The More... The More (-(으)ㄹ수록)
-(으)ㄹ수록
Expresses a proportional relationship: 'the more X, the more Y'.
Pattern
Verb/Adjective stem + -(으)ㄹ수록 + Result clause
Explanation
-(으)ㄹ수록 expresses that as one thing increases, another thing proportionally changes. It means 'the more... the more...' Use -ㄹ수록 after vowels and -을수록 after consonants.
For example, 한국어를 배울수록 재미있어요 means 'The more I learn Korean, the more interesting it gets.' The pattern is often paired with the adverb 점점 (gradually) to emphasize the progressive change: 공부할수록 점점 재미있어져요.
A common set expression is -면 -ㄹ수록, which doubles the emphasis: 먹으면 먹을수록 맛있어요 (The more you eat it, the tastier it gets). This reduplication pattern is very natural and frequently used in spoken Korean. This grammar point is essential for expressing trends and proportional relationships.
Examples
한국어를 배울수록 재미있어요.
Hangugeoreul baeulsurok jaemiisseoyo.
The more I learn Korean, the more interesting it is.
먹으면 먹을수록 맛있어요.
Meogeumyeon meogeulsurok masisseoyo.
The more you eat it, the tastier it gets.
갈수록 날씨가 추워져요.
Galsurok nalssiga chuwojyeoyo.
As time goes on, the weather gets colder.
연습하면 할수록 잘하게 돼요.
Yeonseupamyeon halsurok jalhage dwaeyo.
The more you practice, the better you get.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
배우는수록 재미있어요.
Correct
배울수록 재미있어요.
Use -(으)ㄹ수록, the future/prospective modifier form, not -는수록.
Wrong
배울 수록 재미있어요.
Correct
배울수록 재미있어요.
-(으)ㄹ수록 is written as one unit without a space. Do not separate 수록 from the modifier.
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