2 · Particles
Comparing with 보다: than, 더 and 덜
the comparative particle
B with 보다, then the adjective as it is: Korean has no "-er", only a particle on the thing you compare against.
Korean adjectives have no comparative form. To say that A is more something than B, you attach 보다 to B and leave the adjective as it is: 오늘이 어제보다 추워요, "today is colder than yesterday" — literally "today, yesterday-than, cold". 보다 has one shape and is written onto the noun.
The order of the two nouns is free, because the particles show who is compared with whom: 어제보다 오늘이 추워요 means the same. 더, "more", is optional and adds emphasis: 어제보다 더 추워요; 덜, "less", turns the comparison round: 버스가 택시보다 덜 비싸요. Without 보다, 더 alone compares with something understood: 이게 더 좋아요, "this one is better".
For "the most", put 제일 or 가장 in front of the adjective — 가장 is a little more formal — and name the group with 중에서, "among": 과일 중에서 딸기를 제일 좋아해요, "of all fruit I like strawberries best". With verbs the pattern is the same: 형보다 많이 먹어요, "I eat more than my older brother".
The mistake English speakers make is to put 보다 on the wrong noun. "Than" goes with the yardstick, the thing you measure against: "the underground is faster than the bus" is 지하철이 버스보다 빨라요, with 보다 on the bus. The adjective never changes, so there is nothing to add to it.
The form
| A is more … than B | 오늘이 어제보다 추워요. |
| with emphasis | 어제보다 더 추워요. |
| less … than | 버스가 택시보다 덜 비싸요. |
| the most | 이게 제일 맛있어요. |
| among | 과일 중에서 딸기를 제일 좋아해요. |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
보다 goes on the thing compared against, and the adjective stays as it is.
지하철이 버스보다 빨라요.The underground is faster than the bus.
더 (more) and 덜 (less) are optional with 보다, but needed without it.
이 신발이 더 편해요.These shoes are more comfortable.
The order of the two nouns is free, because the particles show who is compared with whom.
저보다 동생이 키가 커요.My younger sibling is taller than me.
For "the most", use 제일 or 가장, and 중에서 for "of all".
계절 중에서 가을이 제일 좋아요.Of all the seasons I like autumn best.
A closer look
Better, and worse
"Better" has a verb of its own: 낫다, which drops its final consonant before a vowel — 이게 저것보다 나아요, "this one is better than that one". It is the word for comparing two options, and also for feeling better after an illness: 감기가 좀 나았어요.
"Worse than" is often said with 보다 못하다, literally "falls short of": 이 식당은 전보다 못해요, "this restaurant is not as good as it was". Equal degree, "as … as", belongs to 만큼, the next step after 보다.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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보다 stands on its own before an adjective or a noun phrase in formal writing
it is an adverb meaning "more": 보다 나은 서비스, "better service".
보다 나은 서비스를 위해 노력하겠습니다.We will work to provide better service.
Written Korean uses this adverb in headlines, notices and speeches. In speech, 더 does the same job.
How to spot it
- 보다
- 더
- 덜
- 제일
- 가장
- 중에서
Example sentences
오늘이 어제보다 더워요.Today is hotter than yesterday.
저는 커피보다 차를 더 좋아해요.I like tea more than coffee.
기차가 비행기보다 편해요.The train is more comfortable than the plane.
이 가방은 저 가방보다 덜 무거워요.This bag is less heavy than that one.
형은 저보다 세 살 많아요.My older brother is three years older than me.
생각보다 어렵지 않았어요.It was not as hard as I thought.
8 more example sentences
제 방이 거실보다 밝아요.My room is brighter than the living room.
여름보다 겨울을 더 좋아해요.I like winter more than summer.
어제보다 기분이 훨씬 좋아요.I feel much better than yesterday.
동생이 저보다 노래를 잘해요.My younger sibling sings better than I do.
이게 저것보다 나아요.This one is better than that one.
택시가 버스보다 비싸지만 빨라요.A taxi is more expensive than the bus, but faster.
우리 반에서 민호가 제일 키가 커요.Minho is the tallest in our class.
평소보다 일찍 일어났어요.I got up earlier than usual.
Worth knowing (1)
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Than I thought
생각보다, "than (I) thought", is one of the most frequent uses of the particle: 생각보다 쉬워요, "it is easier than I thought". English often turns it round and says "not as hard as I thought".
한국어가 생각보다 재미있어요.Korean is more fun than I thought.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
To say that the underground is faster than the bus, 보다 has to go on the bus — the yardstick, the slower one. With 보다 on the underground, the sentence says that the bus is faster.
Boda means "than" and sticks to the yardstick; the adjective never changes.
Your turn
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