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Adjectives (형용사)

Comparisons with 보다

Korean uses the particle 보다 (boda) to make comparisons between two things, expressing that one has more or less of a quality than another.

Basic Structure

보다 means "than" and follows the noun being compared to.

Pattern: [A]이/가 [B]보다 [Adjective]

Translation: "A is [adjective] than B"

Formation

Basic Pattern

[Noun] + 보다 + [Adjective]

  • 이것이 저것보다 커요. (This is bigger than that.)
  • 서울이 부산보다 커요. (Seoul is bigger than Busan.)
  • 여름이 봄보다 더워요. (Summer is hotter than spring.)

With Subject Markers

[A]이/가 [B]보다 [Adjective]

  • 사과가 배보다 맛있어요. (Apples are more delicious than pears.)
  • 오늘이 어제보다 추워요. (Today is colder than yesterday.)
  • 한국어가 영어보다 어려워요. (Korean is more difficult than English.)

Using 더 (More)

더 (deo) means "more" and often accompanies comparisons for emphasis.

Pattern: [B]보다 더 [Adjective]

Optional but common:

  • 이것이 저것보다 더 커요. (This is more big than that.)
  • 서울이 부산보다 더 커요. (Seoul is bigger than Busan.)
  • 오늘이 어제보다 더 추워요. (Today is colder than yesterday.)

When to Use 더

Can be omitted:

  • 저것보다 커요. (is bigger than that) ✓
  • 저것보다 더 커요. (is more big than that) ✓

Often used for emphasis:

  • 훨씬 더 커요. (is much bigger)
  • 조금 더 커요. (is a little bigger)

Common Comparison Patterns

Size Comparisons

  • 이것이 저것보다 커요. (This is bigger than that.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 작아요. (This is smaller than that.)
  • 코끼리가 개보다 커요. (Elephants are bigger than dogs.)

Quality Comparisons

  • 이것이 저것보다 좋아요. (This is better than that.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 나빠요. (This is worse than that.)
  • 여기가 저기보다 좋아요. (Here is better than there.)

Temperature Comparisons

  • 여름이 겨울보다 더워요. (Summer is hotter than winter.)
  • 오늘이 어제보다 추워요. (Today is colder than yesterday.)
  • 봄이 가을보다 따뜻해요. (Spring is warmer than fall.)

Difficulty Comparisons

  • 수학이 과학보다 어려워요. (Math is more difficult than science.)
  • 이 문제가 저 문제보다 쉬워요. (This problem is easier than that problem.)

Price Comparisons

  • 이것이 저것보다 비싸요. (This is more expensive than that.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 싸요. (This is cheaper than that.)
  • 사과가 배보다 비싸요. (Apples are more expensive than pears.)

Negative Comparisons

Pattern: [B]보다 덜 [Adjective]

덜 (deol) means "less":

  • 이것이 저것보다 덜 비싸요. (This is less expensive than that.)
  • 오늘이 어제보다 덜 추워요. (Today is less cold than yesterday.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 덜 어려워요. (This is less difficult than that.)

Using Negative Forms

  • 이것이 저것보다 안 커요. (This is not bigger than that.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 좋지 않아요. (This is not better than that.)

Degree of Comparison

훨씬 (Much/Far)

훨씬 (hwolssin) means "much/far more":

  • 이것이 저것보다 훨씬 더 커요. (This is much bigger than that.)
  • 서울이 부산보다 훨씬 커요. (Seoul is far bigger than Busan.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 훨씬 좋아요. (This is much better than that.)

조금/좀 (A little)

조금/좀 (jogeum/jom) means "a little/slightly":

  • 이것이 저것보다 조금 더 커요. (This is a little bigger than that.)
  • 오늘이 어제보다 좀 추워요. (Today is slightly colder than yesterday.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 조금 비싸요. (This is a bit more expensive than that.)

약간 (Slightly)

약간 (yakgan) means "slightly/somewhat":

  • 이것이 저것보다 약간 더 좋아요. (This is slightly better than that.)
  • 오늘이 어제보다 약간 따뜻해요. (Today is somewhat warmer than yesterday.)

훨씬 + Negative

  • 이것이 저것보다 훨씬 안 비싸요. (This is much less expensive than that.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 훨씬 덜 어려워요. (This is far less difficult than that.)

Comparing People

Pattern: [Person A]이/가 [Person B]보다 [Adjective]

Physical characteristics:

  • 저는 동생보다 커요. (I am taller than my younger sibling.)
  • 언니가 저보다 예뻐요. (My older sister is prettier than me.)
  • 형이 동생보다 키가 커요. (The older brother is taller than the younger brother.)

Abilities:

  • 그는 저보다 똑똑해요. (He is smarter than me.)
  • 저는 친구보다 빨라요. (I am faster than my friend.)
  • 선생님이 학생보다 많이 알아요. (Teachers know more than students.)

With Possessive Constructions

Pattern: [A]의 [Noun]이/가 [B]보다 [Adjective]

Comparing possessions or attributes:

  • 저의 집이 친구의 집보다 커요. (My house is bigger than my friend's house.)
  • 한국의 여름이 미국의 여름보다 더워요. (Korea's summer is hotter than America's summer.)
  • 이 가게의 커피가 저 가게보다 맛있어요. (This store's coffee is more delicious than that store.)

Questions with Comparisons

Which is more? 어느 것이 더 [Adjective]?

Pattern: [A]와/과 [B] 중에서 어느 것이 더 [Adjective]?

  • 사과와 배 중에서 어느 것이 더 맛있어요? (Between apples and pears, which is more delicious?)

  • 이것과 저것 중에서 어느 것이 더 커요? (Between this and that, which is bigger?)

Response Pattern

[A/B]가 더 [Adjective]

Q: 사과와 배 중에서 어느 것이 더 좋아요? (Which is better between apples and pears?)

A: 사과가 더 좋아요. (Apples are better.)

Comparing Actions

Pattern: [Action A]는 것이 [Action B]는 것보다 [Adjective]

Comparing verb phrases:

  • 걷는 것이 뛰는 것보다 느려요. (Walking is slower than running.)

  • 공부하는 것이 노는 것보다 어려워요. (Studying is more difficult than playing.)

  • 읽는 것이 쓰는 것보다 쉬워요. (Reading is easier than writing.)

Simplified Form

Often simplified to:

  • 걷기가 뛰기보다 느려요. (Walking is slower than running.)
  • 공부가 놀기보다 어려워요. (Studying is harder than playing.)

Same Degree: -만큼 (As...as)

Pattern: [A]이/가 [B]만큼 [Adjective]

만큼 (mankeum) means "as much as":

  • 이것이 저것만큼 커요. (This is as big as that.)
  • 오늘이 어제만큼 추워요. (Today is as cold as yesterday.)
  • 저는 친구만큼 키가 커요. (I am as tall as my friend.)

Negative with 만큼

  • 이것이 저것만큼 크지 않아요. (This is not as big as that.)
  • 오늘이 어제만큼 춥지 않아요. (Today is not as cold as yesterday.)

Multiple Comparisons

Comparing Three or More Items

Use 가장/제일 for superlatives:

  • 이것이 세 개 중에서 가장 커요. (This is the biggest among the three.)
  • 수학이 세 과목 중에서 제일 어려워요. (Math is the most difficult among the three subjects.)

Sequential Comparisons

  • A가 B보다 크고, B가 C보다 커요. (A is bigger than B, and B is bigger than C.)

  • A가 제일 크고, B가 그 다음이고, C가 제일 작아요. (A is the biggest, B is next, and C is the smallest.)

Common Comparison Expressions

Better/Worse

  • 이것이 저것보다 나아요. (This is better than that.) - from 낫다
  • 이것이 저것보다 좋아요. (This is better/good than that.) - from 좋다
  • 이것이 저것보다 나빠요. (This is worse than that.)

More/Less

  • 이것이 저것보다 더 많아요. (This is more than that.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 더 적어요. (This is less/fewer than that.)

Longer/Shorter

  • 이것이 저것보다 길어요. (This is longer than that.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 짧아요. (This is shorter than that.)

Practical Examples

Shopping

  • 이 옷이 저 옷보다 예뻐요. (This clothing is prettier than that clothing.)
  • 이것이 저것보다 싸요. (This is cheaper than that.)
  • 이 가게가 저 가게보다 좋아요. (This store is better than that store.)

Weather

  • 오늘이 어제보다 더워요. (Today is hotter than yesterday.)
  • 서울이 부산보다 추워요. (Seoul is colder than Busan.)
  • 가을이 여름보다 시원해요. (Fall is cooler than summer.)

Food

  • 이 음식이 저 음식보다 맛있어요. (This food is more delicious than that food.)
  • 김치가 피자보다 매워요. (Kimchi is spicier than pizza.)
  • 한식이 양식보다 건강해요. (Korean food is healthier than Western food.)

Places

  • 서울이 부산보다 커요. (Seoul is bigger than Busan.)
  • 여기가 저기보다 조용해요. (Here is quieter than there.)
  • 이 공원이 저 공원보다 넓어요. (This park is wider than that park.)

Time Comparisons

Today vs Yesterday/Tomorrow

  • 오늘이 어제보다 좋아요. (Today is better than yesterday.)
  • 내일이 오늘보다 바쁠 거예요. (Tomorrow will be busier than today.)

This Year vs Last Year

  • 올해가 작년보다 좋아요. (This year is better than last year.)
  • 내년이 올해보다 나을 거예요. (Next year will be better than this year.)

Past and Future Comparisons

Past Tense

  • 어제가 오늘보다 추웠어요. (Yesterday was colder than today.)
  • 작년이 올해보다 더웠어요. (Last year was hotter than this year.)

Future Tense

  • 내일이 오늘보다 더울 거예요. (Tomorrow will be hotter than today.)
  • 다음 주가 이번 주보다 바쁠 거예요. (Next week will be busier than this week.)