-을수록Korean connective · TOPIK 4

-eulsurok

A connective ending used to imply that as the extent of the preceding statement becomes larger, that of the following statement also changes accordingly.

형태Forms

-을수록-ㄹ수록

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

A connective ending used to imply that as the extent of the preceding statement becomes larger, that of the following statement also changes accordingly.

앞말이 나타내는 정도가 심해지면 뒤의 말이 나타내는 내용의 정도도 그에 따라 변함을 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant other than ㄹ or the past -었-.

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사와 형용사 또는 ‘-었-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

산이 깊을수록 공기도 상쾌하고 물도 맑았다.

The deeper the mountain, the fresher the air and the clearer the water.

지위가 높고 재산이 많을수록 행복한 것은 아니다.

Having a high position and lots of money does not necessarily mean happiness.

혼자 있을수록 더욱 외로워지므로 사람들을 만나는 것이 좋다.

The more you are alone, the lonelier you get, so it's better to meet people.

대화In conversation

무슨 책을 그렇게 열심히 보세요?

What book are you reading so intently?

예전에 봤던 책을 다시 보는 중인데요, 이 책은 읽을수록 새로운 감동을 주는 것 같아요.

I'm rereading a book I read before; the more I read it, the more it seems to move me anew.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other connectives you will meet alongside this one.

-거니와 -geoniwa (old-fashioned) A connective ending used to recognize the truth of the preceding statement, while indicating there is another relevant fact. TOPIK 4 -고도 -godo A connective ending used to express a fact or feeling, and add that there is an opposite or another characteristic in the following statement. TOPIK 4 -고서 -goseo -고서는 · -고서야 A connective ending used to emphasize that the preceding statement comes before the following statement, or the preceding statement caused the… TOPIK 4 -고자 -goja A connective ending used when the speaker has a certain purpose, intention, hope, etc. TOPIK 4 -기에 -gie A connective ending referring to the cause or reason of the following statement. TOPIK 4 -는다면 -neundamyeon -ㄴ다면 · -다면 · -라면 A connective ending used when assuming a certain fact or situation. TOPIK 4

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -을수록 mean in Korean?

-을수록 is a connective introduced at 4급 (TOPIK 4). A connective ending used to imply that as the extent of the preceding statement becomes larger, that of the following statement also changes accordingly.

When do you use -을수록?

Attaches after verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant other than ㄹ or the past -었-. The other shape is -ㄹ수록 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -을수록 and -ㄹ수록?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same connective, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -을수록?

4급 — TOPIK 4, upper intermediate. It is one of 67 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.