At the A1 level, the word '늘다' is primarily used to talk about basic improvements in skills and simple increases in numbers. Beginners learn this word most frequently in the context of their own language learning journey. For example, a teacher might say '한국어 실력이 늘었어요' (Your Korean skills have improved). It is an essential verb for expressing progress. At this level, students should focus on the past tense '늘었어요' to describe things that have already gotten better, and the present tense '늘어요' for general facts. The concept is simple: something was small/low, and now it is bigger/higher. It is also used for physical quantities like '학생이 늘었어요' (The number of students increased). The grammar is straightforward because it usually follows the pattern [Subject]-이/가 늘다. Beginners should avoid overcomplicating it and just use it to celebrate their small wins in learning and daily life.
At the A2 level, learners start to use '늘다' in more diverse contexts, such as hobbies, work, and physical health. You might describe how your '요리 실력' (cooking skills) or '테니스 실력' (tennis skills) have improved. A2 learners also begin to use '늘다' with adverbs like '조금' (a little), '많이' (a lot), or '빨리' (fast) to provide more detail. You might also encounter it when talking about weight gain ('몸무게가 늘었어요') or the amount of homework ('숙제가 늘었어요'). This level requires understanding the basic 'ㄹ' irregular conjugation, where '늘다' becomes '늡니다' in formal speech or '느는' when modifying a noun. Understanding these shifts is crucial for moving beyond the most basic sentence structures. You will also start to see it used in simple 'if' or 'because' sentences, such as '연습을 많이 해서 실력이 늘었어요' (Because I practiced a lot, my skills improved).
At the B1 level, '늘다' is used to discuss social trends and more abstract concepts. Instead of just personal skills, you might talk about '수출' (exports), '인구' (population), or '범죄율' (crime rate) increasing. B1 learners should be able to distinguish between '늘다' (native) and '증가하다' (Sino-Korean), choosing the latter for more formal discussions or written reports. You will also use '늘다' in more complex grammar patterns like '-는 바람에' (because of/as a result of) or '-기 시작하다' (start to). For example, '월급이 느는 바람에 기분이 좋아요' (I feel good because my salary increased). At this stage, you should also be comfortable with the causative form '늘리다' (to increase/expand something) and know when to switch between the two. The nuances of '늘다' vs '늘어나다' (physical expansion) also become more relevant as your descriptions become more precise.
At the B2 level, '늘다' appears in idiomatic expressions and more nuanced professional contexts. You might use it to describe the 'increase' of intangible things like '잔머리' (cleverness/tricks) or '욕심' (greed). For instance, '나이가 들수록 욕심만 늘어요' (As I get older, only my greed increases). B2 learners are expected to use '늘다' fluently in debates and essays, often pairing it with sophisticated adverbs like '급격히' (sharply), '점진적으로' (gradually), or '기하급수적으로' (exponentially). You will also encounter it in literature to describe the passage of time or the accumulation of life experiences. Understanding the subtle difference between '실력이 늘다' and '실력이 향상되다' is key here; '늘다' feels more personal and organic, while '향상되다' feels more objective and structural. You should also be able to handle the word in passive-like structures in news headlines.
At the C1 level, the word '늘다' is understood in its most subtle and literary forms. It can describe the deepening of emotions or the broadening of one's perspective. You might find it in philosophical texts or high-level editorials discussing '국력' (national power) or '문화적 역량' (cultural capacity). C1 learners should be able to appreciate the word's role in creating rhythm in prose. You will also explore the word's etymological connections and its use in archaic or dialectal forms in classical literature. The focus shifts to 'collocational range'—knowing exactly which nouns pair most naturally with '늘다' versus '돋구다', '키우다', or '증진시키다'. You can analyze how the word functions in complex sentence structures with multiple nested clauses, maintaining correct conjugation and honorifics throughout. Your usage should reflect a native-like intuition for the 'weight' of the word in different registers.
At the C2 level, '늘다' is a tool for masterful expression. You can use it to convey irony, sarcasm, or profound poetic meaning. For example, using '늘다' to describe something that shouldn't increase, like '거짓말' (lies) or '뻔뻔함' (shamelessness), to criticize someone's character. You have a complete grasp of all historical transformations of the word and its related forms. You can discuss the linguistics of the 'ㄹ' drop in '늘다' and compare it to other similar verbs. In professional translation or interpretation, you know exactly when '늘다' is the only word that can capture the specific nuance of 'organic growth' that 'increase' or 'improve' might miss in English. You can use the word in any context, from the most technical economic analysis to the most delicate poetry, with perfect precision and cultural resonance.

늘다 em 30 segundos

  • Used for skill improvement (e.g., Korean language).
  • Used for quantitative increases (e.g., population, weight).
  • Intransitive verb: something increases on its own.
  • Follows the 'ㄹ' irregular conjugation pattern.

The Korean verb 늘다 is a fundamental word that every learner must master early on, as it encapsulates the concepts of growth, improvement, and quantitative increase. At its core, it describes a state where something becomes greater in number, amount, length, or skill level than it was before. Unlike English, which might use different verbs like 'improve' for skills and 'increase' for numbers, Korean elegantly uses 늘다 for both, making it incredibly versatile in daily conversation. You will encounter this word when discussing your language progress, the rising cost of living, or even the physical stretching of a sweater.

Skill Improvement
This is perhaps the most common usage for learners. When your Korean ability gets better, you say your '실력' (skill/ability) has '늘었다' (increased/improved). It implies a natural progression through effort.

요즘 한국어 실력이 많이 늘었어요.

Translation: My Korean skills have improved a lot lately.
Quantitative Increase
When talking about numbers, such as population, weight, or the number of students in a class, 늘다 is the go-to verb. It focuses on the result of the increase rather than the action of adding.

In social contexts, Koreans often use this word to give compliments. If a friend notices you playing guitar better or speaking more fluently, they will almost certainly use the past tense '늘었네!' (You've improved!). It carries a positive nuance of growth and achievement. However, it can also be used for negative increases, such as '빚이 늘다' (debts increased) or '몸무게가 늘다' (weight increased), showing its neutrality as a descriptor of volume and scale. To understand 늘다 is to understand the Korean perspective on progress—a steady, measurable accumulation of capacity or quantity over time.

방학 동안 몸무게가 좀 늘었어요.

Translation: I gained some weight during the vacation.
Physical Extension
While '늘어나다' is more common for physical stretching, 늘다 can be used for the length of time or the literal length of an object in specific idiomatic or derived contexts, though usually, it refers to the abstract 'capacity' or 'volume'.

Using 늘다 correctly requires understanding its relationship with the subject of the sentence. Since it is an intransitive verb, the thing that is increasing or improving must be marked with the subject particles -이/가 or the topic particles -은/는. You cannot '늘다' something; something just '늘다's. If you want to say you increased something actively, you must use the causative form 늘리다.

수출이 작년보다 훨씬 늘었습니다.

Translation: Exports have increased significantly compared to last year.

When talking about skills, the pattern is usually [Skill/Subject] + 실력이 늘다. For instance, '요리 실력이 늘다' (cooking skills improve) or '운전 실력이 늘다' (driving skills improve). In casual speech, people often drop '실력' and just say '요리가 늘었어' (Your cooking has improved). This shorthand is very common in everyday Korean and sounds very natural.

Tense Variations
  • Past: 늘었어요 (Improved/Increased)
  • Present: 늘어요 (Improves/Increases)
  • Future: 늘 거예요 (Will improve/increase)

Another important aspect is the use of adverbs. To emphasize how much something has increased, you can use 많이 (a lot), 부쩍 (remarkably/rapidly), or 조금씩 (little by little). For example, '실력이 부쩍 늘었어요' means your skills have improved remarkably in a short period. This adds flavor and specificity to your descriptions of growth.

연습을 하면 실력이 늘 거예요.

Translation: If you practice, your skills will improve.

In more formal or academic writing, you might see 늘다 replaced by Sino-Korean words like 증가하다 (to increase) or 향상되다 (to be improved). However, in spoken Korean and literature, 늘다 remains the preferred choice for its warmth and simplicity. It covers everything from the growth of a child's vocabulary to the expansion of a company's market share, provided the focus is on the state of being larger or better.

You will hear 늘다 in almost every corner of Korean life. In a school setting, teachers use it constantly to encourage students: "성적이 많이 늘었구나!" (Your grades have improved!). In the workplace, a manager might comment on a new employee's efficiency: "일솜씨가 많이 늘었네요" (Your work skills have improved a lot). It is the language of progress and recognition.

On the News
News anchors frequently use 늘다 when reporting statistics. You'll hear phrases like '인구가 늘고 있습니다' (The population is increasing) or '관광객이 늘었습니다' (The number of tourists has increased). It is a staple of economic and social reporting.

최근 1인 가구가 급격히 늘었습니다.

Translation: Recently, single-person households have increased sharply.

In variety shows and reality TV, the word is used to highlight the 'character arc' of participants. If a celebrity is learning to dance or cook, the captions will often flash "실력이 일취월장 늘었음!" (Skills improved by leaps and bounds!). In K-Dramas, a parent might lament about a child's growing appetite or a protagonist might notice their feelings for someone are 'growing' (though '커지다' is more common for feelings, '늘다' can be used for the frequency of thoughts or interactions).

At the gym or during health check-ups, doctors and trainers will use it to discuss physical changes. '근육량이 늘었어요' (Your muscle mass has increased) is a common phrase. Conversely, if you are complaining about your health, you might say '잔주름이 늘었어요' (Fine wrinkles have increased/multiplied). The word is deeply embedded in how Koreans describe the changing world around them, whether those changes are internal (skills) or external (data).

나이가 드니까 걱정만 늘어요.

Translation: As I get older, only my worries increase.

The most frequent mistake learners make with 늘다 is confusing it with its causative counterpart, 늘리다. Remember: 늘다 is something that happens on its own (intransitive), while 늘리다 is something you do to something else (transitive). For example, you cannot say "나는 한국어 실력을 늘었다" (incorrect); you must say "내 한국어 실력이 늘었다" (My skills improved) or "나는 한국어 실력을 늘렸다" (I improved my skills).

늘다 vs. 늘어나다
While often interchangeable, '늘어나다' emphasizes the process of expansion or stretching. Use '늘어나다' for elastic bands or a line of people getting longer. Use '늘다' for the abstract concept of quantity or skill. Saying '실력이 늘어났다' is possible but sounds slightly more mechanical than '실력이 늘었다'.

Another mistake is using 늘다 for height. In English, we say 'I grew,' but in Korean, height 'increases' using the verb 크다 or 자라다. You should never say "키가 늘었어요"; instead, say "키가 컸어요" (I got taller). 늘다 is for volume, amount, and skill, not vertical length of a living being.

❌ 키가 많이 늘었네요. (Incorrect)

✅ 키가 많이 컸네요. (Correct)

Lastly, be careful with the 'ㄹ' irregular conjugation. Many students forget to drop the 'ㄹ' when adding endings like '-ㄴ가요' or '-ㅂ니다'. For example, '늘습니다' is incorrect; it must be '늡니다'. Similarly, '늘는' (the present progressive modifier) is impossible; it becomes '느는'. Mastering these small phonological shifts will make your Korean sound much more advanced and natural.

To enrich your vocabulary, it is essential to know when to use 늘다 versus its synonyms. While 늘다 is the most common native Korean word, several Sino-Korean alternatives provide more precision in formal contexts.

늘다 vs. 증가하다 (增加--)
'증가하다' is the formal version of '늘다' when referring to numbers and quantities. You will see '증가하다' in news reports, textbooks, and business presentations. '늘다' is more natural in conversation.
Example: '인구가 늘다' (Casual) vs. '인구가 증가하다' (Formal).
늘다 vs. 향상되다 (向上--)
'향상되다' specifically refers to the improvement of quality, standards, or skills. It is more sophisticated than '늘다'.
Example: '기술이 향상되다' (Technology improved).

실력이 늘다 (Common) vs. 실력이 향상되다 (Formal/Academic)

늘다 vs. 많아지다
'많아지다' literally means 'to become many'. While similar to '늘다' in many contexts, '많아지다' focuses on the resulting state of being numerous, whereas '늘다' often implies a process of growth or expansion from a previous point.

In summary, choose 늘다 for everyday life and compliments, 증가하다 for data and statistics, and 향상되다 when you want to sound professional about quality improvements. Each word carries a different weight, but 늘다 is the versatile foundation upon which the others are built.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The word '늘다' is often confused by learners with '늘' (always). While they sound similar, '늘' is an adverb and '늘다' is a verb. They are not related!

Guia de pronúncia

UK /nɯlda/
US /nɯldɑ/
Stress is evenly distributed, but the first syllable '늘' is slightly emphasized.
Rima com
들다 (deulda) 줄다 (julda) 물다 (mulda) 풀다 (pulda) 불다 (bulda) 졸다 (jolda) 놀다 (nolda) 팔다 (palda)
Erros comuns
  • Pronouncing 'eu' (ㅡ) like 'oo' (ㅜ). Keep lips flat.
  • Not dropping the 'ㄹ' in formal forms (e.g., saying '늘습니다' instead of '늡니다').
  • Over-pronouncing the final 'l' sound before 'da'.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text.

Escrita 2/5

Requires remembering the 'ㄹ' irregular conjugation.

Expressão oral 2/5

Easy to use, but must distinguish from '늘리다'.

Audição 1/5

Commonly heard in daily life.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

많다 (to be many) 공부 (study) 실력 (skill) 가다 (to go) 있다 (to exist)

Aprenda a seguir

줄다 (to decrease) 늘리다 (to increase - causative) 증가하다 (to increase - formal) 향상되다 (to improve) 발전하다 (to develop)

Avançado

일취월장 (rapid progress) 급증하다 (to surge) 확장하다 (to expand) 증진시키다 (to promote/enhance)

Gramática essencial

ㄹ-Irregular Verbs

늘다 + -ㅂ니다 = 늡니다 (ㄹ drops before ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ).

Causative -이-

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

Progressive -고 있다

인구가 늘고 있다 (The population is increasing).

Reason -어서/아서

실력이 늘어서 기뻐요 (I'm happy because my skills improved).

Future -ㄹ 거예요

연습하면 늘 거예요 (If you practice, it will improve).

Exemplos por nível

1

한국어 실력이 늘었어요.

My Korean skills have improved.

Past tense of 늘다.

2

학생이 다섯 명 늘었어요.

The number of students increased by five.

Used for a simple count.

3

요즘 공부 시간이 늘었어요.

Lately, my study time has increased.

늘다 used with time.

4

노래 실력이 많이 늘었네요!

Your singing skills have improved a lot!

-네요 ending for surprise/admiration.

5

몸무게가 조금 늘었어요.

I gained a little weight.

Standard way to say weight gain.

6

돈이 늘면 좋겠어요.

I wish my money would increase.

-면 좋겠어요 (I wish/hope).

7

친구가 늘어서 기뻐요.

I'm happy because my friends increased (I have more friends).

-어서 (reason/cause).

8

실력이 늘고 있어요.

My skills are improving.

-고 있다 (present progressive).

1

자전거를 타니까 다리 힘이 늘었어요.

Since I ride a bike, my leg strength has increased.

-니까 (reason/discovery).

2

매일 연습하면 실력이 늘 거예요.

If you practice every day, your skills will improve.

Future tense -ㄹ 거예요.

3

서울에 외국인 관광객이 많이 늘었습니다.

The number of foreign tourists in Seoul has increased a lot.

Formal ending -습니다.

4

가족이 늘어서 더 큰 집으로 이사해요.

Our family grew, so we are moving to a bigger house.

늘다 used for family size.

5

요리 실력이 부쩍 늘었군요!

Your cooking skills have remarkably improved!

부쩍 (remarkably) + -군요.

6

수업 시간이 한 시간 늘었어요.

The class time increased by one hour.

Quantitative increase of time.

7

빨래가 너무 늘어서 힘들어요.

The laundry has increased so much, it's hard.

Negative context of 늘다.

8

저축이 늘수록 마음이 든든해요.

The more my savings increase, the more secure I feel.

-을수록 (the more... the more...).

1

인터넷 사용자가 급격히 늘고 있습니다.

The number of internet users is increasing rapidly.

급격히 (rapidly) + -고 있다.

2

회사가 커지면서 직원이 많이 늘었어요.

As the company grew, the number of employees increased a lot.

-면서 (while/as).

3

나이가 들면 걱정만 늘기 마련이에요.

As you get older, it's natural for worries to increase.

-기 마련이다 (it's natural/bound to).

4

수출이 늘어서 경제가 좋아졌어요.

Because exports increased, the economy improved.

Economic context.

5

운동을 안 하니까 뱃살만 늘어요.

Since I don't exercise, only my belly fat increases.

Colloquial usage for weight.

6

지식은 책을 읽을수록 늘어납니다.

Knowledge increases the more you read books.

늘어나다 (variation of 늘다).

7

교통사고가 늘지 않도록 주의해야 합니다.

We must be careful so that traffic accidents do not increase.

-지 않도록 (so that... not).

8

실력이 느는 것이 눈에 보여요.

I can see your skills improving (it's visible to the eye).

눈에 보이다 (to be visible).

1

비대면 서비스의 수요가 폭발적으로 늘었습니다.

The demand for non-face-to-face services has increased explosively.

폭발적으로 (explosively).

2

이 약을 먹으면 면역력이 늘어날 거예요.

If you take this medicine, your immunity will increase.

Immunity (면역력).

3

업무량이 늘어서 야근을 피할 수 없어요.

Since the workload increased, overtime is unavoidable.

-ㄹ 수 없다 (cannot/unavoidable).

4

경험이 늘수록 세상을 보는 눈이 달라져요.

As your experience increases, the way you see the world changes.

Abstract usage of 늘다.

5

부동산 가격이 너무 늘어서 집 사기가 힘들어요.

Real estate prices have increased so much that buying a house is hard.

Market context.

6

거짓말만 늘어서 큰일이에요.

It's a problem because only his lies are increasing.

Negative behavioral increase.

7

인내심이 늘어야 진정한 어른이 됩니다.

One becomes a true adult only when their patience increases.

Patience (인내심).

8

구독자 수가 기하급수적으로 늘고 있습니다.

The number of subscribers is increasing exponentially.

기하급수적으로 (exponentially).

1

자본주의 사회에서 빈부 격차가 늘어나는 현상은 심각합니다.

The phenomenon of the widening (increasing) gap between rich and poor in capitalist society is serious.

Social critique context.

2

그의 문장력은 다독과 다작을 통해 몰라보게 늘었다.

His writing ability improved beyond recognition through extensive reading and writing.

몰라보게 (beyond recognition).

3

문화적 다양성이 늘어남에 따라 사회적 포용력이 요구된다.

As cultural diversity increases, social tolerance is required.

-함에 따라 (in accordance with/as).

4

세월이 흐를수록 주름과 함께 지혜도 늘어간다.

As time passes, wisdom increases along with wrinkles.

-어 가다 (progressive change over time).

5

정부의 규제 완화로 인해 시장 진입 장벽이 낮아지고 경쟁이 늘었다.

Due to government deregulation, barriers to entry were lowered and competition increased.

Economic policy context.

6

그녀의 연기력은 매 작품을 거듭할수록 눈부시게 늘고 있다.

Her acting skills are improving dazzlingly with each successive work.

눈부시게 (dazzlingly).

7

지구 온난화로 인해 기상이변의 횟수가 급증하며 피해가 늘고 있다.

Due to global warming, the frequency of extreme weather is surging and damage is increasing.

Environmental context.

8

인간의 수명이 늘어남으로써 고령화 사회의 문제가 대두되었다.

As human lifespan increased, the problems of an aging society emerged.

-함으로써 (by doing/as a result of).

1

언어의 자의성이 늘어날수록 소통의 오해 또한 심화될 수 있다.

The more the arbitrariness of language increases, the more communication misunderstandings can deepen.

Philosophical/Linguistic context.

2

국가의 위상이 늘어남에 따라 국제 사회에서의 책임도 막중해졌다.

As the nation's status increased, its responsibility in the international community also became heavy.

Political science context.

3

학문적 깊이가 늘어날수록 자신의 무지를 깨닫게 되는 법이다.

It is the law of nature that as one's academic depth increases, one comes to realize their own ignorance.

-게 되는 법이다 (it's bound to happen).

4

기술의 진보가 인간의 편의를 늘렸으나, 동시에 소외감도 늘렸다.

The progress of technology increased human convenience, but at the same time, it also increased feelings of alienation.

Using the causative 늘리다 for balance.

5

역사의 소용돌이 속에서 민초들의 한(恨)만 늘어갔다.

In the whirlpool of history, only the resentment (Han) of the common people grew.

Literary/Historical context.

6

정보의 홍수 속에서 선별되지 않은 지식만 늘어나는 것은 지양해야 한다.

In the flood of information, we should avoid the mere increase of unselected knowledge.

지양해야 한다 (should avoid).

7

예술적 감수성이 늘어난다는 것은 세상을 더 다채롭게 느낀다는 것이다.

The increase of artistic sensitivity means feeling the world more colorfully.

Aesthetic context.

8

사회의 복잡성이 늘어날수록 법적 규제 또한 정교해지기 마련이다.

As the complexity of society increases, legal regulations are bound to become more sophisticated.

Sociological context.

Sinônimos

증가하다 향상되다 많아지다 늘어나다 발전하다 나아지다 불어나다 성장하다

Antônimos

줄다 감소하다 퇴보하다 적어지다

Colocações comuns

실력이 늘다
몸무게가 늘다
인구가 늘다
월급이 늘다
시간이 늘다
수요가 늘다
빚이 늘다
거짓말이 늘다
요리가 늘다
주름이 늘다

Frases Comuns

실력이 부쩍 늘다

— To improve remarkably or suddenly.

방학 동안 영어 실력이 부쩍 늘었어요.

눈에 띄게 늘다

— To increase/improve noticeably.

그의 성적이 눈에 띄게 늘었다.

일솜씨가 늘다

— To get better at handling tasks or work.

입사한 지 일 년 만에 일솜씨가 많이 늘었어.

욕심이 늘다

— To become more greedy.

나이가 드니 물욕보다 식탐만 늘어요.

말수가 늘다

— To become more talkative.

조용하던 아이가 유치원에 가더니 말수가 늘었어요.

잔머리만 늘다

— To only get better at using petty tricks.

공부는 안 하고 잔머리만 늘었구나.

가족이 늘다

— To have a new family member (baby or marriage).

내년에 가족이 한 명 늘 예정이에요.

인기가 늘다

— To gain more popularity.

그 가수는 데뷔 후 인기가 꾸준히 늘고 있다.

경험이 늘다

— To gain more experience.

여행을 많이 다닐수록 경험이 늘어요.

한숨만 늘다

— To sigh more often (due to worry).

걱정거리가 많아서 한숨만 늘어갑니다.

Frequentemente confundido com

늘다 vs 늘 (Always)

Sounds like the stem of '늘다' but means 'always'.

늘다 vs 느리다 (Slow)

Similar starting sound, but unrelated meaning.

늘다 vs 누르다 (To press)

Phonetically similar for beginners.

Expressões idiomáticas

"실력이 일취월장하다"

— To make rapid progress (Sino-Korean idiom often used with 늘다).

그의 바둑 실력이 일취월장 늘었다.

Literary/Formal
"손이 늘다"

— To get faster or more skilled at manual work.

뜨개질을 계속하니 손이 늘어서 금방 완성해요.

Informal
"간이 부었다"

— To become daring/shameless (literally 'liver increased/swelled').

상사한테 대들다니 간이 부었구나.

Slang/Informal
"입이 짧다"

— To be a picky eater (antonymic concept to appetite increasing).

그는 입이 짧아서 음식이 늘 남는다.

Neutral
"배보다 배꼽이 더 크다"

— The belly button is bigger than the belly (used when side costs increase too much).

배송비가 상품 가격보다 비싸니 배보다 배꼽이 더 크네요.

Proverbial
"식구가 늘다"

— To have more mouths to feed (family expansion).

강아지를 입양해서 식구가 늘었어요.

Neutral
"기운이 늘다"

— To gain energy or vitality.

보약을 먹었더니 기운이 좀 느는 것 같아요.

Colloquial
"뻔뻔함이 늘다"

— To become more brazen.

잘못을 하고도 사과도 안 하니 뻔뻔함만 늘었네.

Negative/Informal
"눈치만 늘다"

— To only get better at reading people's reactions (often due to hardship).

사회 생활을 오래 하니 눈치만 늘었어요.

Neutral
"살이 늘다"

— To gain weight (literally 'flesh increased').

방학 동안 살이 좀 늘었어.

Informal

Fácil de confundir

늘다 vs 늘리다

Causative form.

'늘다' is intransitive (it increases), '늘리다' is transitive (I increase it).

실력이 늘다 vs 실력을 늘리다.

늘다 vs 늘어나다

Very similar meaning.

'늘어나다' focuses more on the process of expansion or stretching.

인구가 늘다 vs 고무줄이 늘어나다.

늘다 vs 크다

Both relate to growth.

Use '크다' for physical height; '늘다' for volume/skill.

키가 크다 vs 실력이 늘다.

늘다 vs 자라다

Means 'to grow'.

Use '자라다' for biological growth (plants, children).

나무가 자라다 vs 실력이 늘다.

늘다 vs 많아지다

Similar result.

'많아지다' is more general; '늘다' implies improvement or quantitative change.

사람이 많아지다 vs 실력이 늘다.

Padrões de frases

A1

[N]이/가 늘었어요.

실력이 늘었어요.

A2

[N]이/가 많이 늘었네요!

한국어가 많이 늘었네요!

B1

[V]면 실력이 늘 거예요.

연습하면 실력이 늘 거예요.

B2

[N]이/가 늘어남에 따라 [N]도 늘다.

인구가 늘어남에 따라 수요도 늘었다.

C1

[N]이/가 눈에 띄게 늘다.

성적이 눈에 띄게 늘었다.

C2

[N]이/가 기하급수적으로 늘다.

데이터가 기하급수적으로 늘고 있다.

A2

[N] 실력이 늘다.

수영 실력이 늘다.

B1

[N] 때문에 [N]이 늘다.

스트레스 때문에 고민이 늘다.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

늘림 (increase/extension)
늘기 (the act of increasing)

Verbos

늘리다 (to increase - causative)
늘어나다 (to stretch/expand)
늘어지다 (to sag/droop)

Relacionado

증가 (increase)
향상 (improvement)
확대 (expansion)
번창 (prosperity)
성장 (growth)

Como usar

frequency

Extremely High (Top 500 Korean verbs)

Erros comuns
  • 실력을 늘다 실력이 늘다

    '늘다' is intransitive, so it takes the subject particle '이/가', not the object particle '을/를'.

  • 키가 늘었어요 키가 컸어요

    '늘다' is not used for human height. Use '크다' (to be big/to grow) instead.

  • 늘습니다 늡니다

    This is an 'ㄹ' irregular verb. The 'ㄹ' must drop before the '-ㅂ니다' ending.

  • 나이가 늘었어요 나이가 들었어요

    For age, the correct verb is '들다' or '먹다', not '늘다'.

  • 실력이 늘는 것 같아요 실력이 느는 것 같아요

    The 'ㄹ' drops before the modifier '-는'.

Dicas

Subject Particles

Always use 이/가 with '늘다' because it is intransitive. Don't use 을/를 unless you switch to the causative '늘리다'.

Compliments

Use '실력이 많이 늘었네요!' to impress your Korean friends. It's one of the best compliments you can give.

Pair with '실력'

The most common noun to pair with '늘다' is '실력' (skill). Memorize this pair first.

ㄹ Drop

Remember to drop the 'ㄹ' in formal settings: '한국어 실력이 늡니다' is the correct formal way.

Weight Gain

In Korean, '몸무게가 늘다' is a standard, neutral way to talk about gaining weight, similar to '살이 찌다'.

Adverb Usage

Use adverbs like '부쩍' (remarkably) or '점점' (gradually) to make your sentences more descriptive.

Self-Reflection

Koreans often use '늘다' to reflect on their own growth. It's a very positive-thinking word.

Business Context

In business, '매출이 늘다' (sales increased) is a phrase you will hear in every meeting.

Tense Matters

Use the past tense '늘었다' to describe a finished improvement, and '-고 있다' for an ongoing one.

Antonym Practice

Learn '늘다' and '줄다' together as a pair. It helps in remembering both faster.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Imagine a 'Kneel' (늘 sounds a bit like kneel). If you 'Kneel' and practice your prayers, your faith will 'INCREASE'.

Associação visual

A green arrow pointing upwards on a graph, with a Korean flag next to it.

Word Web

실력 (Skill) 인구 (Population) 몸무게 (Weight) 시간 (Time) 수요 (Demand) 공부 (Study) 연습 (Practice) 성공 (Success)

Desafio

Try to use '늘다' in three different sentences today: one about your Korean, one about a hobby, and one about your daily schedule.

Origem da palavra

Native Korean verb. It has been used since Middle Korean in the form '늘다'. It shares a root with words related to length and extension.

Significado original: To become longer or to become many.

Koreanic

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using '늘다' regarding someone's weight (몸무게) or age-related signs (주름), as these can be sensitive topics.

In English, we use 'get better' for skills and 'increase' for numbers. In Korean, '늘다' covers both, which can feel strange but efficient to English speakers.

The song '실력이 늘었어' (My skills improved) by various K-pop trainees. Common variety show caption: '예능감이 늘었네!' (Your variety sense has improved!). Educational slogans like '매일매일 느는 한국어' (Korean that improves every day).

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Language School

  • 한국어 실력이 늘었어요.
  • 단어 실력이 부족해요.
  • 말하기가 많이 늘었네요.
  • 어떻게 하면 실력이 늘까요?

Doctor's Office

  • 몸무게가 늘었어요.
  • 근육량이 늘었네요.
  • 식욕이 늘었어요.
  • 걱정이 늘어서 잠이 안 와요.

Business Meeting

  • 매출이 늘었습니다.
  • 고객 수가 늘고 있어요.
  • 업무량이 늘어서 바빠요.
  • 수출을 늘려야 합니다.

Kitchen / Cooking

  • 요리 실력이 늘었어.
  • 간이 딱 맞네.
  • 음식 양이 늘었어.
  • 재료를 늘려야겠어.

Socializing

  • 친구들이 많이 늘었네.
  • 인기가 늘었구나.
  • 자신감이 늘었어.
  • 웃음이 늘었네요.

Iniciadores de conversa

"요즘 한국어 실력이 많이 늘었나요?"

"어떤 취미를 하면 실력이 빨리 늘까요?"

"최근에 몸무게가 늘어서 고민이에요."

"우리 회사 직원이 작년보다 늘었지요?"

"어떻게 하면 요리 실력이 늘 수 있을까요?"

Temas para diário

지난 한 달 동안 내 한국어 실력이 얼마나 늘었는지 써 보세요.

내가 더 늘리고 싶은 기술이나 능력은 무엇인가요?

우리 동네에서 최근에 늘어난 것은 무엇인가요? (카페, 공원 등)

나이가 들면서 늘어난 걱정이나 지혜에 대해 써 보세요.

올해 나의 저축이 얼마나 늘었는지 계획을 세워 보세요.

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

No, for height you should use '크다' or '자라다'. '늘다' is for volume, amount, or skills. For example, '키가 컸어요' is correct, but '키가 늘었어요' sounds unnatural.

'늘다' is more common for skills and abstract numbers. '늘어나다' is often used for physical stretching (like a rubber band) or when emphasizing the visible expansion of something.

Yes, it is an 'ㄹ' irregular verb. The 'ㄹ' drops when it meets endings starting with 'ㄴ', 'ㅂ', or 'ㅅ'. For example, '늘다' becomes '늡니다' or '느니'.

Yes! You can say '빚이 늘다' (debts increase) or '걱정이 늘다' (worries increase). It is a neutral verb regarding the quality of the increase.

You should say '한국어 실력이 늘었어요'. You can also casually say '한국어가 늘었어요'.

The causative form is '늘리다', which means 'to increase (something)'. For example, '시간을 늘리다' (to increase the time).

Use '증가하다' in formal situations like writing a report, giving a speech, or discussing academic data. In daily conversation, '늘다' is much more natural.

In some contexts, yes, but '늘어나다' or '늘이다' are more common for physical stretching. '늘다' usually refers to the result of getting longer or bigger.

No, for age we use '먹다' (나이를 먹다) or '들다' (나이가 들다). You can say '주름이 늘다' (wrinkles increased) as you get older, though.

The direct opposite is '줄다', which means 'to decrease' or 'to shrink'.

Teste-se 191 perguntas

writing

Write a sentence about your Korean skills improving.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Write a sentence about gaining weight during vacation.

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writing

Write a sentence about the population increasing in your city.

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writing

Write a sentence about how practice makes you better.

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writing

Write a sentence about your cooking skills improving.

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writing

Write a sentence using '부쩍' (remarkably).

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writing

Write a sentence about homework increasing.

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writing

Write a sentence about exports increasing (formal).

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writing

Write a sentence about worries increasing with age.

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writing

Write a sentence about more people using smartphones.

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writing

Write a sentence about having more friends.

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writing

Write a sentence about your salary increasing.

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writing

Write a sentence about demand increasing for a product.

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writing

Write a sentence about your confidence improving.

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writing

Write a sentence about the number of students increasing.

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writing

Write a sentence about your writing skills.

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writing

Write a sentence about your muscle mass increasing.

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writing

Write a sentence about the price of houses.

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writing

Write a sentence about your patience.

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writing

Write a sentence about your variety sense.

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

How would you tell your teacher your Korean has improved?

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Compliment a friend on their cooking.

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speaking

Say that you gained some weight recently.

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speaking

Tell someone that practice will help them improve.

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speaking

State that the number of tourists is increasing.

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speaking

Ask a friend if their English has improved.

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speaking

Express worry about increasing debts.

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speaking

Say that your workload has increased.

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speaking

Compliment a child on their height (careful with word choice).

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speaking

Say that your patience is growing.

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speaking

Mention that there are more cafes in the neighborhood.

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speaking

Tell someone they've become more talkative.

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speaking

Say that your interest in Korean culture is growing.

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speaking

State that the population is aging.

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speaking

Say that your stress has increased lately.

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speaking

Ask how to improve your singing skills.

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speaking

Say that your vocabulary is increasing little by little.

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speaking

Mention that your savings are growing.

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speaking

Say that your wrinkles are increasing (jokingly).

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speaking

Tell a colleague their work efficiency has improved.

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listening

Listen to the sentence: '실력이 늡니다.' Is it formal or informal?

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listening

Listen to: '인구가 늘고 있어요.' What is increasing?

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listening

Identify the tense in: '실력이 늘 거예요.'

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listening

Identify the tense in: '실력이 늘었어요.'

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listening

Does the speaker sound happy or sad? '빚이 늘었어요.'

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listening

Identify the word: '늘다' or '느리다' in the sentence '실력이 늘다'.

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listening

Identify the word: '늘다' or '늘리다' in '시간을 늘리다'.

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listening

What number is mentioned? '학생이 다섯 명 늘었어요.'

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listening

Is the increase 'big' or 'small'? '부쩍 늘었네!'

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listening

What is the subject? '요리 실력이 늘었어.'

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listening

Identify the ending: '-네요' or '-습니다' in '늘었네요'.

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listening

What is increasing? '수출이 늘었습니다.'

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listening

Is the speaker surprised? '실력이 늘었군요!'

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listening

Identify the vowel in '늘': is it 'ㅡ' or 'ㅜ'?

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listening

What is the reason? '연습해서 늘었어요.'

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/ 191 correct

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