haru Korean › Grammar › Level 3B › V-(으)려면 멀었다
V-(으)려면 멀었다 — … is still a long way off — goals that are far away, and modest answers
… is still a long way off — goals that are far away, and modest answers. Korean grammar for intermediate learners — Level 3B, lesson 1: 결혼하려면 아직 멀었어요 (Marriage is a long way off — love, plans and the future).
What it means
V-(으)려면 멀었다 says that reaching a goal is still far away: 결혼하려면 아직 멀었어요 'marriage is still a long way off (for me)'. It is -(으)려면 'if you want to … · to get to …' (Lesson 2A-7) plus 멀다 'to be far' — the goal is still far down the road. After a 받침 add 으려면 (받으려면), after a vowel or ㄹ add 려면 (결혼하려면, 만들려면). The 멀다 part is always in the past form, 멀었어요 (멀었다, 멀었어), even though you are talking about now — just like 다 됐어요 'it's done' and 늦었어요 'I'm late'. 아직 'still' usually comes in front. It is also the classic modest answer to praise: 한국어 정말 잘하시네요! — 아니에요, 아직 멀었어요 'not at all — I've still got a long way to go'. Add the reason with -잖아요 or -아/어서: 졸업하려면 아직 멀었어요. 이제 2학년이잖아요. The opposite is 거의 다 됐어요 'it's nearly done'.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)려면 (아직) 멀었어요 | 받침 O 으려면 · 받침 X · ㄹ 려면 (2A 7과) + 늘 멀었어요 | 결혼하다 + 려면 아직 멀었어요 → 결혼하려면 아직 멀었어요 |
Key points
- V-(으)려면 (아직) 멀었다 = … is still a long way off: 받침 → 으려면 (받으려면) · no 받침 or ㄹ → 려면 (결혼하려면 · 만들려면) · always 멀었어요 (past form), even about now
- A favourite modest reply to praise: 아니에요, 아직 멀었어요. To a friend: 아직 멀었어. The opposite: 거의 다 됐어요.
Examples
- 하고 싶은 일이 아직 먼 앞날의 일일 때 써요: 결혼하려면 아직 멀었어요.
- 받침 O → -으려면: 받으려면 · 찾으려면. 받침 X · ㄹ → -려면: 결혼하려면 · 만들려면.
- 지금 이야기지만 늘 「멀었어요」라고 말해요: 졸업하려면 아직 멀었어요.
- 칭찬을 들었을 때 대답해요: 한국어 잘하시네요! — 아니에요, 아직 멀었어요.
- 이유를 같이 말하면 좋아요: 아직 멀었어요. 회사에 들어간 지 6개월밖에 안 됐잖아요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 3B, lesson 10.
Also in this lesson
- A/V-던 N — the … I used to … · the … that used to be … — looking back at the past
- A/V-잖아(요) — you know … · as you know … — reminding someone of what they already know
- V-(으)ㄹ 생각 · 계획 · 예정이다 — I'm thinking of … · I plan to … · … is scheduled — talking about the future