Korean Pattern ~(으)ㄹ수록: How to Say "the more ~, the more ~"

Verb stem + (으)ㄹ수록. Progressive comparison. Often paired with 더 (even more).

The Rule

~(으)ㄹ수록 = "the more ~, the more ~" Verb stem + (으)ㄹ수록. Progressive comparison. Often paired with 더 (even more). This is one of the essential Korean grammar patterns. Mastering it unlocks the ability to express "the more ~, the more ~" naturally in conversation — something you'll need almost every day.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

In English, "the more ~, the more ~" is expressed with separate words (auxiliary verbs, modals). In Korean, ~(으)ㄹ수록 is a grammatical ENDING attached to the verb stem. You can't just translate word-by-word. The common mistake: trying to combine Korean words the way English does instead of attaching the pattern to the verb stem. Korean grammar works by stacking endings, not by adding separate helper words.

How It Works

Formation: Verb stem + (으)ㄹ수록 Verb stem + (으)ㄹ수록. Progressive comparison. Often paired with 더 (even more). Step by step: 1. Take any verb (e.g., 가다 = to go) 2. Remove 다 to get the stem (가) 3. Add the pattern: 가으ㄹ수록 This works with virtually any Korean verb.

Real Examples

• 먹을수록 맛있어요. (meokeursurok matiteoyo.) — "The more I eat, the tastier it gets." • 한국어는 배울수록 재미있어요. (hangukeoneun baeursurok jaemiiteoyo.) — "The more I learn Korean, the more interesting it gets."

Common Mistakes

❌ Trying to translate "the more ~, the more ~" word-by-word from English ✅ Use the pattern ~(으)ㄹ수록 attached to the verb stem → Korean expresses "the more ~, the more ~" as a single grammatical construction, not separate words. ❌ Forgetting vowel harmony or consonant rules ✅ Check if the verb stem ends in a vowel or consonant — the pattern may change form → Pay attention to the verb stem's final sound when attaching the pattern.

Quick Tip

Practice ~(으)ㄹ수록 with 5 verbs you already know. Write them out: • 가다 (go) → 가으ㄹ수록 • 먹다 (eat) → 먹으ㄹ수록 Repetition with familiar verbs builds the pattern into muscle memory. Once automatic, you can use it with ANY verb.

~(으)ㄹ수록 = "the more ~, the more ~"

Examples

먹을수록 맛있어요. — meokeursurok matiteoyo. — The more I eat, the tastier it gets.

한국어는 배울수록 재미있어요. — hangukeoneun baeursurok jaemiiteoyo. — The more I learn Korean, the more interesting it gets.