[Korean grammar] -(으)ㄴ/는/-(으)ㄹ 만큼 Expressing Degree

가: 돈을얼마씩내면돼요?
How much money should we pay?
나: 각자 먹은 만큼 내면 될 것 같아요.
Each person should pay an amount equal to how much he or she ate.

가: 오늘 같이 영화 볼까요?
Shall we see a movie today?
나: 미안해요. 요즘 영화를 볼 만큼 한가하지 않아요.
Sorry, These days, I don’t have enough free time to see a movie.

This expression is used to indicate that the action or state described in the preceding clause is similar or equivalent to that stated in the following clause. When used with nouns, it indicates that the nouns in the preceding and following clauses are similar in degree.


• 돈을 많이 내는 만큼 좋은 서비스를 받을 수 있을 거예요.
To the extent that you pay for it, you should receive good service,

• 저 뒤에 있는 사람도 들을 수 있을 만큼 크게 말해 주세요.
Please speak loud enough that the person behind can hear you, too.

• 사람들은 보통 아픈 만큼 성숙해진다고 말을 합니다.
It is said that people mature to the extent that they’ve experienced sorrow.

• 나도 형만큼 잘할 수 있으니까 걱정하지 마세요.
Don’t worry because I can do (it) just as well as my older brother.