-(으)ㄴ/는 만큼
to the extent that; given that
The clause version of 만큼. It carries two readings — proportion and reason — and which one applies depends entirely on what follows.
Build it
Pick a form
When to use it
The form follows the modifier system: verbs take -는 만큼, adjectives -(으)ㄴ 만큼, past -(으)ㄴ 만큼, and something still ahead -(으)ㄹ 만큼. Stems in ㄹ drop it, and 만큼 takes a space after a modifier.
The proportional reading says one thing matches another in degree: 노력한 만큼 결과가 나와요 — you get out what you put in.
The reason reading says “given that this is so much the case”: 시간이 없는 만큼 서둘러야 합니다. This one is common in formal speech and writing, and functions much like -기 때문에 with an added sense of degree.
Context separates them. If the second clause states a consequence in proportion, it is the first reading; if it draws a conclusion, the second.
How to attach it
| Word type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb, present | -는 만큼 | 없다 → 없는 만큼 |
| Verb, past | -(으)ㄴ 만큼 | 노력하다 → 노력한 만큼 |
| Adjective | -(으)ㄴ 만큼 | 중요하다 → 중요한 만큼 |
| Still ahead | -(으)ㄹ 만큼 | 먹을 만큼 가져가세요 |
| Ends in ㄹ | ㄹ drops | 만들다 → 만드는 만큼 |
| After a noun | joined | 형만큼 |
In use
노력한 만큼 결과가 나올 거예요.
You’ll get results in proportion to your effort.
시간이 없는 만큼 서둘러야 합니다.
Given how little time there is, we need to hurry.
먹을 만큼만 가져가세요.
Take only as much as you’ll eat.
중요한 회의인 만큼 준비를 철저히 했습니다.
As it’s an important meeting, we prepared thoroughly.
직접 만드는 만큼 시간이 오래 걸려요.
Since we make it ourselves, it takes a long time.
아는 만큼 보인다는 말이 있어요.
There’s a saying that you see as much as you know.
Compared with
Noun + 만큼
After a bare noun, 만큼 joins directly and only means “as much as.” The reason reading appears only after a modifier.
형만큼 커요. (as tall as) / 중요한 만큼 준비했어요. (given its importance)
-(으)ㄹ수록
-(으)ㄹ수록 describes two things rising together; -(으)ㄴ/는 만큼 measures one against a fixed amount of the other.
노력할수록 좋아져요. (the more you try) / 노력한 만큼 나와요. (in proportion to what you did)
-기 때문에
In the reason sense they overlap, but 만큼 adds that the degree itself is the point — not merely that something is true.
시간이 없기 때문에 서둘러요. (because there’s no time) / 시간이 없는 만큼 서둘러야 합니다. (given how little there is)
Watch out
중요하는 만큼 준비를 철저히 했습니다.
중요한 만큼 준비를 철저히 했습니다.
중요하다 is an adjective, so it takes -(으)ㄴ. -는 belongs to verbs.
직접 만들는 만큼 시간이 걸려요.
직접 만드는 만큼 시간이 걸려요.
Stems ending in ㄹ drop it before -는, as everywhere in the modifier system.
노력한만큼 결과가 나와요.
노력한 만큼 결과가 나와요.
After a modifier, 만큼 is a separate word. Only after a bare noun does it join: 형만큼.
Next
koreangrammarmap.com