Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 6 - Upper-Intermediate Korean #1 (Lessons 151 to 180) ᚛ Lesson 178 - To be worth it, to deserve in Korean [-(으)ㄹ 만하다]
To be worth it, to deserve in Korean [-(으)ㄹ 만하다]
In this lesson, we are going to study the -(으)ㄹ 만하다 structure. While Koreans use it to express different things, the main meaning of -(으)ㄹ 만하다 is to recommend to someone to do something.
Recommending in Korean with -(으)ㄹ 만하다
The -(으)ㄹ 만하다 structure allows us to express the fact that something is worth it, worth the effort. It allows us to recommend carrying out an action. This structure is used in the following manner:
[Modifier -(으)ㄹ] 만하다
Reminder: the modifier -(으)ㄹ
In English, we generally translate the -(으)ㄹ 만하다 form by expressions such as "to be worth doing", "to be worth it" or "to be worth a try".
In addition, note that the -(으)ㄹ 만하다 form is never used in the negative form.
한국은 다 좋지만 서울, 부산, 경주, 안동, 제주도는 정말 가 볼 만해요.
→ Everything in Korea is nice, but Seoul, Busan, Gyeongju, Andong and Jeju Island are really worth visiting.
- 저는 독서가 취미인데 민지 씨는 책 읽는 거 좋아해요?
- 네. 읽을 만한 책을 추천해 주시겠어요?
→ - Reading is my hobby. Do you like reading books, Minji?
- Yes. Could you recommend me a book worth reading?
매운 음식을 좋아하면 한국에 있을 때 닭갈비를 먹을 만해.
→ If you like spicy food, dakgalbi is worth trying when you are in Korea.
정상까지 올라가기 힘들었지만 풍경이 아주 예쁘니까 노력할 만했어요.
→ It was hard to climb up to the summit, but the scenery is so beautiful that it was worth the effort.
그 영화가 정말 볼 만하대.
→ They say that movie is really worth watching.
Acceptability with -(으)ㄹ 만하다
Another possible way to use the -(으)ㄹ 만하다 structure is to express the fact that, although carrying out the action is not optimal, it is doable and acceptable.
매번 물리치료가 너무 아파서 힘들었지만 이번은 참을 만했습니다.
→ Every time, the physical therapy was so painful that it was hard, but this time it was bearable.
현민이는 사고가 나면서 다리가 부러진 것 같았지만 그래도 아직은 견딜 만하다고 했어요.
→ Hyeonmin said it felt like his leg had been broken in the accident, but that, even so, it was still bearable for now.
그 신발을 많이 신었는데 아직 팔 만한 것 같아요.
→ I have worn those shoes a lot, but I think they are still good enough to sell.
그게 1970년에 만든 오토바이인데 아직 운전할 만해요?
→ That motorcycle was made in 1970, is it still fit to ride?
To deserve with -(으)ㄹ 만하다
Finally, a last meaning of the -(으)ㄹ 만하다 structure is to express deserving something, whether in a positive or a negative way.
그 학생의 성적이 우수해서 장학금을 받을 만합니다.
→ That student’s grades are excellent, so she deserves to receive a scholarship.
그 사람의 성향을 봤을 때 충분히 이러한 사건이 벌어질 만했어.
→ Considering that person’s character, it was quite deserved that something like this happened to him.
그렇게 열심히 했으니 신기록을 갱신할 만하다.
→ Having worked that hard, he deserves to set a new record.
성공할 만하니까 성공하는 거야.
→ You succeed because you deserve to succeed.
Exercises
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Particles are omnipresent in Korean. They indicate the role of words in a sentence, nuance meaning, and make it possible to understand who does what, where, how, and why.
Particles are also often the aspect that causes the most difficulty for Korean learners. In grammar books, they are usually presented in the middle of long sentences, with complex vocabulary, without being clearly highlighted.
With Korean Particles, we made the opposite choice:
taking the time to explain each particle, one by one, using very simple sentences, accessible even to beginners.
