What a word applies to
Which part of the message does this word affect?
의미
Some words change how we understand one part of a sentence or the whole sentence. This lets us say exactly who or what we include, exclude, or deny. Languages use word position, stress, or special markers; some use an ending where others use a separate word. Unlike Focus and emphasis, this is about what a word affects, not just which part stands out.
알아보는 방법
Ask which person, thing, or part of the message is included, excluded, added, or denied by the word or marker.
모국어에서는
Korean uses small words called particles, such as 만, meaning 'only,' and 도, meaning 'also,' after the phrase whose meaning they affect. Moving the particle to another phrase changes what is restricted or included. A particle may replace a subject or object marker, but can follow a place marker, as in 집에서만.
지수만 빵을 먹었어요. (Jisuman ppangeul meogeosseoyo.)
만 restricts the person: nobody else ate bread.
지수는 빵만 먹었어요. (Jisuneun ppangman meogeosseoyo.)
만 restricts the food: Jisu ate no other food.
오늘은 집에서만 공부해요. (Oneureun jibeseoman gongbuhaeyo.)
만 follows 에서 and restricts the place where studying happens.