Lesson 1
For the first lesson in Level 4, you will learn how to say “the more [A] the more [B]” in Korean.
“The more [A]” is expressed through the verb ending -(으)ㄹ수록, and the latter “the more [B]” part is expressed through another verb.
Conjugation
- Verb stems ending with a consonant + -을수록
- Verb stems ending with a vowel + -ㄹ수록
- (Exception) Verb stems ending with ㄹ + -수록
Ex)
살다 → 살수록 = the more you live, the more...
가다 → 갈수록 = the more you go, the more...
예쁘다 → 예쁠수록 = the prettier it is, the more...
비싸다 → 비쌀수록 = the more expensive it is, the more...
이상하다 → 이상할수록 = the stranger it is, the more...
바쁘다 → 바쁠수록 = the busier you are, the more...
Usages
- 맛있다 = 맛있 + -을수록 = 맛있을수록
Ex) 맛있을수록 잘 팔려요. = The more delicious it is, the better it sells. - 바쁘다 = 바쁘 + -ㄹ수록 = 바쁠수록
Ex) 바쁠수록 건강이 중요해요. = The busier you are, the more important your health is. - 사람이 많다 = 사람이 많 + -을수록 = 사람이 많을수록
Ex) 사람이 많을수록 좋아요. = The more people, the better.
* Note
Although -(으)ㄹ수록 basically translates to “the more [A], the more [B]”, the meaning can change depending on the context of the conversation. -(으)ㄹ수록 can also express the meaning of:
(1) “Even more so, especially when…”
(2) “Especially if…” or “even more…”
(3) “Particularly when…”
Ex)
바쁠수록 잠을 많이 자야 돼요.
= (lit.) The busier you are, the more you need to sleep.
= You need to sleep more, especially when you are busy.
학생일수록 책을 많이 읽어야 돼요.
= You need to read a lot of books, even more so if you are a student.
Using -(으)ㄹ수록 with -(으)면
Using -(으)ㄹ수록 on its own is already enough, but sometimes the speaker wants to emphasize his/her point a little better. This can be achieved by using the same verb stem that would be used with -(으)ㄹ수록 and attaching it to -(으)면.
바쁠수록 = 바쁘면 바쁠수록
좋을수록 = 좋으면 좋을수록
Ex)
The more, the better.
= 많을수록 좋아요.
= 많으면 많을수록 좋아요.
The cheaper it is, the more of it you can buy.
= 쌀수록 많이 살 수 있어요.
= 싸면 쌀수록 많이 살 수 있어요.
Set expression
The expression 갈수록 comes from 가다 + -(으)ㄹ수록 and literally means “the more you go”. However, it is used as more of a set expression which means “more and more so in time” or “as time goes by”.
갈수록 추워요.
= It keeps getting colder.
사브린 씨는 갈수록 한국어를 잘해요.
= Sabrin keeps getting better at her Korean.
Sample Sentences
친구는 많을수록 좋아요.
= (When it comes to friends,) The more friends you have, the better.
= 친구는 많으면 많을수록 좋아요.
비쌀수록 잘 팔려요.
= The more expensive it is, the better it sells.
= 비싸면 비쌀수록 잘 팔려요.
재미있는 사람일수록 좋아요.
= The more interesting a person is, the better.
재미있는 사람일수록 인기가 많아요.
= The more interesting a person is, the more popular he/she is.
= If you are an interesting person, it is more likely that you are popular.