-(으)ㄹ 만하다 in Korean: “worth doing, good enough to”
-(으)ㄹ 만하다
-(eu)l manhada
worth doing, good enough to
Intermediate · Saying what you think and feel
-(으)ㄹ 만하다 (-(eu)l manhada) means "worth doing" or "good enough to do." You use it to recommend something, like a movie worth watching, or to say something is decent or manageable.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb stem ending in a vowel | + ㄹ 만하다 | 보다 → 볼 만해요 |
| Verb stem ending in a consonant | + 을 만하다 | 먹다 → 먹을 만해요 |
| Verb stem ending in ㄹ | keep ㄹ + 만하다 | 살다 → 살 만해요 |
| ㄷ-irregular verb (ㄷ becomes ㄹ) | + 을 만하다 | 듣다 → 들을 만해요 |
How to use it
The most common use is a recommendation: 볼 만해요 means "it's worth watching" and 읽을 만한 책 is "a book worth reading." It sounds like a fair, honest opinion rather than wild praise.
It can also mean "good enough" or "bearable." 먹을 만해요 can mean the food is decent, and 살 만해요 means "life is okay, I'm getting by." 할 만해요 means "it's doable." Tone of voice and context tell you which sense is meant.
만하다 works like an adjective, so it becomes 만해요 (polite), 만해 (casual), and 만한 before a noun. It attaches to verbs, not to nouns or most adjectives.
Examples
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Recommending a movie
Asking about a new restaurant
Talking about an old phone
Suggesting a book
Don’t mix it up with
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다: -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 just says something is possible. -(으)ㄹ 만하다 adds a judgment: it is worth doing or good enough to do.
-아/어 볼 만하다: This is -(으)ㄹ 만하다 added to -아/어 보다 (try). 가 볼 만해요 means "it's worth going to see," a very common way to recommend a place.
Common mistakes
Attaching it straight to a noun, like 영화 만해요. It needs a verb stem with the ㄹ modifier: 영화가 볼 만해요.
Treating it as strong praise. 볼 만해요 means "worth a watch," which is positive but calmer than 정말 재미있어요.
Want the basics first? Read Describing nouns (-는, -은, -을).
Questions learners ask
What does 볼 만하다 mean?
It means "worth watching" or "worth seeing." People use it to recommend movies, shows, and places, for example 그 드라마 볼 만해요.
What does 할 만해요 mean?
It means "it's doable" or "it's manageable." If someone asks how your new job is, 할 만해요 means it's okay, not too hard.
Is it 볼 만하다 or 볼만하다?
The standard spelling puts a space: 볼 만하다. Writing it together is also accepted, and you will see both online.