-을수록
-을수록: The More…, The More…
Connective: as the degree of A increases, B increases or decreases accordingly.
How to form it
| When | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Batchim stem (not ㄹ) | -을수록 | 많을수록 / 어려울수록 |
| Open / ㄹ stem | -ㄹ수록 / -수록 | 갈수록 / 예쁠수록 / 알수록 |
-을수록 is Korean’s the more…, the more… (or the more…, the less…) connective.
Gloss matches. 우리말샘 -을수록 「001」: as the degree of the front clause increases, that becomes the condition for the back clause’s degree to rise or fall.
What it does — proportional change
배울수록 재미있어요.
알수록 어려워요.
가격이 쌀수록 빨리 팔려요.
복잡할수록 메모가 필요해요.
갈수록 바빠져요.Workplace complaints and training tips both use the pattern: more complexity → more need for systems.
Forms
| Stem | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Batchim (≠ ㄹ) | -을수록 | 많을수록, 어려울수록 |
| Open / ㄹ | -ㄹ수록 / -수록 | 갈수록, 예쁠수록, 알수록 |
갈수록 is a high-frequency chunk with a “as time goes on / increasingly” feel.
Near neighbours
| Form | Job |
|---|---|
| -을수록 | proportional connective |
| N만큼 | match extent to a noun |
| 보다 | than (ranking) |
When to use
Use -을수록 when two scales move together (or inversely) as a condition.
Do not use it for a one-time as soon as — that is other toolkit (-는 대로 immediate reading, -자마자, etc.).
Practice rule: if English “the more A, the more/less B” is honest, -을수록 fits.
Do not confuse it with
Taught alongside this
On the jabi learning path, this appears in 우리 부서는 직원을 뽑고 교육시키는 일을 하고 있어요 (Our department is responsible for recruiting and training employees.) — Intermediate Korean 2, Unit 8, on the theme of work life. These come with it:
Words used above
Quick check
No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.
1. 배울수록 재미있어요 means…
2. Dictionary core?
3. 갈수록 often means…
Common questions
Must both sides rise?
B can rise or fall (힘들수록 조심해요). The link is proportional conditioning.
Open stems?
Classroom uses -ㄹ수록 / -수록 (갈수록, 예쁠수록). Dictionary head cited is -을수록 after batchim.
Workplace tip?
일할수록 느느다 / 복잡할수록 기록이 필요해요 — degree talk at work.
vs 만큼?
mankeum matches extent to a noun standard. -을수록 is a proportional connective between clauses.