먹만 하다' means 'to be the size of a fist'.

How It Works

-만 하다 is a powerful comparative expression used to equate the size, quantity, or degree of one thing with another. It literally means 'to be as much as' or 'to be the size of'.

1. Structure and Conjugation
The pattern is formed by attaching -만 하다 directly to a noun.

  • Noun + -만 하다

It conjugates like an adjective. For example:

  • Present tense: 산만 해요 (It's as big as a mountain.)
  • Past tense: 산만 했어요 (It was as big as a mountain.)
  • Noun-modifying form: 산만 한 걱정 (a worry as big as a mountain)

2. Usage for Size and Quantity
Its most common use is for physical size comparison.

  • 이 수박은 내 머리만 하다. (This watermelon is as big as my head.)
  • 콩만 한 글씨는 읽기 힘들어요. (It's hard to read letters that are the size of a bean.)

3. Usage for Abstract Concepts
It can also be used metaphorically to describe the degree or scale of abstract things like emotions or problems.

  • 태산만 한 걱정 (a worry as big as a great mountain)
  • 하늘 같은 은혜에 감사합니다. (I'm thankful for your grace, which is as vast as the sky.)

Some set phrases use 같다 ('to be like') instead of -만 하다, such as 걱정이 태산 같다 and 하늘 같은 은혜.

4. Nuance and Comparison with -만큼
While both -만 하다 and -만큼 can mean 'as much as', they have different nuances.

  • -만 하다: Functions as a complete predicate (adjective) and focuses specifically on size, volume, or a visually perceptible amount. It often carries a sense of surprise or emphasis.
  • -만큼: Is a particle that requires another verb or adjective to complete the thought (e.g., 너만큼 크다 - to be as tall as you). It is more versatile and can be used for a wider range of comparisons beyond just size.

The pattern often incorporates the nuance of the particle -만 ('only'), implying the subject is 'only' that big or small, which serves to emphasize the comparison.

Do not confuse -만 하다 with -(으)ㄹ 만하다 ('worth doing'). 볼 만해요 means 'it is worth seeing'. -만 하다 follows a noun and compares size. -(으)ㄹ 만하다 follows a verb stem and says that something deserves doing.

Examples (5)

  1. 제 동생 손이 제 손만 해요.

    My younger brother's hand is as big as my hand.

    Word by Word: My younger brother's hand my hand-as-big-as is.

  2. 어제 손가락만 한 벌레를 봤어요.

    Yesterday, I saw a bug the size of a finger.

    Word by Word: Yesterday finger-as-big-as bug saw.

    Here, -만 하다 is conjugated into its noun-modifying form (-만 한) to describe the noun 벌레 (bug).

  3. 태산만 한 걱정 때문에 잠을 못 잤어요.

    I couldn't sleep because of a worry as big as a mountain.

    Word by Word: Mountain-as-big-as worry because of sleep couldn't sleep.

  4. 그 사람 월급은 쥐꼬리만 해요.

    His salary is meager (literally: as small as a mouse's tail).

    Word by Word: That person's salary mouse-tail-as-big-as is.

    쥐꼬리만 하다 is a common idiomatic expression meaning something is very small, meager, or insignificant.

  5. 집채만 한 파도가 밀려왔어요.

    A wave as big as a house came crashing in.

    Word by Word: A-house-as-big-as wave came rushing in.

    This is another common expression used to emphasize a very large size.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 하는 instead of 한 before a noun.

    Not Quite주먹만 하는 사과를 샀어요.
    Better주먹만 한 사과를 샀어요.

    -만 하다 works like an adjective, so before a noun it takes -ㄴ, not -는. Say 주먹만 한 사과.

  • Attaching -만 하다 to verbs or adjectives instead of nouns.

    Not Quite그 문제는 어려운만 해요.
    Better그 문제는 아주 어려워요.

    -만 하다 must be attached to a noun to serve as the standard of comparison. It cannot be attached to an adjective like 어렵다 (difficult).

Learn This First

To make comparisons 'to be as...as', you need limitation particles and 하다.

Related Patterns

Words in This Pattern

만
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