Comparison

Category
Basic Grammar
Premium
Keyword #
-보다 더, 덜
Lesson
34

TL;DR

  • -보다 더 means "more than" → use it to say something is greater compared to something else 📈
  • -보다 덜 means "less than" → use it to say something is lesser compared to something else 📉
  • The thing you're comparing TO gets -보다, and the thing being compared comes first! 🔄

What does -보다 mean? 🤔

-보다 = "than" or "compared to"
It's the particle you stick onto the thing you're using as your comparison point! 🎯

Pattern: -보다 더 (more than) ⬆️

[A] + 보다 + [B]가/이 + 더 + [adjective/verb]
This means "B is MORE [adjective] than A" ✨
→ 커피보다 차가 더 좋아요.
(I like tea more than coffee.) ☕→🍵
→ 어제보다 오늘이 더 추워요.
(Today is colder than yesterday.) 🥶
→ 저보다 언니가 더 예뻐요.
(My older sister is prettier than me.) 💁‍♀️

Pattern: -보다 덜 (less than) ⬇️

[A] + 보다 + [B]가/이 + 덜 + [adjective/verb]
This means "B is LESS [adjective] than A" 📊
→ 여름보다 겨울이 덜 더워요.
(Winter is less hot than summer.) ❄️
→ 버스보다 지하철이 덜 복잡해요.
(The subway is less crowded than the bus.) 🚇
→ 한국어보다 영어가 덜 어려워요.
(English is less difficult than Korean.) 📚

You can drop 더/덜 sometimes! 🎭

If the context is super clear, Koreans often skip 더 or 덜 💬
→ 오빠보다 제가 키가 커요.
(I'm taller than my older brother.) 📏
→ 작년보다 올해가 바빠요.
(This year is busier than last year.) 🗓️

Word order tip! 🔀

Remember: the thing you're comparing TO gets -보다 attached to it!
커피보다 = than coffee
저보다 = than me
어제보다 = than yesterday
The other thing (what you're actually talking about) comes after and gets 이/가! 🎯

Exceptions ⚠️

None for this grammar point! 🎉
Just remember that -보다 attaches directly to nouns (no space!) and you're good to go! ✅
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -보다 더 or -보다 덜 to make comparisons. 📊
 
  • 여름이 겨울_____ 더워요.
      • Answer
      보다 (더)
 
 
  • 저는 영화__ 드라마__ 좋아해요.
      • Answer
      보다 / 를 더
 
 
  • 이 가방은 저 가방_____ 비싸요.
      • Answer
      보다 덜
 
 
  • 오늘은 어제_____ 날씨가 좋아요.
      • Answer
      보다 (더)
 
 
  • 한국어는 영어_____ 어려워요?
      • Answer
      보다 더
 
 
  • 이 식당 음식이 저 식당_____ 맛있어요.
      • Answer
      보다 덜
 
 
  • 저는 커피__ 차__ 마셔요.
      • Answer
      보다 / 를 더
 
 
  • 부산은 서울_____ 따뜻해요.
      • Answer
      보다 (더)
 
 
  • 이 문제는 저 문제_____ 쉬워요.
      • Answer
      보다 (더)
 
 
  • 요즘은 예전_____ 바빠요.
      • Answer
      보다 덜
Vocabulary
여름 — summer
겨울 — winter
덥다 — to be hot
영화 — movie
드라마 — drama/series
가방 — bag
비싸다 — to be expensive
날씨 — weather
어렵다 — to be difficult
식당 — restaurant
맛있다 — to be delicious
커피 — coffee
차 — tea
따뜻하다 — to be warm
문제 — problem
쉽다 — to be easy
요즘 — these days
예전 — the past/before
바쁘다 — to be busy
Common mistakes
  • 🚫 Forgetting to use the object particle (을/를) when comparing preferences (e.g., "커피보다 차를 더 좋아해요")
  • 🚫 Using 더 and 덜 interchangeably — 더 means "more" while 덜 means "less"
  • 🚫 Placing 보다 after the wrong noun — it should come after the thing being compared TO, not the main subject
  • 🚫 Omitting 더 when it's optional but helpful for clarity, especially in negative or neutral contexts