-(으)ㄹ수록
The More..., The More
Use -ㄹ수록 to say 'the more X, the more Y'. For example, 'The more you study, the better your grades get'.
How It Works
The grammar pattern -ㄹ/을수록 is used to express a proportional correlation between two actions or states. As the first part increases or intensifies, so does the second part.
Conjugation Rules:
It attaches directly to verb stems and adjective stems.
1. Stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ: Add -ㄹ수록
- 가다 (to go) → 갈수록 (the more one goes)
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁠수록 (the prettier it is)
- 살다 (to live) → 살수록 (the more one lives) (Note: the ㄹ is not dropped)
2. Stems ending in a consonant: Add -을수록
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹을수록 (the more one eats)
- 좋다 (to be good) → 좋을수록 (the better it is)
- 읽다 (to read) → 읽을수록 (the more one reads)
Usage with Nouns:
You can also use this pattern with nouns by attaching it to the copula 이다.
- 학생 (student) → 학생일수록 (the more of a student one is)
- 부자 (rich person) → 부자일수록 (the richer a person is)
The second clause often contains words like 더 (more), 점점 (gradually), or adverbs like 잘 (well) to emphasize the resulting change.
Examples (5)
- 한국어는 공부할수록 재미있어져요.
The more you study Korean, the more interesting it becomes.
Word by Word: Korean language as for study the more interesting becomes.
- 이 노래는 들을수록 좋아요.
The more I listen to this song, the better it gets.
Word by Word: This song is listen the more good.
This example uses the ㄷ irregular verb 듣다 (to listen), which changes to 들을수록.
- 바쁠수록 건강을 더 잘 챙겨야 해요.
The busier you are, the more you need to take care of your health.
Word by Word: Busy the more health more well must take care of.
- 높이 올라갈수록 공기가 차가워져요.
The higher you go up, the colder the air gets.
Word by Word: High go up the more air becomes cold.
- 좋은 친구일수록 솔직하게 말해 줘요.
The better a friend is, the more honestly they will speak to you.
Word by Word: Good friend the more honestly speaks for you.
This shows the pattern used with a noun (친구) and the copula 이다.
Common Mistakes
Confusing -ㄹ수록 (the more...) with -면 (if/when).
Different Meaning바쁘면 건강을 더 잘 챙겨야 해요.Better바쁠수록 건강을 더 잘 챙겨야 해요.While the incorrect sentence is grammatically valid ('If you are busy, you should take care of your health'), it doesn't capture the proportional meaning. -ㄹ수록 emphasizes that the need to care for one's health increases in direct proportion to how busy one becomes.
Learn This First
To express 'the more...the more', you need modifier forms and verb conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -(으)면If, When
-ㄹ수록 expresses a proportional relationship ('the more you go...'), while -면 simply states a condition ('if you go...'). -ㄹ수록 implies a continuous or increasing action, whereas -면 often refers to a single condition being met.
- -아/어지다Become, Turn into
-아/어지다, meaning 'to become', is frequently used in the second clause following -ㄹ수록 to describe the resulting gradual change. For example, '날씨가 추워질수록 잎이 빨개져요' (The colder the weather becomes, the redder the leaves become).
- -게 되다Become, End Up
Meaning 'to end up' or 'to get to', -게 되다 is also often paired with -ㄹ수록 in the second clause to describe a change in ability or situation. For example, '연습할수록 더 잘하게 돼요' (The more you practice, the better you become at it).
- -는데But, And
Both can connect clauses, but -는데 provides background information or a contrast, while -ㄹ수록 specifically indicates a proportional cause and effect. '바쁜데...' sets the scene ('I'm busy, but...'), while '바쁠수록...' shows a direct consequence of being busy ('The busier I am...').