만 하다

As big as, About the same as, To the extent of

Explanation

Used with nouns denoting a size, number or amount, this expression indicates that the noun under discussion is approximately the same in size, amount, or degree as the noun. It is usually used in the form N만 하다 or N만 한 N.

Details

There are many idiomatic expressions that use N만 하다. A few are given below.

월급이 쥐꼬리만 해요.
My) salary is the size of a rattail. (= meager, very small
얼굴이 주먹만 해요.
Someone's) face is the size of a fist. (얼굴이 작다는 의미
  • 목소리가 작아서 모기 소리만 해요.

(Someone’s) voice is as small as a mosquito’s sound.

너무 놀라서 가슴이 콩알만 해졌어요.
I) was so surprised that my heart shrank to the size of a bean. (= be terrified; be scared stiff
형만 한 아우가 없다.
No younger brother is wiser than his older brother.
강아지 크기만 한 쥐
A rat as big as a puppy.
눈이 단춧구멍만 해요.
Someone’s) eyes are the size of buttonholes. (= small
어른 팔뚝만 한 물고기를 잡았어요.
(Someone) caught a fish the size of a grown man's forearm. (= very big)
방이 운동장만 해요.
The room is as big as an athletic field.