-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 만큼
Enough to, As Much as
-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 만큼 is a versatile particle that equates the degree or amount of two things. It can be attached to nouns, adjectives, and verbs in different tenses, meaning 'as much as' or 'to the extent that'.
How It Works
-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 만큼 is a bound noun that functions as a particle, indicating that the preceding phrase is the standard for the degree, quantity, or level of the following phrase. It establishes an equivalence.
1. With Nouns
It attaches directly to a noun.
- 너만큼 한국어를 잘하고 싶어요. (I want to speak Korean as well as you do.)
- 월급만큼은 일을 해야죠. (You should at least work as much as your salary is worth.)
2. With Adjectives
It uses the adjective noun modifier form -(으)ㄴ.
- Vowel/ㄹ stem + -ㄴ 만큼: 예쁜 만큼 (as pretty as), 먼 만큼 (as far as)
- Consonant stem + -은 만큼: 좋은 만큼 (as good as)
3. With Verbs
It uses different verb noun modifiers to indicate tense.
- Present Tense (-는):
Verb Stem + -는 만큼
This describes an ongoing action or a general truth. It often implies a proportional relationship.
Example: 노력하는 만큼 좋은 결과가 있을 거예요. (You will get good results proportional to how much you try.) - Past Tense (-(으)ㄴ):
Verb Stem + -(으)ㄴ 만큼
This refers to a completed action. The result in the second clause is equivalent to the action that was completed.
Example: 어제 쉰 만큼 오늘 열심히 일해야 해요. (I have to work hard today as much as I rested yesterday.) - Future/Potential Tense (-(으)ㄹ):
Verb Stem + -(으)ㄹ 만큼
This form often means 'enough to...' or 'to the point of...'. It describes a potential or hypothetical extent.
Example: 배가 터질 만큼 많이 먹었어요. (I ate so much that my stomach could burst.)
Comparison with -ㄹ 정도로
While -ㄹ 만큼 and -ㄹ 정도로 (to the extent that) are often interchangeable, there's a subtle difference. 만큼 implies a more direct, one-to-one correspondence in amount or degree. 정도 suggests a more general or approximate level. In many contexts, however, they can be used to mean the same thing.
Examples (6)
- 너만큼 한국어를 잘하는 사람은 처음 봤어.
I've never seen someone who speaks Korean as well as you.
Word by Word: As much as you Korean well-speaking person first time saw.
- 필요한 만큼만 가져가세요.
Please take only as much as you need.
Word by Word: Necessary as much as only take.
Here,
필요하다(to be necessary) is an adjective, so it takes the-(으)ㄴform before만큼. - 노력하는 만큼 결과가 나올 거예요.
The results will be proportional to how much you try.
Word by Word: Trying as much as results will come out.
This uses the present tense
-는 만큼to show a direct, ongoing relationship between effort and results. - 어제 공부한 만큼 오늘 시험을 잘 봤어요.
I did well on the test today, as much as I studied yesterday.
Word by Word: Yesterday studied as much as today test well took.
The past tense
-(으)ㄴ 만큼connects the past action (studying) to the present result (doing well on the test). - 눈물이 날 만큼 감동적인 영화였어요.
It was a movie so touching it was enough to make me cry.
Word by Word: Tears to come out as much as touching movie was.
The future/potential form
-(으)ㄹ 만큼is used to describe the degree of how touching the movie was ('to the point of tears'). - 원하는 만큼 먹어도 돼요.
You can eat as much as you want.
Word by Word: Wanting as much as eat is okay.
Common Mistakes
Using the wrong tense modifier with verbs.
Not Quite어제 일하는 만큼 오늘 피곤해요.Better어제 일한 만큼 오늘 피곤해요.The action of working happened yesterday, so the past tense modifier -(으)ㄴ must be used.
-는is for present tense actions.Adding an unnecessary particle before
만큼with nouns.Not Quite선생님의 만큼 잘 가르치고 싶어요.Better선생님만큼 잘 가르치고 싶어요.만큼attaches directly to nouns. The possessive particle의is not needed.
Learn This First
To express degree 'enough to/as much as', you need modifier forms and comparison markers.
Related Patterns
- -(으)ㄹ 정도로To the Extent That
Very similar and often interchangeable with
-ㄹ 만큼.-ㄹ 정도로means 'to the extent that'.만큼can feel slightly more precise in implying a one-to-one correspondence, while정도implies an approximate level. - -처럼/같이Like
Both are used for comparisons, but
-처럼/같이(like, as) compares manner or appearance, while만큼compares quantity, degree, or extent. For example,모델처럼 예쁘다(pretty like a model) vs.모델만큼 키가 크다(as tall as a model). - -ㄴ/은Adjective Noun Modifier
This is the noun modifier form for adjectives (e.g.,
예쁜 만큼) and past tense verbs (e.g.,먹은 만큼). Understanding this is essential for using만큼to describe a state or a completed action. - -는/ㄹVerb Noun Modifier
This pattern covers the present (
-는) and future/potential (-(으)ㄹ) noun modifier forms for verbs. These are used before만큼to express ongoing actions (노력하는 만큼) or a potential extent (울 만큼). - -만 하다To Be As...as
-만 하다is used to compare size, meaning 'to be as big as'. It is more limited than만큼, which can compare any degree or quantity, not just size. Example:집이 산만 하다(The house is as big as a mountain).