-(으)ᄅ수록 expresses proportional relationships, meaning "the more... the more" or "as... -er." It shows that as one thing increases or changes, another thing increases or changes correspondingly.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -(으)ᄅ수록
Breakdown:
- -(으)ᄅ: Future/potential modifier
- 수록: As much as, the more (bound noun)
- Combined meaning: "The more [X], the more [Y]"
Pattern: [Verb-(으)ᄅ수록] + [Result clause]
Formation Rules
No Final Consonant: -ᄅ수록
Stems ending in vowel:
- 크다 → 클수록 (the bigger)
- 가다 → 갈수록 (the more [one] goes)
- 보다 → 볼수록 (the more [one] sees)
- 배우다 → 배울수록 (the more [one] learns)
With Final Consonant: -을수록
Stems ending in consonant:
- 먹다 → 먹을수록 (the more [one] eats)
- 좋다 → 좋을수록 (the better)
- 많다 → 많을수록 (the more there is)
- 작다 → 작을수록 (the smaller)
ᄅ Irregular
Stems ending in ᄅ drop the ᄅ:
- 살다 → 살수록 (the more [one] lives)
- 만들다 → 만들수록 (the more [one] makes)
- 알다 → 알수록 (the more [one] knows)
Core Meaning: Proportional Change
Increasing Relationship
As X increases, Y increases:
- 공부할수록 재미있어요 (The more I study, the more interesting it gets)
- 볼수록 예뻐요 (The more I look, the prettier it is)
- 먹을수록 맛있어요 (The more I eat, the more delicious it is)
- 알수록 어려워요 (The more I know, the more difficult it becomes)
Correlation
One thing affects another proportionally:
- 클수록 좋아요 (The bigger, the better)
- 빠를수록 좋아요 (The faster, the better)
- 많을수록 좋아요 (The more, the better)
- 싸을수록 좋아요 (The cheaper, the better)
Common Usage Patterns
The more... the more...
Classic proportional structure:
- 생각할수록 좋은 생각이에요 (The more I think about it, the better idea it is)
- 시간이 갈수록 그리워요 (As time passes, I miss [you/it] more)
- 연습할수록 실력이 늘어요 (The more you practice, the better you get)
The -er, the better
Comparative preference:
- 빠를수록 좋아요 (The faster, the better)
- 많을수록 좋아요 (The more, the better)
- 싸을수록 좋아요 (The cheaper, the better)
- 간단할수록 좋아요 (The simpler, the better)
Unexpected Correlations
Surprising relationships:
- 알수록 모르겠어요 (The more I know, the less I understand)
- 노력할수록 안 되는 것 같아요 (The more I try, the more it seems not to work)
- 생각할수록 이상해요 (The more I think about it, the stranger it seems)
Common Expressions
Time-Related
- 시간이 갈수록 (As time goes by)
- 갈수록 (More and more, increasingly)
- 살수록 (The more [one] lives / as [one] lives longer)
Learning and Experience
- 배울수록 재미있어요 (The more I learn, the more fun it is)
- 알수록 어려워요 (The more I know, the harder it gets)
- 공부할수록 모르는 게 많아요 (The more I study, the more I realize I don't know)
Observation
- 볼수록 좋아요 (The more I see it, the better it is)
- 생각할수록 (The more I think about it)
- 들을수록 좋아요 (The more I listen, the better it is)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 갈수록 좋아집니다 (It gets better as time goes by)
- 볼수록 예쁩니다 (The more I look, the prettier it is)
Polite (해요체)
- 갈수록 좋아져요 (It gets better as time goes by)
- 볼수록 예뻐요 (The more I look, the prettier it is)
Casual (반말)
- 갈수록 좋아져 (It gets better as time goes by)
- 볼수록 예뻐 (The more I look, the prettier it is)
Negative Forms
The more not... the more...
안 + Verb + -(으)ᄅ수록:
- 안 먹을수록 배고파요 (The more I don't eat, the hungrier I get)
- 안 자을수록 피곤해요 (The more I don't sleep, the more tired I get)
Verb + -지 않을수록:
- 하지 않을수록 후회돼요 (The more I don't do it, the more I regret)
The more... the less...
-(으)ᄅ수록 + Negative result:
- 생각할수록 안 좋아요 (The more I think, the less good it seems)
- 알수록 믿기지 않아요 (The more I know, the less believable it is)
Special Pattern: 갈수록
Increasingly, More and More
Commonly used alone or as adverb:
- 갈수록 더워요 (It's getting hotter and hotter)
- 갈수록 어려워요 (It's getting increasingly difficult)
- 갈수록 좋아져요 (It's getting better and better)
Can mean:
- As time goes by
- More and more
- Increasingly
Comparison with Similar Patterns
-(으)ᄅ수록 vs -면 -ᄅ수록
-(으)ᄅ수록: Direct proportional relationship
- 클수록 좋아요 (The bigger, the better)
-면 -ᄅ수록: If-then proportional (more conditional)
- 크면 클수록 좋아요 (If it's big, the bigger the better)
Note: -면 -ᄅ수록 adds conditional nuance
-(으)ᄅ수록 vs -(으)ᄅ 때마다
-(으)ᄅ수록: Proportional increase
- 볼수록 좋아요 (The more I see it, the better)
-(으)ᄅ 때마다: Every time, whenever
- 볼 때마다 좋아요 (Every time I see it, it's good)
Common Sentence Patterns
Same Verb Repeated
Emphasis on increasing degree:
- 생각하면 생각할수록 (The more I think about it)
- 보면 볼수록 (The more I see it)
- 먹으면 먹을수록 (The more I eat it)
Pattern: [Verb-면] + [Same verb-(으)ᄅ수록]
Examples:
- 생각하면 생각할수록 좋은 아이디어예요 (The more I think, the better idea it is)
- 보면 볼수록 예뻐요 (The more I look, the prettier it is)
- 먹으면 먹을수록 맛있어요 (The more I eat, the more delicious it is)
Fixed Expressions
Common Set Phrases
- 갈수록 태산 (Things get harder and harder / Getting from bad to worse)
- 많으면 많을수록 좋다 (The more, the better)
- 빠르면 빠를수록 좋다 (The sooner, the better)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 좋는수록
Using present tense marker
✅ Correct: 좋을수록
Use -(으)ᄅ form only
❌ Incorrect: 먹수록
Missing -(으)ᄅ connector with final consonant
✅ Correct: 먹을수록
Use -을수록 with final consonant
❌ Incorrect: 갈수록 갈수록
Incorrect repetition pattern
✅ Correct: 가면 갈수록 OR just 갈수록
Use -면 -ᄅ수록 pattern or single use
Summary Table
| Verb/Adjective | -(으)ᄅ수록 Form | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 크다 | 클수록 | The bigger | 클수록 좋아요 |
| 많다 | 많을수록 | The more | 많을수록 좋아요 |
| 공부하다 | 공부할수록 | The more [one] studies | 공부할수록 재미있어요 |
| 보다 | 볼수록 | The more [one] sees | 볼수록 예뻐요 |
| 시간이 가다 | 시간이 갈수록 | As time goes by | 시간이 갈수록 그리워요 |
| 알다 | 알수록 | The more [one] knows | 알수록 어려워요 |
Usage Context Guide
Use -(으)ᄅ수록 when:
- Expressing proportional relationships
- Showing correlation between two things
- Indicating increasing/changing trends
- Making comparisons (the -er, the better)
Common contexts:
- Preferences (클수록 좋아요)
- Time progression (갈수록)
- Learning experiences (배울수록, 알수록)
- Observations (볼수록, 들을수록)
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Proportional relationship: As X changes, Y changes
- ✅ Uses -(으)ᄅ form: Future/potential modifier
- ✅ Very common pattern: Essential for comparisons
- ✅ 갈수록: Special common usage meaning "increasingly"
- ✅ Repetition pattern: -면 -ᄅ수록 for emphasis
- ✅ Works with verbs and adjectives: Very versatile
-(으)ᄅ수록 is crucial for expressing proportional relationships and comparative statements in Korean, making it essential for natural and sophisticated expression.