A shift-lever assembly for a manual transmission is provided. The assembly includes a rotary member that is rotatably coupled to a lower portion of a main rod and mounting portions that are connected to mount a shift cable to respective pieces of the rotary member. The rotary member is divided into the plurality of pieces. A shift shaft for a shift operation and a select shaft for a selecting operation are separated from each other to prevent the mounting portions, operated relative to each other during an operation of the main rod, from rotating.