KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄹ수록
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄹ수록”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 3)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 볼수록 | bolsurok |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽을수록 | ilgeulsurok |
| 하다 | to do | 할수록 | halsurok |
| 살다 | to live | 살수록 | salsurok |
What changes
- After a stem ending in a vowel, ㄹ is added to the last syllable (보 → 볼). After a stem ending in a consonant, 을 is added (읽 → 읽을). A stem ending in ㄹ keeps it (살 → 살), and 하 becomes 할.
Explanation
한국어는 공부하면 공부할수록 더 재미있어요.
“-(으)ㄹ수록” means “the more ~, the more…” and shows that as the first action or state progresses, the second changes along with it. The sentence means “The more you study Korean, the more fun it gets.” The pattern 공부하면 공부할수록, repeating the same verb, is very common, and 더 or 점점 often appears in the second half.
한국어는 공부하면 할수록 재미있어요.
“-(으)ㄹ수록” means “the more … the more …”: as the degree of the first clause increases, the second state changes accordingly. It is often used in the pattern “-(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록.” The sentence means “The more you study Korean, the more interesting it gets.”
한국어는 배울수록 더 재미있어요.
“-(으)ㄹ수록” means “the more ~, the more ~” and shows that as the first action or state progresses, the degree of the second changes along with it. Attach it to the stem (“-을수록” after a final consonant). The sentence means “The more you learn Korean, the more interesting it gets.” The pattern “-(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록” is also common.
한국어는 공부하면 할수록 더 재미있어요.
“-(으)ㄹ수록” means “the more ~, the more ~”: as the degree of the first action or state increases, the second changes along with it. It often appears as “-(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록.” The sentence means “The more you study Korean, the more interesting it gets.” “-더니” links a past observation to its result and has no “the more…” meaning.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 한국어는 공부하면 공부할수록 더 재미있어요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 한국어는 | ||
| 한 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ | han |
| 국 | ㄱ+ㅜ+ㄱ | [구] gu |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [거] geo |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 공부하면 | ||
| 공 | ㄱ+ㅗ+ㅇ | gong |
| 부 | ㅂ+ㅜ | bu |
| 하 | ㅎ+ㅏ | ha |
| 면 | ㅁ+ㅕ+ㄴ | myeon |
| 공부할수록 | ||
| 공 | ㄱ+ㅗ+ㅇ | gong |
| 부 | ㅂ+ㅜ | bu |
| 할 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄹ | hal |
| 수 | ㅅ+ㅜ | su |
| 록 | ㄹ+ㅗ+ㄱ | rok |
| 더 | ㄷ+ㅓ | deo |
| 재미있어요 | ||
| 재 | ㅈ+ㅐ | jae |
| 미 | ㅁ+ㅣ | mi |
| 있 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅆ | [이] i |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 국어 → [구거]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 재미있다 | adjective | fun, interesting | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 한국어는 공부하면 공부____ 더 재미있어요.
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Answer: 한국어는 공부하면 공부할수록 더 재미있어요.
Question 2 Choose the word that fits the blank: 한국어는 공부하면 할____ 재미있어요.
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Answer: 한국어는 공부하면 할수록 재미있어요.
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄹ수록?
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Answer: 볼수록
Question 4 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄹ수록?
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Answer: 읽을수록
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