Meaning and Usage
The Korean suffix '미만' means 'under', 'below', or 'less than' a certain number or amount. It is commonly used in formal contexts such as regulations, rules, or official announcements to specify limits or thresholds.
Common Contexts
You will often see '미만' used with age, weight, income, or quantity to indicate that something applies only if the value is less than the stated number. For example, '18세 미만' means 'under 18 years old'.
Collocations and Patterns
- '숫자 + 미만': Indicates less than the given number (e.g., '5kg 미만' means 'less than 5 kilograms').
- '만 + 숫자 + 미만': Used to specify exact age or amount thresholds (e.g., '만 18세 미만' means 'under 18 years old').
Register and Formality
'미만' is typically used in formal or official language rather than casual conversation. In everyday speech, people might use phrases like '보다 적은' or '보다 낮은' instead.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '미만' with '이하' (meaning 'less than or equal to'). Remember, '미만' strictly means 'less than' and does not include the number itself, while '이하' includes the number.
Understanding this distinction is important when interpreting rules or conditions.