-(으)ㄴ/는 만큼 - As much as

-(으)ㄴ/는 만큼 expresses "as much as," "to the extent that," or proportional relationships between two actions or states.

Structure

Verb/Adjective stem + -(으)ㄴ/는 만큼

Meaning: "As much as..." / "To the extent that..." / "In proportion to..."

Formation Rules

Action Verbs: -는 만큼

Present tense marker:

• 먹다 → 먹는 만큼 (as much as [one] eats)
• 일하다 → 일하는 만큼 (as much as [one] works)
• 공부하다 → 공부하는 만큼 (as much as [one] studies)
• 노력하다 → 노력하는 만큼 (as much as [one] tries)

Adjectives: -(으)ㄴ 만큼

Adjective form:

• 크다 → 큰 만큼 (as much as it's big)
• 좋다 → 좋은 만큼 (as much as it's good)
• 비싸다 → 비싼 만큼 (as much as it's expensive)
• 어렵다 → 어려운 만큼 (as much as it's difficult)

Past Tense: -(으)ㄴ 만큼

For completed actions:

• 먹다 → 먹은 만큼 (as much as [one] ate)
• 일하다 → 일한 만큼 (as much as [one] worked)
• 공부하다 → 공부한 만큼 (as much as [one] studied)

Core Meanings

Proportional Relationship

Result proportional to action:

• 노력한 만큼 결과가 나와요 (Results come out as much as you tried)
• 먹은 만큼 살이 쪄요 (You gain weight as much as you eat)
• 공부한 만큼 성적이 좋아요 (Grades are good as much as you studied)

Equal Degree

Same amount/extent:

• 당신만큼 사랑해요 (I love you as much - lit. to your extent)
• 형만큼 키가 커요 (As tall as my brother)

To the Extent That

Emphasizing degree:

• 죽을 만큼 아파요 (It hurts to the extent of dying - extremely)
• 미칠 만큼 바빠요 (Busy to the extent of going crazy)

Common Patterns

Noun + 만큼

As much as [noun]:

• 나만큼 (as much as me)
• 당신만큼 (as much as you)
• 형만큼 (as much as older brother)
• 이것만큼 (as much as this)
• 그만큼 (that much / to that extent)

Verb + 는 만큼

In proportion to action:

• 일하는 만큼 받아요 (Get paid as much as you work)
• 노력하는 만큼 성공해요 (Succeed as much as you try)
• 먹는 만큼 내요 (Pay as much as you eat)

Adjective + (으)ㄴ 만큼

To the degree of quality:

• 비싼 만큼 좋아요 (As expensive as it is, it's good)
• 어려운 만큼 보람 있어요 (As difficult as it is, it's rewarding)

Usage Contexts

Work and Reward

• 일한 만큼 돈을 받아요 (I receive money as much as I worked)
• 노력한 만큼 성과가 있어요 (There are results as much as the effort)

Comparison

• 형만큼 키가 커요 (As tall as my brother)
• 이것만큼 좋아요 (As good as this)
• 예상한 만큼 어려워요 (As difficult as expected)

Extreme Degree

• 죽을 만큼 피곤해요 (Tired to death)
• 미칠 만큼 좋아해요 (Love to the point of craziness)
• 터질 만큼 먹었어요 (Ate until bursting)

Special Expression: 그만큼

Meaning "That Much" / "To That Extent"

Referring to previously mentioned degree:

• 그만큼 중요해요 (It's that important)
• 그만큼 좋아해요 (I like it that much)
• 그만큼 비싸요 (It's that expensive)

Used alone or in sentences:

• A: 정말 힘들었어요 (It was really hard)
• B: 그만큼 보람도 있었을 거예요 (To that extent, it must have been rewarding too)

Politeness Levels

Formal (합니다체)

• 일한 만큼 받습니다 (receive as much as worked)
• 노력한 만큼 결과가 나옵니다 (results come as much as effort)

Polite (해요체)

• 일한 만큼 받아요 (receive as much as worked)
• 노력한 만큼 결과가 나와요 (results come as much as effort)

Casual (반말)

• 일한 만큼 받아 (receive as much as worked)
• 노력한 만큼 결과가 나와 (results come as much as effort)

Negative Forms

안/못 + Verb + 는 만큼

• 안 먹는 만큼 건강해요 (Healthy to the extent of not eating)
• 못 자는 만큼 피곤해요 (Tired to the extent of not sleeping)

Verb + 지 않는 만큼

• 공부하지 않는 만큼 성적이 안 좋아요 (Grades are bad to the extent of not studying)

Common Expressions

Effort and Result

• 노력한 만큼 (as much as the effort)
• 일한 만큼 (as much as the work)
• 투자한 만큼 (as much as the investment)
• 공부한 만큼 (as much as the study)

Comparison

• 예상한 만큼 (as much as expected)
• 생각한 만큼 (as much as thought)
• 원한 만큼 (as much as wanted)

Extreme Degree

• 죽을 만큼 (to the point of dying)
• 미칠 만큼 (to the point of going crazy)
• 터질 만큼 (to the point of bursting)

-(으)ㄴ/는 만큼 vs 보다

만큼 (As Much As - Equal)

Same degree or proportion:

• 형만큼 키가 커요 (As tall as my brother - same height)
• Equal comparison

보다 (Than - Comparative)

Greater or lesser degree:

• 형보다 키가 커요 (Taller than my brother)
• Unequal comparison

With Different Tenses

Present: -는 만큼

• 먹는 만큼 (as much as [one] eats)
• 일하는 만큼 (as much as [one] works)

Past: -(으)ㄴ 만큼

• 먹은 만큼 (as much as [one] ate)
• 일한 만큼 (as much as [one] worked)

Adjectives: -(으)ㄴ 만큼

• 큰 만큼 (as big as it is)
• 좋은 만큼 (as good as it is)

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: 일하다 만큼

Missing tense marker

✅ Correct: 일하는 만큼 or 일한 만큼

Need -는 or -(으)ㄴ

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❌ Incorrect: 크는 만큼

Wrong form for adjective

✅ Correct: 큰 만큼

Adjectives use -(으)ㄴ

Summary Table

Type	Pattern	Example	Meaning
Action verb	-는 만큼	일하는 만큼	as much as [one] works
Past action	-(으)ㄴ 만큼	일한 만큼	as much as [one] worked
Adjective	-(으)ㄴ 만큼	큰 만큼	as big as it is
Noun	N만큼	나만큼	as much as me
That much	그만큼	그만큼 좋아요	that good