HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 07 · LESSON 92
-(으)ㄹ수록The more…, the more…
-(으)ㄹ수록 links two changes that grow together: as one thing increases, the other changes too. 볼수록 좋아요 means “the more I see it, the more I like it.” Put -(으)면 in front for emphasis: 보면 볼수록.
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A situation you already know
A friend asks how your Korean study is going.
The more I learn Korean, the more fun it gets.
More learning → more fun. Repeating the verb (배우면 배울수록) adds emphasis, like “the more and more I learn.”
Build the form
- 보다 → 보- → 보 + ㄹ수록 → 볼수록Complete expression
- 읽다 → 읽- → 읽 + 을수록 → 읽을수록Complete expression
- 알다 → 알- → 알 + ㄹ수록 (ㄹ 하나) → 알수록Complete expression
- 춥다 → 춥- → 추우- → 추우 + ㄹ수록 → 추울수록Complete expression
- 바쁘다 → 바쁘- → 바쁘 + ㄹ수록 → 바쁠수록Complete expression
- Vowel stems: -ㄹ수록 → 볼수록, 바쁠수록. Consonant stems: -을수록 → 읽을수록, 많을수록.
- ㄹ stems already end in ㄹ, so the result just adds 수록: 알다 → 알수록, 멀다 → 멀수록.
- Irregulars: 춥다 → 추울수록, 듣다 → 들을수록, 낫다 → 나을수록.
- Nouns: N일수록 → 바쁜 사람일수록, 비싼 물건일수록.
- Emphatic frame: V-(으)면 V-(으)ㄹ수록 → 보면 볼수록, 생각하면 할수록.
- Write 수록 together with the verb. It sounds like [쑤록].
Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide
- English needs two “the more” phrases. Korean marks only the first clause; the second is an ordinary sentence, often with 더 or -아/어지다: 연습할수록 쉬워져요.
- 갈수록 is a set expression meaning “as time goes on”: 날씨가 갈수록 추워져요 (It’s getting colder and colder).
- Use it only when two things change together. Two events that simply happen one after another are not -(으)ㄹ수록.
Six examples in context
The more I listen to this song, the more I like it.
The more you practice, the better your pronunciation gets.
The busier you are, the more you need good sleep.
It’s getting colder and colder.
The more you get to know him, the nicer he turns out to be.
The more expensive the item, the more carefully you should check it.
Compare with related patterns
-(으)면
연습하면 잘할 수 있어요.“If you practice, you can do it.” A simple condition, with nothing growing together.
-(으)ㄴ/는 만큼
노력한 만큼 결과가 나와요.“You get results in proportion to your effort.” Matches one amount to another; -(으)ㄹ수록 tracks a change as it grows.
점점
점점 추워져요.“It’s gradually getting colder.” An adverb of gradual change, with no first clause.
| Pattern | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| -(으)ㄹ수록 | two things change together |
| -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록 | the same, with emphasis |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 만큼 | one amount matches another |
| -(으)면 | a simple condition |
Common mistakes
ㄹ stems don’t add 을.
Write 수록 together with the verb.
춥다 is ㅂ irregular → 추울수록.
These are just two events in order, not two growing changes.
Mini practice · six questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.
- Fill in the blank이 책은 ______ 재미있어요. (읽다)
Check answer
이 책은 읽을수록 재미있어요.
Consonant stem → 읽을수록.
- Fill in the blank한국 음식은 먹으면 ______ 맛있어요. (먹다)
Check answer
한국 음식은 먹으면 먹을수록 맛있어요.
Emphatic -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록.
- Choose the natural form집이 회사에서 (멀수록 / 멀을수록) 출근이 힘들어요.
Check answer
멀수록
ㄹ stem → 멀수록.
- Choose the natural form요즘 날씨가 (갈수록 / 가면) 더워져요.
Check answer
갈수록
갈수록 = more and more as time goes on.
- Fix the mistake공부할 수록 더 궁금해요.
Check answer
공부할수록 더 궁금해요.
No space before 수록.
- Say it in KoreanThe more I think about it, the angrier I get.
Check answer
생각하면 생각할수록 화가 나요.
생각하면 생각할수록 + 화가 나요.
Today’s key point
Two things change together → -(으)ㄹ수록 (vowel/ㄹ stems: -ㄹ수록, consonant stems: -을수록, nouns: 일수록). For emphasis: -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록. Write 수록 together; 갈수록 = more and more over time.
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