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늘리다

A1 verb 10 min read

늘리다

neullida

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 늘리다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 늘리다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '늘리다' (neullida) is a very useful word for talking about making things 'more' or 'bigger' in a simple way. Think of it as 'to add more' or 'to make bigger.' You will use it most often when talking about numbers or time. For example, if you want to study Korean for 2 hours instead of 1 hour, you 'increase' (늘려요) your study time. If you want more pocket money from your parents, you might ask them to 'increase' (늘려 주세요) your allowance. It's a causative verb, which means *you* or *someone* is doing the action to something else. Always remember to use the object particle -을 or -를 with the thing you are increasing. In simple sentences, it looks like this: '공부 시간을 늘려요' (I increase study time) or '물 양을 늘려요' (I increase the amount of water). It is one of the first verbs you learn to describe changing the quantity of something in your daily life.

At the A2 level, you begin to use '늘리다' in more varied contexts like hobbies, work, and daily habits. You might talk about '실력을 늘리다' (increasing/improving your skill) in sports or music. Here, it implies that through your active effort, your ability level is growing. You will also encounter it in shopping and services, such as asking a tailor to '늘리다' the waist of your pants (허리를 늘리다) or the length of a skirt. At this level, it's important to distinguish '늘리다' from its intransitive counterpart '늘다'. '실력이 늘었어요' means 'My skill improved' (it just happened), while '실력을 늘렸어요' means 'I (actively) improved my skill.' You should also start noticing how it conjugates into '늘려요' (present), '늘렸어요' (past), and '늘릴 거예요' (future). You might also use it when talking about social media, like '팔로워를 늘리고 싶어요' (I want to increase my followers).

For B1 learners, '늘리다' moves into more professional and abstract areas. You will see it used in business contexts to discuss '매출을 늘리다' (increasing sales) or '생산량을 늘리다' (increasing production volume). It's a key word for discussing strategies and goals. You should also be aware of the common confusion between '늘리다' and '늘이다'. Remember: '늘리다' is for volume, quantity, and time (more of something), while '늘이다' is for physical stretching (making something longer, like a string). At this level, you can use '늘리다' with more complex grammar patterns like '-기 위해서' (in order to) or '-려고 노력하다' (to try to). For example: '수출을 늘리기 위해서 새로운 시장을 찾고 있습니다' (We are looking for new markets in order to increase exports). You will also hear it in news reports about social issues, like increasing the number of public facilities or school seats.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using '늘리다' in formal debates and written reports. It often appears in discussions about government policy, economics, and social trends. For example, '정부는 복지 예산을 늘리기로 결정했다' (The government decided to increase the welfare budget). You will also notice it being used in more nuanced ways, such as '범위를 늘리다' (to increase the scope/range of something) or '영향력을 늘리다' (to increase one's influence). At this stage, you should also be able to compare '늘리다' with more formal Hanja-based synonyms like '증가시키다' (to increase), '확대하다' (to expand), and '증대하다' (to enhance/increase). You'll understand that while '늘리다' is perfectly fine, these Hanja words might be preferred in academic writing or official news broadcasts to provide more precision or a more formal tone.

At the C1 level, your use of '늘리다' should be precise and context-aware. You will encounter it in literature or high-level journalism where it might be used metaphorically, such as '생각의 폭을 늘리다' (to increase the breadth of one's thoughts). You'll understand the subtle differences when it's used in specialized fields like law (extending a sentence), medicine (increasing dosage), or technology (increasing memory capacity). You should also be sensitive to how '늘리다' interacts with various adverbs and descriptors to convey exact meanings—'대폭 늘리다' (to increase drastically), '점진적으로 늘리다' (to increase gradually), or '기하급수적으로 늘리다' (to increase exponentially). Your ability to choose between '늘리다' and its many synonyms (확장하다, 확충하다, 증설하다) based on the specific object (e.g., roads, facilities, equipment) should be well-developed.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of '늘리다' and its place within the vast web of Korean vocabulary. You can use it effortlessly in any context, from a casual conversation about adding more salt to a soup to a complex philosophical discussion about '인간의 수명을 어디까지 늘릴 수 있는가' (To what extent can we increase human lifespan?). You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word and how it relates to the concept of 'growth' in Korean culture. You can spot and correct subtle misuses of the word in others' speech or writing, and you can play with its causative nature to create sophisticated rhetorical effects. You are also aware of how '늘리다' might appear in archaic or dialectal forms in literature, although you primarily use the standard form. Your mastery allows you to use the word with perfect prosody and within the correct register every time.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

늘리다 in 30 Seconds

늘리다 means 'to increase' or 'to expand' quantity, volume, or time.
It is a causative verb, meaning someone is making the increase happen.
Commonly used with time, money, skills, and numbers of people.
Different from '늘이다', which means to physically stretch something longer.

The Korean verb 늘리다 (neullida) is a versatile and essential causative verb that primarily means 'to increase,' 'to extend,' or 'to expand.' At its core, it describes an action where an agent intentionally makes something larger in quantity, volume, size, or duration. It is the causative form of the intransitive verb 늘다 (to increase/improve). Understanding '늘리다' is crucial for A1 learners because it appears in daily conversations ranging from increasing study hours to adding more water to a soup. Unlike simple physical stretching (which often uses '늘이다'), '늘리다' focuses on the result of having 'more' of something than before.

Quantity and Number: This is the most common usage. Whether you are increasing the number of employees in a company, the amount of pocket money you give to a child, or the volume of a radio, '늘리다' is the go-to word. For example, '인원을 늘리다' (to increase the number of people) or '용돈을 늘리다' (to increase allowance).

선생님, 공부 시간을 조금 더 늘려야 해요. (Teacher, I need to increase my study time a bit more.)

Size and Space: When you expand a physical space, such as making a house bigger or enlarging a photo, '늘리다' is used. It implies that the boundary or the scale of the object is being pushed outward. '집을 늘리다' often implies moving to a larger house or renovating to add more rooms.

In a broader socio-economic context, you will hear this word in news reports discussing the need to increase the birth rate (출산율을 늘리다) or increasing exports (수출을 늘리다). It carries a productive and active nuance. In personal development, it refers to expanding one's skills or influence. The word is deeply embedded in the Korean mindset of growth and expansion, reflecting a dynamic society that is always looking to 'increase' its potential and reach. Whether you are adding a few more minutes to your alarm or expanding a multi-national corporation, '늘리다' bridges the gap between the small and the monumental.

우리는 생산량을 두 배로 늘렸습니다. (We increased the production volume by two times.)

Time and Duration: When a deadline is extended or a meeting is made longer, '늘리다' is used to describe the addition of time. '수명을 늘리다' means to increase lifespan, showing its application in health and science contexts as well.

운동 시간을 하루 30분에서 1시간으로 늘렸어요. (I increased my exercise time from 30 minutes to 1 hour a day.)

사진을 크게 늘려서 인화해 주세요. (Please enlarge the photo and print it.)

Using 늘리다 correctly requires understanding its role as a transitive verb. The basic sentence structure is [Subject] + [Object]-을/를 + 늘리다. Because it is a causative verb, there is always an actor who is causing the increase. This differentiates it from '늘다', where something increases on its own (e.g., '키가 늘다' - height increases vs. '바지 길이를 늘리다' - to increase the length of the pants).

Conjugation Basics: In the present tense, it becomes 늘려요 (polite) or 늘린다 (plain). In the past, it is 늘렸어요. For future intentions, you would say 늘릴 거예요. Note the '리' and '어' merging into '려' in the polite present and past forms. This is a common pattern for verbs ending in '리다'.

회사는 내년에 직원을 더 늘릴 계획입니다. (The company plans to increase the number of employees next year.)

When discussing quantities, you often use adverbs like '더' (more), '크게' (greatly), or '조금' (a little) to specify the degree of increase. '늘리다' is frequently used in the context of business and economics. For instance, '매출을 늘리다' (to increase sales) or '이윤을 늘리다' (to increase profit). In these cases, it implies a strategic effort by the company or individual to achieve a higher number.

Physical vs. Abstract: It is important to distinguish between physical expansion and abstract increases. '늘리다' works for both. You can '늘리다' the size of a building (physical) and also '늘리다' your vocabulary (abstract). For vocabulary, you would say '어휘량을 늘리다'.

도서관은 장서 수를 늘리고 있습니다. (The library is increasing the number of books in its collection.)

In daily life, '늘리다' is used when adjusting settings. If you are cooking and the soup is too salty, you might '국물을 늘리다' by adding more water. If you are in a car and need to reach a destination faster, though less common than '속도를 내다', one might say '속도를 늘리다' in certain technical contexts to mean increasing the speed parameter.

예산을 늘리지 않으면 이 프로젝트를 완성할 수 없어요. (Unless we increase the budget, we cannot complete this project.)

Common Collocations: 1. 시간을 늘리다 (Increase time) 2. 양을 늘리다 (Increase quantity) 3. 거리를 늘리다 (Increase distance) 4. 범위를 늘리다 (Increase scope/range) 5. 재산을 늘리다 (Increase wealth/assets)

실력을 늘리기 위해 매일 연습해요. (I practice every day to increase/improve my skill.)

You will encounter 늘리다 in a variety of settings, from professional environments to domestic life. Its frequency in the news and media is particularly high because it relates to growth, development, and policy changes. If you watch Korean news (KBS, MBC, SBS), you will constantly hear anchors talk about the government's efforts to increase jobs (일자리를 늘리다) or social welfare benefits (복지를 늘리다).

In the Workplace: In office meetings, managers often discuss how to '늘리다' efficiency or output. '생산성을 늘리다' (increase productivity) is a corporate buzzword. You might also hear employees asking to '늘리다' the deadline (마감 기한을 늘리다) when they need more time for a project.

이번 분기에는 마케팅 비용을 늘리기로 했습니다. (We decided to increase the marketing budget this quarter.)

In Schools and Education: Education is a huge part of Korean culture. Teachers often advise students to '어휘력을 늘리다' (increase vocabulary power) or '독서량을 늘리다' (increase the amount of reading). On university campuses, students might talk about '수강 인원을 늘리다' (increasing the number of students allowed in a class) when a popular course is full.

In the context of health and fitness, personal trainers will tell you to '세트 수를 늘리다' (increase the number of sets) or '운동 강도를 늘리다' (increase exercise intensity). On social media, influencers talk about how to '팔로워를 늘리다' (increase followers) or '조회수를 늘리다' (increase view counts). It is a word that describes the modern obsession with metrics and growth.

유튜브 구독자를 늘리는 방법이 궁금해요. (I'm curious about how to increase YouTube subscribers.)

At Home: Parents might talk about '공부 시간을 늘려라' (increase your study time) to their children. In the kitchen, if there are unexpected guests, you might hear '밥 양을 좀 늘려야겠네' (I should increase the amount of rice). It's very practical and everyday.

손님이 오시니까 음식 양을 좀 늘릴게요. (Since guests are coming, I will increase the amount of food.)

정부는 공공 주택 공급을 늘리겠다고 발표했습니다. (The government announced it would increase the supply of public housing.)

The most frequent mistake learners (and even some native speakers) make is confusing 늘리다 with 늘이다. While they look similar and both involve 'making something more,' their specific applications are strictly separated in standard Korean grammar. Understanding this distinction will elevate your Korean to a more professional and accurate level.

늘리다 vs. 늘이다: Use 늘리다 for quantity, volume, area, or time duration. It’s about 'more'. Use 늘이다 for physical length or stretching. It’s about 'longer'. For example, you '늘리다' (increase) your wealth, but you '늘이다' (stretch) a rubber band. You '늘리다' (increase) study hours, but you '늘이다' (lengthen) a piece of string.

Wrong: 고무줄을 늘려요. (Incorrectly using 'increase' for a rubber band) Right: 고무줄을 늘여요. (Correctly using 'stretch/lengthen')

Another common error is using '늘리다' when you should use the intransitive form 늘다. Remember that '늘리다' requires an object (을/를). If you want to say 'My Korean improved,' you should use '한국어 실력이 늘었어요' (늘다). If you say '한국어 실력을 늘렸어요,' it means you actively did something to increase your skill. While both are grammatically possible, '늘다' is more natural for the result, while '늘리다' focuses on the effort or action.

Misusing with 'Increase' Synonyms: Learners often over-rely on '늘리다' when a more specific Sino-Korean word (Hanja) might be better in formal writing. For instance, while '수출을 늘리다' is fine, '수출을 확대하다' (expand exports) or '수출을 증대시키다' (increase exports) sounds more professional in a business report.

Wrong: 몸무게가 늘렸어요. (Weight increased - passive/intransitive needed) Right: 몸무게가 늘었어요. (My weight increased.)

Finally, watch out for the conjugation of '늘리다' in the present tense. Some learners say '늘리어요' which is technically correct but almost never used in speech. The contracted form '늘려요' is the standard. In the past tense, '늘렸어요' is often misspelled as '늘였어요' by mistake due to the confusion with '늘이다'. Always check if you are talking about 'more' (늘리다 -> 늘렸어요) or 'longer' (늘이다 -> 늘였어요).

Wrong: 시간를 늘려요. (Incorrect particle) Right: 시간을 늘려요. (Correct object particle)

Confusing with '키우다': While '키우다' also means 'to grow/increase,' it is usually used for living things (raising a child/pet) or growing a business/dream. '늘리다' is more about the numerical or spatial expansion. You '키우다' a company to make it great, but you '늘리다' the number of branches of that company.

While 늘리다 is a very common and natural word, Korean has many synonyms that are more specific depending on the context. Knowing these will help you sound more like a native speaker and improve your reading comprehension of formal texts.

증가시키다 (Jeung-ga-si-ki-da): This is the Sino-Korean equivalent of '늘리다'. It is used in formal, academic, or technical contexts. While you might '늘리다' your study hours at home, a research paper would discuss '증가시키다' (increasing) the efficiency of a chemical reaction. It sounds more clinical and precise.
확대하다 (Hwak-dae-ha-da): This word means 'to expand' or 'to enlarge'. It is used when the scale, scope, or physical size of something is being broadened. Examples include '사업을 확대하다' (expand a business) or '사진을 확대하다' (enlarge a photo). It focuses on the 'breadth' rather than just the 'number'.
연장하다 (Yeon-jang-ha-da): Specifically used for time or physical length. If you want to extend a deadline or a contract, '연장하다' is the correct term. While '시간을 늘리다' is okay, '시간을 연장하다' sounds more official. '비자 기간을 연장하다' (extend visa period) is a very common phrase.

Comparison: '실력을 늘리다' (Common) vs. '역량을 강화하다' (Professional: to strengthen capabilities).

In terms of physical size, 확장하다 (Hwak-jang-ha-da) is another alternative. It is specifically used for buildings, roads, or spaces. '도로를 확장하다' means to widen or expand a road. '늘리다' can be used here too (길을 늘리다), but '확장' sounds more like a construction term.

영업 시간을 연장해서 손님을 더 늘릴 수 있어요. (By extending business hours, we can increase the number of customers.)

Lastly, consider 키우다 (Ki-u-da). As mentioned before, this is 'to grow'. If you are talking about increasing your 'dream' (꿈을 키우다) or 'courage' (용기를 키우다), this is much more poetic and natural than '늘리다'. '늘리다' is for things you can count or measure spatially; '키우다' is for things that grow organically.

Summary of Alternatives: 1. 증가시키다: Formal/Numerical increase 2. 확대하다: Expansion of scope/size 3. 연장하다: Extension of time/length 4. 확장하다: Physical expansion of space 5. 키우다: Organic growth/nurturing

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In Middle Korean, the distinction between '늘리다' (to increase quantity) and '늘이다' (to stretch length) was already beginning to form, showing how important this distinction is in the Korean language's logic of space.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /nɯɭ.ɭi.da/

US /nʊl.li.dɑ/

The stress is relatively even, but a slight emphasis is often placed on the first syllable '늘'.

Rhymes With

불리다 (bullida - to be called/soaked) 풀리다 (pullida - to be untied) 졸리다 (jollida - to be sleepy) 홀리다 (hollida - to be possessed) 깔리다 (kkallida - to be spread) 날리다 (nallida - to fly/be famous) 말리다 (mallida - to dry/stop someone) 밀리다 (millida - to be pushed/delayed)

Common Errors

Pronouncing '늘' as '눌' (nool), which changes the meaning.
Failing to double the 'ㄹ' sound, making it sound like 'neul-i-da' instead of 'neul-li-da'.
Confusing it with '느리다' (neurida - to be slow).
Mispronouncing the 'eu' sound as 'oo' or 'ee'.
Over-emphasizing the 'da' at the end.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in text, but can be confused with '늘이다'.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct conjugation (늘려요) and proper object particle usage.

Speaking 2/5

Commonly used in daily life; pronunciation is straightforward.

Listening 3/5

Must distinguish from '늘다' (intransitive) and '늘이다' (length).

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

늘다 (To increase - intransitive) 크다 (To be big) 많다 (To be many/much) 시간 (Time) 돈 (Money)

Learn Next

줄이다 (To decrease) 늘이다 (To stretch length) 증가하다 (To increase - formal) 확대하다 (To expand) 연장하다 (To extend)

Advanced

확충하다 (To expand/supplement) 증설하다 (To install more/expand facilities) 증대시키다 (To enhance/increase)

Grammar to Know

Causative Verbs (-이/히/리/기/우/구/추)

늘다 (increase) -> 늘리다 (to make something increase)

Object Particle -을/를

시간을 늘리다 (Increase time)

-기 위해서 (In order to)

실력을 늘리기 위해서 연습해요. (I practice to increase my skill.)

-아/어지다 (Passive/Becoming)

늘어나다 (To become increased/expanded)

-(으)려면 (If you want to...)

재산을 늘리려면 투자를 하세요. (If you want to increase wealth, invest.)

Examples by Level

공부 시간을 조금 더 늘려요.

I increase my study time a little more.

Present tense polite form: 늘리다 + -어요 = 늘려요.

물 양을 늘려 주세요.

Please increase the amount of water.

-아/어 주세요 is used to make a polite request.

우리는 친구 수를 늘렸어요.

We increased the number of friends.

Past tense: 늘리다 + -었- = 늘렸어요.

용돈을 더 늘리고 싶어요.

I want to increase my allowance more.

-고 싶다 expresses a desire.

운동량을 조금씩 늘리세요.

Increase the amount of exercise little by little.

-(으)세요 is a polite command or advice.

이 사진을 늘려 주세요.

Please enlarge this photo.

In this context, 늘리다 means to enlarge size.

밥 양을 늘릴까요?

Shall I increase the amount of rice?

-(으)ㄹ까요? is used to make a suggestion or ask for an opinion.

잠자는 시간을 늘려야 해요.

I have to increase my sleeping time.

-아/어야 하다 expresses necessity or obligation.

매일 연습해서 실력을 늘렸어요.

I practiced every day and increased my skill.

-아/어서 indicates the cause or reason.

바지 허리를 조금 늘릴 수 있을까요?

Could I increase the waist of these pants a little?

-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 expresses possibility.

책 읽는 시간을 1시간으로 늘렸습니다.

I increased my book reading time to one hour.

Formal polite ending -습니다.

가게의 메뉴를 더 늘릴 계획이에요.

I plan to increase the menu items of the shop.

-(으)ㄹ 계획이다 means 'to plan to'.

저축 금액을 매달 조금씩 늘리고 있어요.

I am increasing the savings amount a little every month.

-고 있다 indicates an ongoing action.

수업 인원을 늘리면 좋겠어요.

It would be good if they increased the number of students for the class.

-(으)면 좋겠다 expresses a wish.

컴퓨터 메모리를 늘려야겠어요.

I should increase the computer memory.

-아/어야겠다 expresses a realized necessity or intention.

비타민 섭취량을 늘려 보세요.

Try increasing your vitamin intake.

-아/어 보다 means 'to try doing something'.

회사는 생산량을 늘리기 위해 공장을 증설했습니다.

The company expanded the factory to increase production volume.

-기 위해(서) means 'in order to'.

정부는 일자리를 늘리는 정책을 발표했습니다.

The government announced a policy to increase jobs.

-는 (noun-modifying) connects the verb to the noun '정책'.

어휘력을 늘리려면 책을 많이 읽어야 합니다.

If you want to increase your vocabulary, you must read many books.

-(으)려면 means 'if you intend to'.

마감 시간을 하루 더 늘려 줄 수 있나요?

Can you extend the deadline by one more day?

늘리다 here refers to extending time duration.

이 서비스는 사용자 수를 늘리는 것이 목표입니다.

The goal of this service is to increase the number of users.

-는 것 turns the verb into a noun phrase.

재산을 늘리기 위해 투자를 시작했습니다.

I started investing to increase my wealth.

재산을 늘리다 is a common expression for building wealth.

그들은 영향력을 늘리기 위해 노력하고 있습니다.

They are making efforts to increase their influence.

영향력 (influence) is an abstract object for 늘리다.

주차 공간을 늘려 달라는 요청이 많습니다.

There are many requests to increase the parking space.

-어 달라는 (indirect request) means 'asking to do for me/us'.

기업들은 이윤을 늘리기 위해 비용을 절감합니다.

Companies cut costs to increase profits.

이윤을 늘리다 is a standard business term.

수출을 늘리지 않으면 경제 성장이 어렵습니다.

Economic growth is difficult unless exports are increased.

-지 않으면 means 'unless' or 'if not'.

정부는 복지 예산을 대폭 늘리기로 했습니다.

The government decided to drastically increase the welfare budget.

대폭 (drastically) is a common adverb for 늘리다.

데이터 저장 용량을 늘리는 기술이 개발되었습니다.

Technology to increase data storage capacity has been developed.

용량 (capacity) is frequently used with 늘리다.

사회적 거리두기 기간을 일주일 더 늘렸습니다.

The social distancing period was extended by one more week.

늘리다 used for extending duration of a policy.

판매량을 늘리기 위해 대대적인 광고를 시작했습니다.

We started extensive advertising to increase sales volume.

판매량 (sales volume) is a common metric.

그 작가는 작품의 범위를 점차 늘려 갔습니다.

The author gradually increased the scope of their work.

-어 가다 indicates an action that continues over time.

수명을 늘리는 의학 기술이 계속 발전하고 있습니다.

Medical technology that increases lifespan continues to develop.

수명을 늘리다 is a common scientific/medical phrase.

인구 감소 문제를 해결하기 위해 출산율을 늘려야 합니다.

To solve the population decline problem, we must increase the birth rate.

출산율 (birth rate) is a high-level social metric.

그 기업은 시장 점유율을 늘리기 위해 공격적인 마케팅을 펼쳤다.

The company launched aggressive marketing to increase its market share.

시장 점유율 (market share) is a professional term.

교육의 기회를 늘리는 것은 사회적 평등을 위해 필수적이다.

Increasing educational opportunities is essential for social equality.

The entire phrase '교육의 기회를 늘리는 것' is the subject.

환경 보호를 위해 재생 에너지 비중을 늘려야 할 때입니다.

It is time to increase the proportion of renewable energy for environmental protection.

비중 (proportion/weight) is often used with 늘리다.

그는 자신의 정치적 입지를 늘리기 위해 다양한 행사에 참여했다.

He participated in various events to increase his political standing.

정치적 입지 (political standing/position) is an abstract noun.

최근에는 공공 도서관의 장서 수를 늘리는 사업이 진행 중이다.

Recently, a project to increase the number of books in public libraries is underway.

장서 수 (number of books in a collection) is a specific term.

공급을 늘리면 가격이 하락할 것이라는 경제 원리가 있다.

There is an economic principle that increasing supply will cause prices to fall.

공급 (supply) is a fundamental economic object for 늘리다.

수사 범위를 늘려서 사건의 진상을 철저히 파악해야 한다.

We must thoroughly understand the truth of the case by increasing the scope of the investigation.

수사 범위 (scope of investigation) is a legal context.

인간의 인지 능력을 인위적으로 늘리는 행위의 윤리적 문제를 고찰해야 한다.

We must consider the ethical issues of artificially increasing human cognitive abilities.

인지 능력 (cognitive ability) is a complex psychological object.

예술가는 작품을 통해 독자의 상상력을 늘리는 역할을 수행한다.

Artists play a role in increasing the reader's imagination through their work.

상상력을 늘리다 (to increase/expand imagination) is a poetic use.

글로벌 공급망의 회복 탄력성을 늘리는 것이 경제 안보의 핵심 과제다.

Increasing the resilience of the global supply chain is a key task for economic security.

회복 탄력성 (resilience) is a high-level strategic term.

민주주의의 질적 수준을 늘리기 위해서는 시민들의 참여가 필수적이다.

To increase the qualitative level of democracy, citizen participation is essential.

질적 수준 (qualitative level) is an abstract metric.

우주 탐사의 범위를 늘림으로써 인류는 새로운 지평을 열어가고 있다.

By increasing the scope of space exploration, humanity is opening new horizons.

-음으로써 indicates the means or method of an action.

전통 문화의 현대적 계승을 통해 문화적 저변을 늘려야 한다.

We must increase the cultural base through the modern succession of traditional culture.

문화적 저변 (cultural base/foundation) is a sociological term.

국가 간의 협력을 늘려 기후 위기에 공동으로 대응해야 한다.

We must respond jointly to the climate crisis by increasing cooperation between nations.

협력 (cooperation) can be 'increased' in intensity and scope.

지식의 지평을 늘리는 것이야말로 학문의 궁극적인 목적이다.

Increasing the horizons of knowledge is indeed the ultimate goal of scholarship.

-이야말로 is an emphatic particle meaning 'indeed' or 'the very'.

Common Collocations

시간을 늘리다

실력을 늘리다

양을 늘리다

인원을 늘리다

재산을 늘리다

범위를 늘리다

거리를 늘리다

예산을 늘리다

비중을 늘리다

용량을 늘리다

Common Phrases

집을 늘리다

— To move to a larger house or expand one's current home. It often implies improved financial status.

돈을 모아서 집을 늘려 갔어요.

말수를 늘리다

— To start talking more. Often used when a quiet person becomes more talkative.

그는 친해지자 말수를 늘렸다.

발걸음을 늘리다

— To take more steps or to visit a place more frequently.

도서관으로 발걸음을 늘리세요.

가짓수를 늘리다

— To increase the number of types or varieties of items.

반찬 가짓수를 늘려야겠어요.

수명을 늘리다

— To increase lifespan or the functional life of a machine.

건강한 식습관은 수명을 늘려 줍니다.

보폭을 늘리다

— To increase one's stride length while walking or running.

빨리 걸으려면 보폭을 늘려야 해요.

세력을 늘리다

— To increase one's power, influence, or the size of a group.

그 정당은 지방에서 세력을 늘렸다.

배차를 늘리다

— To increase the frequency of bus or train dispatches.

출퇴근 시간에 버스 배차를 늘려 주세요.

공급을 늘리다

— To increase supply in an economic or resource context.

마스크 공급을 늘리기로 했습니다.

점유율을 늘리다

— To increase market share.

신제품으로 시장 점유율을 늘렸습니다.

Often Confused With

늘리다 vs 늘이다

늘이다 is for physical length (stretching a string). 늘리다 is for quantity, volume, or area (more of something).

늘리다 vs 늘다

늘다 is intransitive (it increases). 늘리다 is transitive (someone increases it).

늘리다 vs 느리다

느리다 is an adjective meaning 'to be slow'. The pronunciation is similar but the meaning is entirely different.

Idioms & Expressions

"살림을 늘리다"

— To gradually acquire more household goods or to improve one's standard of living.

신혼부부가 조금씩 살림을 늘려 가는 재미가 있다.

Neutral

"판을 늘리다"

— To expand the scale of a project, business, or even a gamble/game.

일이 잘되자 그는 사업 판을 늘렸다.

Informal/Colloquial

"콧대를 늘리다"

— Metaphorically, to become more arrogant or proud (less common than '콧대가 높다').

성공하더니 콧대를 늘리고 다닌다.

Informal

"덩치를 늘리다"

— To increase the physical size or the overall scale of an organization.

회사가 합병을 통해 덩치를 늘렸다.

Neutral

"줄을 늘리다"

— To make a line of people longer (waiting line).

맛집 앞에 사람들이 줄을 늘리고 서 있다.

Neutral

"목을 늘리다"

— To crane one's neck in anticipation or to wait eagerly (similar to '목을 빼다').

어머니는 아들이 오기를 목을 늘리고 기다리셨다.

Literary/Emotive

"몸집을 늘리다"

— Similar to '덩치를 늘리다', used for companies or organizations expanding their scale.

은행들이 몸집을 늘리기 위해 경쟁하고 있다.

Neutral

"소리를 늘리다"

— To draw out a sound or to make a voice linger longer.

가수는 노래 끝부분에서 소리를 늘렸다.

Artistic

"가산을 늘리다"

— To increase family wealth or property.

그는 알뜰하게 살아서 가산을 늘렸다.

Formal/Traditional

"세수를 늘리다"

— To increase tax revenue for the government.

정부는 세수를 늘리기 위한 방안을 검토 중이다.

Formal/Political

Easily Confused

늘리다 vs 늘이다

Similar spelling and pronunciation.

늘이다 is for making something physically longer by pulling (e.g., rubber band). 늘리다 is for increasing quantity, time, or size (e.g., study hours, wealth).

엿을 늘이다 (stretch taffy) vs. 매출을 늘리다 (increase sales).

늘리다 vs 늘다

Root verb vs. causative form.

늘다 is used when something increases on its own or the focus is on the state. 늘리다 is used when an agent actively causes the increase.

실력이 늘었다 (Skill improved) vs. 실력을 늘렸다 (I improved my skill).

늘리다 vs 키우다

Both mean 'to make bigger'.

키우다 is for living things or organic growth (raising a child, growing a dream). 늘리다 is for measurable units like quantity, area, or time.

강아지를 키우다 (raise a dog) vs. 예산을 늘리다 (increase budget).

늘리다 vs 불리다

Both involve 'increasing'.

불리다 usually refers to increasing volume through soaking (beans) or multiplying money/wealth specifically.

콩을 불리다 (soak beans) vs. 재산을 불리다 (multiply wealth).

늘리다 vs 보태다

Both mean 'to add'.

보태다 means adding a small amount to something existing to help or supplement. 늘리다 means increasing the overall scale or number.

힘을 보태다 (add help) vs. 인원을 늘리다 (increase the number of people).

Sentence Patterns

[Noun]을/를 늘려요.

공부 시간을 늘려요.

[Noun]을/를 늘리고 싶어요.

용돈을 늘리고 싶어요.

[Noun]을/를 늘리기 위해(서) [Action].

실력을 늘리기 위해서 매일 연습해요.

[Noun]을/를 늘리기로 결정했다.

회사는 생산량을 늘리기로 결정했다.

[Noun]의 비중을 늘려야 한다.

신재생 에너지의 비중을 늘려야 한다.

[Noun]을/를 늘림으로써 [Result].

수출을 늘림으로써 경제를 살렸다.

[Noun]을/를 늘릴 수 있어요?

바지 허리를 늘릴 수 있어요?

[Noun]이/가 늘어나도록 [Noun]을/를 늘리다.

사용자가 늘어나도록 서비스를 늘리다.

Word Family

Nouns

늘림 (neullim) - The act of increasing/expansion

Verbs

늘다 (neulda) - To increase/improve (intransitive)

늘어나다 (neuleonada) - To grow/expand (intransitive)

늘어뜨리다 (neuleotteurida) - To let something hang down/dangle

증가 (jeungga) - Increase

확대 (hwakdae) - Expansion

성장 (seongjang) - Growth

발전 (baljeon) - Development

추가 (chuga) - Addition

How to Use It

frequency

Very High in both spoken and written Korean.

Common Mistakes

고무줄을 늘려요. → 고무줄을 늘여요.
You are stretching a rubber band to make it physically longer, so '늘이다' (늘여요) is correct, not '늘리다'.
실력이 늘렸어요. → 실력이 늘었어요.
If the skill is the subject, you need the intransitive verb '늘다'. If you want to use '늘리다', you must say '실력을 늘렸어요'.
시간를 늘려요. → 시간을 늘려요.
The noun '시간' ends in a consonant (ㄴ), so the object particle should be '을', not '를'.
몸무게가 늘렸어요. → 몸무게가 늘었어요.
Weight increases on its own (intransitive), so '늘다' is used. '늘리다' would mean you intentionally increased someone else's weight.
바지 길이를 늘려요. → 바지 길이를 늘여요.
Making the length of pants longer is a physical extension, so '늘이다' is technically correct, though '늘리다' is sometimes heard in casual speech.

Tips

Causative Pattern

Remember that '늘리다' is a causative verb. This means there is always an 'agent' (the person doing the increasing) and an 'object' (the thing being increased). Structure: [Agent]이/가 [Object]을/를 늘리다.

The 'More' Rule

If you are adding more units of something (more hours, more people, more money), '늘리다' is almost always the right choice. It focuses on the quantity.

늘리다 vs 늘이다

This is the most common pitfall. '늘리다' = Quantity/Volume (More). '늘이다' = Physical Length (Longer). You increase (늘리다) your wealth, but you stretch (늘이다) a sweater.

Natural Collocations

Memorize '실력을 늘리다' (improve skill) and '시간을 늘리다' (increase time). These are used daily and will make you sound very natural.

Formal Contexts

In essays, try to use '증가시키다' for numbers and '확대하다' for scope to vary your vocabulary and sound more academic.

Vowel Sounds

Be careful not to confuse '늘리다' with '눌리다' (to be pressed). The 'eu' (ㅡ) sound in '늘' is horizontal, while the 'u' (ㅜ) sound in '눌' is rounded.

Growth Mindset

In Korea, '늘리다' is a positive word associated with progress and hard work. Use it when talking about your goals!

Spatial Expansion

When talking about making a house or a room bigger, '집을 늘리다' is a standard way to say you are moving to a larger place or renovating.

Word Family

Learn '늘다' (intransitive) and '늘어나다' (passive/state) alongside '늘리다'. Seeing them as a group helps you understand the logic of Korean verbs.

Visual Aid

Imagine a balloon being filled with more air. The act of blowing air into it to make it bigger is '늘리다'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'NEUL' as 'NEW' and 'LI' as 'LEVEL'. You are making a 'NEW LEVEL' of quantity or size. 늘(New) + 리(Level) = Increase!

Visual Association

Imagine a bar graph where you are physically pulling the top of the bar higher with your hand. That action of 'causing it to go up' is 늘리다.

Word Web

Quantity Size Time Wealth Skill Volume Number Area

Challenge

Try to use '늘리다' in three different contexts today: once for time, once for quantity, and once for a skill you are learning.

Word Origin

The word '늘리다' is a native Korean verb. It is formed by adding the causative suffix '-이-' (which becomes '-리-' after the liquid consonant 'ㄹ') to the stem of the intransitive verb '늘다'.

Original meaning: The root '늘-' has historically signified the concept of expansion in space or quantity.

Koreanic

Cultural Context

Be careful when using '몸집을 늘리다' (increasing body size) as it can be offensive if applied to a person's weight; use '살이 찌다' for weight gain or '덩치가 커지다' for muscle growth instead.

In English, we often use 'increase' for everything, but Korean speakers are more specific. Don't just say 'increase'—think if it's 'stretching' (늘이다) or 'adding more' (늘리다).

Economic news often uses '수출을 늘리다' (Increase exports). K-Pop idols often say '실력을 늘려서 돌아오겠습니다' (I will return with increased/improved skills). Cooking shows frequently use '양을 늘릴 때는 물을 더 넣으세요' (When increasing the amount, add more water).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Academic/Study

공부 시간을 늘리다
어휘량을 늘리다
독서량을 늘리다
집중력을 늘리다

Business/Economy

매출을 늘리다
수출을 늘리다
직원 수를 늘리다
이윤을 늘리다

Fitness/Health

운동량을 늘리다
근육량을 늘리다
수면 시간을 늘리다
물 섭취를 늘리다

Daily Chores/Shopping

바지 허리를 늘리다
음식 양을 늘리다
저축을 늘리다
사용 시간을 늘리다

Social Media

팔로워를 늘리다
좋아요를 늘리다
조회수를 늘리다
구독자를 늘리다

Conversation Starters

"어떻게 하면 한국어 어휘력을 빨리 늘릴 수 있을까요?"

"요즘 운동 시간을 얼마나 늘렸어요?"

"회사에서 인원을 더 늘릴 계획이 있나요?"

"유튜브 구독자를 늘리는 좋은 방법이 있을까요?"

"집을 늘려서 이사 가고 싶은데 고민이에요."

Journal Prompts

올해 내가 가장 늘리고 싶은 능력은 무엇인가요? (What ability do I want to increase/improve most this year?)

하루 중 나를 위한 시간을 어떻게 늘릴 수 있을까요? (How can I increase time for myself during the day?)

우리 사회에서 가장 늘려야 할 복지 혜택은 무엇이라고 생각하나요? (What welfare benefit do you think should be increased most in our society?)

어휘력을 늘리기 위해 내가 실천하고 있는 습관들에 대해 써 보세요. (Write about the habits you are practicing to increase your vocabulary.)

경제적 자유를 위해 재산을 늘리는 나만의 계획은 무엇인가요? (What is your own plan to increase wealth for economic freedom?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Use '늘리다' when you are the one doing the action to an object (e.g., 'I increased my study time'). Use '늘다' when you are describing a state or something that increased naturally (e.g., 'My Korean skills increased'). Always look for the object particle -을/를 to decide.

Generally, no. For physical stretching like a rubber band or a piece of clothing to make it longer, you should use '늘이다'. However, if you are expanding the 'size' or 'area' (like making a room bigger), '늘리다' is correct.

Yes, you can say '한국어 실력을 늘리다'. It implies that you are taking active steps to improve your proficiency. It is a very common and natural expression.

The most common opposite is '줄이다', which means 'to decrease' or 'to reduce'. Just like '늘리다', '줄이다' is a causative verb and requires an object.

The standard polite present tense is '늘려요'. This comes from '늘리-' + '-어 요'. The 'ㅣ' and 'ㅓ' combine to form 'ㅕ'.

Yes, it is very common for time. You can '늘리다' a deadline, a meeting duration, or your daily study hours. It means to make the duration longer.

'증가시키다' is more formal and academic. In everyday conversation, '늘리다' is much more natural. Use '증가시키다' in business reports or scientific papers.

You can say '소리를 늘리다', but it's more common to say '소리를 키우다' or '볼륨을 높이다'. '늘리다' in this context would sound like you are extending the duration of a sound rather than its loudness.

Yes, '사업을 늘리다' is possible, but '사업을 확장하다' or '사업을 키우다' are more common. '사업을 늘리다' specifically suggests adding more branches or increasing the numerical scale of operations.

The passive equivalent is '늘어나다' (to be increased/to expand). For example: '인원이 늘어났다' (The number of people increased).