더 is an adverb meaning "more" or "additional," used to express increased degree, quantity, or comparison.
Structure
더 + Adjective/Verb
Meaning: "More [adjective/verb]"
Basic Usage
Expressing "More"
With adjectives:
- 더 크다 (bigger)
- 더 작다 (smaller)
- 더 좋다 (better)
- 더 예쁘다 (prettier)
- 더 비싸다 (more expensive)
With verbs:
- 더 먹다 (eat more)
- 더 공부하다 (study more)
- 더 자다 (sleep more)
- 더 일하다 (work more)
Core Meanings
Comparative Degree
Making comparisons:
- 이것이 더 좋아요 (This is better)
- 저것이 더 비싸요 (That is more expensive)
- 오늘이 더 추워요 (Today is colder)
Additional Amount
Wanting or needing more:
- 더 주세요 (Give me more)
- 더 먹을래요? (Want to eat more?)
- 더 필요해요 (Need more)
Increased Intensity
Emphasizing degree:
- 더 빨리 (faster/more quickly)
- 더 크게 (louder/bigger)
- 더 조용히 (more quietly)
Common Patterns
더 + Adjective
Comparing states:
- 더 크다 (bigger)
- 더 좋다 (better)
- 더 빠르다 (faster)
- 더 느리다 (slower)
- 더 많다 (more)
- 더 적다 (fewer/less)
더 + Verb
Doing more of an action:
- 더 먹어요 (eat more)
- 더 쉬어요 (rest more)
- 더 걸어요 (walk more)
- 더 자요 (sleep more)
더 + Adverb
Increasing manner:
- 더 빨리 (more quickly)
- 더 천천히 (more slowly)
- 더 자주 (more often)
- 더 많이 (more [in amount])
With Particles
더 with 이/가
Subject marker:
- 이것이 더 좋아요 (This one is better)
- 저것이 더 비싸요 (That one is more expensive)
더 with 을/를
Object marker:
- 더 먹어요 (eat more)
- 더 사요 (buy more)
Standalone 더
As adverb without particle:
- 더 주세요 (Give more)
- 더 있어요? (Is there more?)
Questions with 더
Asking for More
Want/need more?:
- 더 드릴까요? (Shall I give you more?)
- 더 먹을래요? (Want to eat more?)
- 더 필요해요? (Need more?)
- 더 있어요? (Is there more?)
Comparative Questions
Which is more?:
- 어느 것이 더 좋아요? (Which is better?)
- 뭐가 더 비싸요? (What is more expensive?)
- 누가 더 빨라요? (Who is faster?)
Common Expressions
Requesting More
- 더 주세요 (Please give me more)
- 더 큰 걸로 주세요 (Please give me a bigger one)
- 조금 더 주세요 (Please give me a little more)
Preferences
- 이게 더 좋아요 (This is better)
- 저게 더 마음에 들어요 (I like that more)
- 다른 게 더 나아요 (A different one is better)
No More
- 더 없어요 (There's no more)
- 더 안 먹어요 (I won't eat more)
- 더 이상 없어요 (There's no more / nothing left)
더 vs 또
더 (More - Degree/Amount)
Increased quantity or degree:
- 더 주세요 (Give me more)
- 더 크다 (bigger)
- 더 먹다 (eat more)
또 (Again - Repetition)
Doing again:
- 또 오세요 (Come again)
- 또 만나요 (See you again)
- 또 했어요 (Did it again)
Different meanings:
- 더 먹어요 (eat more - additional amount)
- 또 먹어요 (eat again - another time)
Intensifiers with 더
훨씬 더 (Much More)
Emphasizing difference:
- 훨씬 더 크다 (much bigger)
- 훨씬 더 좋다 (much better)
- 훨씬 더 비싸다 (much more expensive)
좀 더 / 조금 더 (A Little More)
Moderate increase:
- 좀 더 크게 (a little bigger)
- 조금 더 주세요 (a little more please)
- 좀 더 빨리 (a little faster)
더욱 (Even More)
Formal, emphasizing increase:
- 더욱 좋다 (even better)
- 더욱 중요하다 (even more important)
- 더욱 열심히 (even more diligently)
Negation with 더
더 이상 (No More / No Longer)
Fixed expression:
- 더 이상 없어요 (There's no more)
- 더 이상 안 해요 (I won't do it anymore)
- 더 이상 필요 없어요 (Don't need it anymore)
더 안 (Won't... More)
Refusing more:
- 더 안 먹어요 (Won't eat more)
- 더 안 사요 (Won't buy more)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 더 좋습니다 (is better)
- 더 주십시오 (please give more)
Polite (해요체)
- 더 좋아요 (is better)
- 더 주세요 (please give more)
Casual (반말)
- 더 좋아 (is better)
- 더 줘 (give more)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Restaurant
A: 밥 더 드릴까요? (Shall I give you more rice?)
B: 네, 조금만 더 주세요. (Yes, please give me just a little more.)
Dialogue 2: Shopping
A: 어느 게 더 좋아요? (Which one is better?)
B: 이게 더 예쁜 것 같아요. (I think this one is prettier.)
Dialogue 3: Study
A: 공부 더 해야 돼요? (Do you have to study more?)
B: 네, 조금 더 해야 해요. (Yes, I have to do a little more.)
Dialogue 4: Service
A: 커피 더 필요하세요? (Do you need more coffee?)
B: 아니요, 됐어요. (No, I'm good.)
Common Combinations
더 많이 (More [in amount])
- 더 많이 먹어요 (eat more)
- 더 많이 공부해요 (study more)
- 더 많이 주세요 (give more)
더 빨리 (Faster/Sooner)
- 더 빨리 와요 (come faster)
- 더 빨리 해요 (do it faster)
- 더 빨리 주세요 (give it sooner)
더 크게/작게 (Bigger/Smaller)
- 더 크게 말해요 (speak louder)
- 더 작게 해요 (make it smaller)
With Time Expressions
Duration
- 더 오래 (longer)
- 더 오래 기다려요 (wait longer)
- 더 오래 자요 (sleep longer)
Frequency
- 더 자주 (more often)
- 더 자주 와요 (come more often)
- 더 자주 해요 (do it more often)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 많이 더
Wrong word order
✅ Correct: 더 많이
더 comes first
❌ Incorrect: 더 또 와요
Confusing 더 and 또
✅ Correct: 더 와요 (come more) OR 또 와요 (come again)
Different meanings
Summary Table
| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 더 + Adjective | 더 크다 | bigger |
| 더 + Verb | 더 먹다 | eat more |
| 더 + Adverb | 더 빨리 | faster |
| 더 주세요 | 더 주세요 | give me more |
| 더 이상 | 더 이상 없어요 | no more |
| 좀/조금 더 | 조금 더 주세요 | a little more |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Basic meaning: "More" - additional or increased
- ✅ Versatile: Works with adjectives, verbs, adverbs
- ✅ Common requests: 더 주세요 (give more)
- ✅ Comparisons: Essential for comparative statements
- ✅ Different from 또: 더 = more, 또 = again
- ✅ Negative form: 더 이상 (no more/no longer)
더 is one of the most frequently used adverbs in Korean, essential for making comparisons, requests for more, and expressing increased degree or quantity.