뿐만 아니라: “Not Only… But Also” in Korean Writing

뿐만 아니라 is a very useful connector for building layered, persuasive sentences in Korean – i.e. the kind that show up constantly in TOPIK writing, news articles, and essays. It’s the Korean equivalent of “not only… but also,” and once you’re comfortable with it, your writing immediately sounds more advanced and cohesive.

What Does 뿐만 아니라 Mean?

뿐만 아니라 adds an extra point on top of something already stated. It tells the reader “here’s one thing, and there’s more.” It’s more formal and written in tone than casual speech, which makes it especially valuable if you’re preparing for TOPIK Writing Questions 53 and 54, where examiners are looking for exactly this kind of structured, multi-point argument.

How to Use 뿐만 아니라 (Grammar Structure)

There are two attachment patterns, depending on what comes before it:

After a noun: Noun + 뿐만 아니라

취미뿐만 아니라 직업으로도 좋다. Not only as a hobby, but it’s also good as a career.

After a verb or adjective stem: Verb/Adjective stem + -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라

비쌀 뿐만 아니라 시간도 오래 걸린다. Not only is it expensive, but it also takes a long time.

A quick pattern to remember: the second half of the sentence usually pairs with 도 (“also”) to reinforce the “but also” meaning. That’s your signal the structure is complete.

Example Sentences

1. 이 도시는 물가가 비쌀 뿐만 아니라 교통도 복잡하다. This city is not only expensive, but its traffic is also complicated.
2. 그는 성실할 뿐만 아니라 책임감도 강하다. He is not only diligent, but he also has a strong sense of responsibility.
3. 운동은 건강뿐만 아니라 정신적인 안정에도 도움이 된다. Exercise helps not only physical health, but also mental stability.
4. 이 제품은 디자인이 뛰어날 뿐만 아니라 가격도 합리적이다. This product not only has an outstanding design, but its price is also reasonable.
5. 외국어를 배우면 취업뿐만 아니라 사고방식도 넓어진다. Learning a foreign language broadens not only your job prospects, but also your way of thinking.

Practice: Try It Yourself

Grab a notebook and write your own sentences using 뿐만 아니라. Try all three of these:

1. Write a sentence about your hometown or city — what’s it “not only… but also”?
2. Write a sentence about a hobby you enjoy, connecting two benefits it gives you.
3. Write one TOPIK-essay-style sentence on the benefits of learning a foreign language (this is a common TOPIK Writing topic – good practice for Question 54).

Once you’ve written your sentences, check two things: does the clause before 뿐만 아니라 use the correct noun or verb/adjective attachment, and does the second half of your sentence pair naturally with 도? Reading it aloud is a fast way to catch anything that feels off.

Want more structured writing practice? Check out our TOPIK Writing Samples for model answers using patterns like this one.