Complex Conjunctions in Korean

Overview

Complex conjunctions at the CEFR C1 level connect ideas with nuance beyond simple "and," "but," or "because." These multi-part patterns express sophisticated relationships: -기는커녕 (far from), -다시피 (as you know/see), -(으)ㄹ수록 (the more... the more), and -(으)ㄴ/는 데다가 (in addition to).

How It Works

Pattern	Meaning	Example
-기는커녕	far from / let alone	칭찬은커녕 혼났어요
-다시피	as (you know/see)	아시다시피...
-(으)ㄹ수록	the more... the more	갈수록 어려워요
-(으)ㄴ/는 데다가	in addition to	비싼 데다가 맛도 없어요

Examples in Context

Korean	Romanization	English	Note
칭찬은커녕 혼났어요.	ching-cha-neun-keo-nyeong hon-na-sseo-yo	Far from praise, I got scolded.	opposite result
아시다시피...	a-si-da-si-pi	As you know...	shared knowledge
갈수록 어려워요.	gal-su-rok eo-ryeo-wo-yo	The further you go, the harder.	progressive
비싼 데다가 맛도 없어요.	bi-ssan de-da-ga mat-do eop-seo-yo	Expensive and tasteless too.	compounding negatives
보시다시피 결과가 좋습니다.	bo-si-da-si-pi gyeol-gwa-ga jot-seum-ni-da	As you can see, results are good.	presentation
공부할수록 재미있어요.	gong-bu-hal-su-rok jae-mi-i-sseo-yo	The more I study, the more interesting.	progressive positive

Common Mistakes

Using 은커녕 without the contrasting result

• Wrong: 칭찬은커녕 (without completing the sentence)
• Right: 칭찬은커녕 혼났어요 (far from praise, got scolded)
• Why: -은커녕 sets up a contrast; the result (usually worse) must follow.

Incorrect modifier before -(으)ㄹ수록

• Wrong: 공부하는수록 (using present modifier)
• Right: 공부할수록 (using future modifier -(으)ㄹ)
• Why: -(으)ㄹ수록 always uses the -(으)ㄹ modifier form, never -는.

Misusing -다시피 for unknown information

• Wrong: 모르시다시피 (as you don't know...)
• Right: 아시다시피 (as you know...) — used for shared knowledge
• Why: -다시피 specifically references information both speaker and listener are aware of. It does not work with negatives or unknown information.

Usage Notes

These patterns are hallmarks of advanced Korean fluency and appear frequently on TOPIK II and in formal/academic contexts. -(으)ㄹ수록 is particularly common and productive in everyday wisdom expressions: 바쁠수록 건강을 챙기세요 (the busier you are, the more you should take care of your health), 많을수록 좋다 (the more the better). It has become a conversational staple.

-기는커녕 carries strong emotional weight, expressing frustration that reality is far worse than expectation. -다시피 is a polished rhetorical device for presentations and meetings. -(으)ㄴ/는 데다가 efficiently compounds information, often negative: 비싼 데다가 맛도 없고 서비스도 나빠요 (expensive, tasteless, and bad service too).

Usage Notes

These patterns are hallmarks of advanced Korean fluency. -(으)ㄹ수록 is particularly common (바쁠수록 건강을 챙기세요 — the busier you are, the more you should take care of health). -다시피 appears frequently in presentations and news. These patterns appear on TOPIK II and in formal/academic contexts.

Practice Tips

• Create -ㄹ수록 sentences for life wisdom: 연습할수록 잘해요 (the more you practice, the better).
• Practice 은커녕 for expressing disappointing reality vs. expectation.
• Use -다시피 in presentations: 보시다시피, 아시다시피.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Formal Connective Endings — simpler formal connectives