B2 · Obere Mittelstufe Kapitel 1

Professional Comparisons and Proportions

3 Gesamtregeln
31 Beispiele
4 Min.
Regeln in diesem Kapitel Schnelle Übung

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of professional comparison and proportional reasoning in Korean.

  • Compare two entities using formal structures.
  • Describe proportional relationships in professional settings.
  • Express dependencies between factors and outcomes.
Speak with precision, reason with logic.

Was du lernen wirst

Hey there! In this chapter, you're going to pick up some super useful Korean skills for comparing things and talking about how different elements relate to each other, especially in work or formal settings. It's an A1 level, so no need to stress – we’ll make it super easy and fun! You’ll start with '-에 비해' to make comparisons like 'compared to...' Imagine you're in a meeting saying, 'Our new project is more efficient compared to the old one.' This helps you make clear judgments. Next, we’ll explore the 'the more... the more...' structures with '-ㄹ/을수록' and '-면 -(으)ㄹ수록'. You’ll learn to say things like, 'The more you practice, the better you get at Korean,' or 'The more feedback we get, the more we can improve.' These are great for describing progressive changes in any situation. Then, we introduce '-에 비례하여,' letting you explain things that change proportionally, like 'Our sales increased in proportion to our advertising efforts.' It's perfect for explaining cause and effect in a structured way. Finally, master '-에 따라' to express 'depending on...' This lets you say, 'Delivery times vary depending on the destination,' or 'My plans change depending on the weather.' By the time you finish this chapter, you'll confidently discuss comparisons, proportional changes, and dependencies. You'll sound more natural and precise, whether you're at work, traveling, or chatting with Korean friends. Let's get started!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Compare project performance using -에 비해 (e bihae).
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Articulate proportional growth using -에 비례하여 (e biryeohayeo).
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Explain conditional outcomes using -에 따라 (e ttara).

Kapitel-Leitfaden

Overview

Welcome to your B2 Korean grammar journey, where we'll unlock the power of precise comparisons and proportional statements! This chapter,
Professional Comparisons and Proportions,
is designed to elevate your Korean grammar skills, especially for workplace discussions, academic presentations, or any situation demanding clear, nuanced communication. At the B2 Korean level, mastering these structures will enable you to articulate complex ideas, evaluate data, and present arguments with greater sophistication.
You'll learn essential phrases that move beyond basic comparisons, allowing you to discuss cause and effect, dependencies, and relative judgments with confidence. Whether you're analyzing sales figures, explaining project progress, or discussing policy impacts, these patterns are indispensable. Get ready to sound more native, more professional, and more articulate in Korean!

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into the core Korean grammar patterns that will transform your comparative and proportional expressions. Each of these structures serves a unique function, making your communication more precise.
First up is -에 비해 (Compared To: Evaluation & Relative Judgment). This pattern is used to make a comparison between two things, often highlighting a difference or an evaluation. It's like saying
compared to X, Y is...
and is particularly useful for objective analysis.
* 우리 팀의 성과는 작년에 비해 크게 향상되었습니다. (Our team's performance has significantly improved compared to last year.)
* 이 제품은 다른 경쟁사 제품에 비해 가격이 저렴합니다. (This product is cheaper compared to competitors' products.)
Next, we have the powerful 'the more... the more...' structure: -ㄹ/을수록 and -(으)ㄹ수록 (Proportional Grammar: 'The More... The More' / The More, The Better).
This expresses that as one condition increases or changes, another condition also changes proportionally. Use -ㄹ수록 after verb/adjective stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ, and -을수록 after stems ending in a consonant (not ㄹ).
* 이 프로젝트는 준비할수록 성공 가능성이 높아집니다. (The more you prepare for this project, the higher its success rate becomes.)
* 일을 미룰수록 부담이 커집니다. (The more you postpone work, the greater the burden becomes.)
For more formal or quantitative relationships, we use -에 비례하여 (Mathematical Proportions). This pattern explicitly states that one thing changes in direct proportion to another, often seen in economic, scientific, or business contexts.
* 수익은 투자금에 비례하여 증가했습니다. (Profits increased in proportion to the investment.)
* 직원들의 생산성은 적절한 휴식 시간에 비례하여 높아집니다. (Employees' productivity increases in proportion to adequate break times.)
Finally, master -에 따라 (Depending On...). This versatile expression means depending on, according to, or in accordance with. It's perfect for indicating variability or adherence to a standard.
* 시장 상황에 따라 전략을 조정해야 합니다. (We need to adjust our strategy depending on market conditions.)
* 보고서 내용에 따라 회의 일정이 변경될 수 있습니다. (The meeting schedule may change depending on the report's content.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 이 도시는 작년보다 인구가 적습니다. (This city's population is smaller than last year.)
✓ Correct: 이 도시는 작년에 비해 인구가 적습니다. (This city's population is smaller compared to last year.)
*Explanation:* While -보다 is used for simple, direct comparisons, -에 비해 is preferred when making a relative judgment or evaluation, especially in more formal contexts or when the comparison is against a standard or past state.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 더 많이 노력하면 할수록 더 좋은 결과가 나온다. (If you try harder, better results come out.)
✓ Correct: 더 많이 노력할수록 더 좋은 결과가 나옵니다. (The more you try, the better results you get.)
*Explanation:* The structure -ㄹ/을수록 already embeds the if... then more meaning. Using an additional «더 많이... 하면» can be redundant or less natural. Simply attach -ㄹ/을수록 to the verb or adjective stem.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 계획에 따라서 프로젝트가 진행되었다. (The project proceeded depending on the plan.)
✓ Correct: 계획에 따라 프로젝트가 진행되었습니다. (The project proceeded according to the plan.)
*Explanation:* When -에 따라 means according to or in accordance with a plan, rule, or instruction, the particle -서 is usually omitted, especially in formal writing or speech.

Real Conversations

A

A

이번 분기 실적은 지난 분기에 비해 어떠한가요? (How are this quarter's results compared to last quarter's?)
B

B

생산성이 향상될수록 비용 절감 효과가 커졌습니다. (The more productivity improved, the greater the cost-saving effect became.)
A

A

고객의 요구 사항에 따라 제품 사양을 조절해야 합니다. (We need to adjust the product specifications depending on customer requirements.)
B

B

네, 요구사항이 구체적일수록 개발 기간이 단축될 것입니다. (Yes, the more specific the requirements are, the shorter the development period will be.)
A

A

저희 회사의 시장 점유율은 마케팅 노력에 비례하여 증가했습니다. (Our company's market share increased in proportion to our marketing efforts.)
B

B

아주 좋은 소식이네요. (That's very good news.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between -에 비해 and -보다?

-에 비해 is used for relative judgment or evaluation against a benchmark, often implying a more analytical comparison. -보다 is a simpler, more direct comparison (

A is taller than B
).

Q

Can -에 따라 be used in the sense of according to a document or rule?

Yes, absolutely! -에 따라 is frequently used to mean according to a report, regulation, or instruction, making it very useful in professional contexts.

Q

Is -에 비례하여 always very formal?

Yes, -에 비례하여 carries a distinct formal and often academic or business tone. It's typically used when discussing measurable, proportional relationships, making it less common in casual conversation.

Cultural Context

These B2 Korean grammar patterns are highly valued in professional and academic settings because they enable speakers to express complex relationships with precision and objectivity. Using structures like -에 비해, -에 비례하여, and -에 따라 demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of Korean grammar and lends credibility to your statements. Native Korean speakers frequently employ these in presentations, official reports, and formal discussions to convey nuanced meaning and analytical depth, making your communication sound more polished and authoritative.

Wichtige Beispiele (4)

1

Gagyeok-e bihae seongneung-i jinjja joayo.

Im Vergleich zum Preis ist die Leistung echt gut.

Im Vergleich zu: Bewertung & Relatives Urteil (-에 비해)
2

Gidae-e bihaeseo yeonghwa-ga byeollo-yeosseo.

Verglichen mit meinen Erwartungen war der Film eher mau.

Im Vergleich zu: Bewertung & Relatives Urteil (-에 비해)
3

노력에 비례하여 성적이 올랐어요.

Die Noten stiegen proportional zur Anstrengung.

Mathematische Proportionen (-에 비례하여)
4

배달 거리에 비례하여 배달비가 추가돼요.

Die Liefergebühr wird proportional zur Entfernung berechnet.

Mathematische Proportionen (-에 비례하여)

Tipps & Tricks (3)

💬

Ga-seong-bi (가성비)

Koreaner lieben das Wort '가성비' (Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis). Du wirst oft hören «가격에 비해 좋아요», wenn jemand Essen oder Technik bewertet.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Im Vergleich zu: Bewertung & Relatives Urteil (-에 비해)
🎯

Perfekt für den Job!

Wenn du professionell klingen willst, nutze diesen Ausdruck für Verträge oder Gehaltsgespräche, z. B. «경력에 비례하여» (proportional zur Erfahrung).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mathematische Proportionen (-에 비례하여)
💡

Das 'Unterschieds-Duo'

Diese Grammatik tritt fast immer zusammen mit Wörtern auf, die 'anders sein' bedeuten, wie zum Beispiel: «사람에 따라 달라요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Je nach... (-에 따라)

Wichtige Vokabeln (5)

효율적 (hyoyuljeok) efficient 증가하다 (jeunggahada) to increase 광고 (gwanggo) advertisement 결과 (gyeol-gwa) result 상황 (sanghwang) situation

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Project Review Meeting

Review Summary

  • [Noun] + -에 비해
  • [Noun] + -에 비례하여
  • [Noun] + -에 따라

Häufige Fehler

When using -에 비례하여, use the full adverbial form for professional writing.

Wrong: 그것에 비례해 (Geugeot-e biryehae)
Richtig: 그것에 비례하여 (Geugeot-e biryeohayeo)

Do not add an extra -해서. The particle -에 비해 is already complete.

Wrong: 비해해서 (Bihaehaeseo)
Richtig: 비해 (Bihae)

Dependency uses the location particle -에, not the object particle -을.

Wrong: 상황을 따라 (Sanghwang-eul ttara)
Richtig: 상황에 따라 (Sanghwang-e ttara)

Next Steps

You have done an amazing job today! Keep practicing these patterns in your daily life to make them second nature.

Write a 3-sentence summary of your day using -에 비해 and -에 따라.

Continue to: Formal Logic and Causation

Schnelle Übung (6)

Finde den Fehler in diesem Satz.

Find and fix the mistake:

공부하기에 비례하여 점수가 올랐어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 공부량에 비례하여 점수가 올랐어요.
Du kannst '-에 비례하여' nicht an eine Verbform wie '-기' hängen. Nutze ein Nomen wie '공부량' (Lernmenge).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mathematische Proportionen (-에 비례하여)

Welcher Satz verwendet die Grammatik korrekt?

Wähle den richtigen Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 노력에 비례하여 성공해요.
Die Partikel '에' ist zwischen dem Nomen und '비례하여' zwingend erforderlich.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mathematische Proportionen (-에 비례하여)

Vervollständige den Satz mit der richtigen Grammatikform.

Diese Tasche hat eine gute Qualität im Vergleich zum Preis. 이 가방은 가격___ ___ 품질이 좋아요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 에 비해
Wir nutzen -에 비해 (verglichen mit), um die Qualität relativ zum Preis zu bewerten.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Im Vergleich zu: Bewertung & Relatives Urteil (-에 비해)

Fülle die Lücke aus, um 'proportional zum Arbeitspensum' zu sagen.

___ 비례하여 월급을 받아요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 업무량에
Du brauchst ein Nomen + '에' vor '비례하여'. '업무량' (Arbeitspensum) ist das richtige Nomen.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mathematische Proportionen (-에 비례하여)

Welcher Satz drückt korrekt 'Verglichen mit letztem Jahr' aus?

Wähle den natürlichen koreanischen Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 작년에 비해 날씨가 더워요.
Das Muster ist Nomen + -에 비해. '작년' (letztes Jahr) + '에 비해'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Im Vergleich zu: Bewertung & Relatives Urteil (-에 비해)

Finde den Fehler im Satz.

Find and fix the mistake:

공부하다에 비해 성적이 잘 나왔어요. (Verglichen mit dem Lernen habe ich gute Noten bekommen.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 공부한 것에 비해 성적이 잘 나왔어요.
Du kannst -에 비해 nicht direkt an ein Verb hängen. Du musst das Verb erst nominalisieren: 공부한 것 (die Tatsache, dass ich gelernt habe).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Im Vergleich zu: Bewertung & Relatives Urteil (-에 비해)

Score: /6

Häufige Fragen (6)

-보다 ist für direkte Vergleiche (A ist größer als B). -에 비해 nutzt man für Bewertungen relativ zu einem Standard: «크기에 비해 가벼워요» (Für die Größe ist es leicht).
Nicht direkt. Du musst das Verb erst in ein Nomen verwandeln mit -는 것. Beispiel: «먹는 것에 비해 살이 안 쪄요.»
'-에 따라' bedeutet allgemein 'je nach'. '-에 비례하여' ist viel spezifischer und impliziert ein direktes mathematisches Verhältnis, wie bei «노력에 비례하여».
Es klingt etwas steif. Nutze lieber «-에 비례해서», um die Logik beizubehalten, aber den Ton für den Alltag aufzuweichen: «노력에 비례해서 결과가 좋아.»
Klar! In lockeren Chats wird es oft zu «상황 따라» verkürzt. Als Lerner solltest du aber bei «-에 따라» bleiben.
Nicht direkt. Du musst das Verb erst nominalisieren, zum Beispiel mit '-(으)ㅁ', wie in «기술이 발달함에 따라».
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Formal Logic and Causation
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