Korean Equality Comparisons: Using 만큼 ('as...as') and 못 ('not as...as')
Learn to say two things are equal with A는 B만큼, and to say one is not as good or as much with B만큼 못. Elementary patterns with real examples.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Korean does not use a single word like English 'as' twice in a comparison. Instead, equality is shown with the particle 만큼 (mankeum), which means 'as much as' or 'to the extent of'. You put 만큼 after the standard of comparison: 수진 씨만큼 키가 커요 means 'I am as tall as Sujin.' To say something is not as good or not as much, Korean commonly uses 못 before the verb: 수진 씨만큼 못 커요 means 'I am not as tall as Sujin.' This lesson teaches the two core patterns, when to choose each, and how they differ from simply saying something is more or most.
By the end, you can…
- say that two people or things are equal using A는 B만큼 + adjective or verb.
- say that someone or something is not as good or not as much using B만큼 못 + verb.
- ask and answer simple comparison questions about height, speed, and skill.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
수진 씨만큼 키가 커요.
I am as tall as Sujin.
sujin ssi-man-keum ki-ga keo-yo
Use 만큼 after the person or thing you compare with. The topic marker 는 is often dropped in speech.
이 책은 저 책만큼 재미있어요.
This book is as interesting as that book.
i chae-geun jeo chaek-man-keum jae-mi-i-sseo-yo
Works with descriptive verbs like 재미있다. Put 만큼 after the second item.
저는 수진 씨만큼 못 커요.
I am not as tall as Sujin.
jeo-neun sujin ssi-man-keum mot keo-yo
못 before the verb means 'cannot' or 'not to the same degree.' This is the everyday 'not as...as' pattern.
오늘은 어제만큼 안 더워요.
Today is not as hot as yesterday.
o-neu-reun eo-je-man-keum an deo-wo-yo
안 before the verb also makes a negative comparison. It often sounds softer than 못 here.
수진 씨는 저만큼 잘해요.
Sujin does it as well as I do.
sujin ssi-neun jeo-man-keum jal-hae-yo
With action verbs, 잘하다 means 'to do well.' 만큼 still follows the standard of comparison.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core equality pattern is A는 B만큼 + descriptive verb or action verb. B is the standard you compare against, and 만큼 follows it. Examples: 저는 수진 씨만큼 키가 커요 (I am as tall as Sujin); 이 가방은 저 가방만큼 비싸요 (This bag is as expensive as that bag); 수진 씨는 저만큼 잘해요 (Sujin does it as well as I do). Notice that 만큼 never comes before the standard; it always attaches after it. In casual speech the topic marker 는 is often left out, so you may hear 수진 씨만큼 키가 커요.
When to use it
Use 만큼 when the two things are equal in the quality you name. Use 못 or 안 before the verb when they are not equal. 저는 수진 씨만큼 못 커요 means 'I am not as tall as Sujin.' 오늘은 어제만큼 안 더워요 means 'Today is not as hot as yesterday.' Choose 못 when ability or degree falls short, and 안 when you simply negate the comparison. This is different from 더 ('more') and 제일 or 가장 ('most'), which rank things rather than show equality. Compare 수진 씨가 제일 커요 (Sujin is the tallest) with 수진 씨만큼 커요 (as tall as Sujin).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
수진 씨, 키가 정말 크네요.
Sujin, you are really tall.sujin ssi, ki-ga jeong-mal keu-ne-yo네, 하지만 제 동생만큼 안 커요.
Yes, but I am not as tall as my younger sibling.ne, ha-ji-man je dong-saeng-man-keum an keo-yo동생이 수진 씨만큼 커요?
Is your younger sibling as tall as you?dong-saeng-i sujin ssi-man-keum keo-yo네, 동생은 저만큼 잘 달려요.
Yes, and my younger sibling runs as well as I do.ne, dong-saeng-eun jeo-man-keum jal dal-lyeo-yoA little context goes a long way
만큼 comparisons are common in everyday Korean and are neutral in politeness. With strangers or in formal settings, keep the polite -요 ending or use -습니다. When comparing people, Koreans often soften direct comments about appearance or ability by adding 조금 (a little) or 그렇게 (that much), as in 그렇게 안 커요, which sounds less blunt than a bare negative comparison.
One thing to watch for
Putting 만큼 before the standard of comparison, as in 수진 씨는 만큼 저 키가 커요.
Try this instead: 만큼 must follow the standard: 수진 씨만큼 저는 키가 커요, or more naturally 저는 수진 씨만큼 키가 커요. Think of 만큼 as attaching to the thing you measure against, not to the subject.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'This coffee is as hot as that tea' using 만큼?
Show a sample answer
이 커피는 저 차만큼 뜨거워요.
만큼 follows 저 차, the standard of comparison, and 뜨겁다 becomes 뜨거워요 in the polite present. 이 커피도 저 차만큼 뜨거워요 is also fine if you want to emphasize 'this coffee too.'
2Change 저는 수진 씨만큼 키가 커요 into a 'not as...as' sentence.
Show a sample answer
저는 수진 씨만큼 못 커요. or 저는 수진 씨만큼 안 커요.
못 emphasizes falling short in degree or ability, while 안 is a simple negation. Both are correct; 못 is very common for physical comparisons.
3What is the difference between 수진 씨가 제일 커요 and 수진 씨만큼 커요?
Show a sample answer
제일 커요 ranks Sujin as the tallest; 만큼 커요 says someone is equal in height to Sujin.
제일 or 가장 expresses a superlative, while 만큼 expresses equality. The same distinction appears with 더 for 'more.'
Put 만큼 after the standard to show equality, and add 못 or 안 before the verb to show that something is not as good or not as much. Keep the polite ending, and remember that 만큼 never comes before the item you compare with.
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