보다 (boda) - Than

The particle 보다 (boda) is used for comparisons, meaning "than" or "compared to." It establishes a standard of comparison and indicates that something has more or less of a quality relative to something else.

Form

보다 (boda) - invariable form (doesn't change)

Basic Function

Marks the standard of comparison—what something is being compared to.

Translation: "than," "compared to," "more than"

Basic Usage

Simple Comparisons

Comparing two things:

• 형이 동생보다 커요. (Hyeong-i dongsaeng-boda keoyo.) - Older brother is bigger than younger sibling.
• 여름이 봄보다 더워요. (Yeoreum-i bom-boda deowoyo.) - Summer is hotter than spring.
• 서울이 부산보다 크다. (Seoul-i Busan-boda keuda.) - Seoul is bigger than Busan.

With 더 (more)

Often used with 더 for emphasis:

• 이것이 저것보다 더 좋아요. (Igeos-i jeogeos-boda deo joayo.) - This is better than that.
• 한국어가 영어보다 더 어려워요. (Hangugeo-ga yeongeo-boda deo eoryeowoyo.) - Korean is more difficult than English.

Sentence Structure

Pattern: A가 B보다 [Adjective]

[A + 이/가] + [B + 보다] + [Adjective]

• 사과가 배보다 맛있어요. (Apples are tastier than pears.)
• 버스가 지하철보다 느려요. (Bus is slower than subway.)
• 고양이가 개보다 작아요. (Cats are smaller than dogs.)

Pattern: A가 B보다 더 [Adjective]

Adding 더 strengthens the comparison:

• 오늘이 어제보다 더 추워요. (Today is colder than yesterday.)
• 이 책이 저 책보다 더 재미있어요. (This book is more interesting than that book.)

Pattern: A가 B보다 [Verb] + 더 잘/많이/빨리

With adverbs for degree:

• 형이 동생보다 공부를 더 잘해요. (Older brother studies better than younger sibling.)
• 친구가 저보다 한국어를 더 잘해요. (Friend speaks Korean better than me.)
• 언니가 동생보다 더 빨리 달려요. (Older sister runs faster than younger sibling.)

Comparisons with Different Elements

People

• 저는 친구보다 키가 커요. (I'm taller than friend.)
• 동생이 형보다 똑똑해요. (Younger sibling is smarter than older brother.)

Things

• 이 가방이 저 가방보다 비싸요. (This bag is more expensive than that bag.)
• 사과가 바나나보다 싸요. (Apples are cheaper than bananas.)

Places

• 서울이 부산보다 인구가 많아요. (Seoul has more population than Busan.)
• 제주도가 서울보다 따뜻해요. (Jeju is warmer than Seoul.)

Time

• 오늘이 어제보다 추워요. (Today is colder than yesterday.)
• 겨울이 여름보다 짧아요. (Winter is shorter than summer.)

Abstract Concepts

• 건강이 돈보다 중요해요. (Health is more important than money.)
• 사랑이 미움보다 강해요. (Love is stronger than hate.)

Negative Comparisons (Less Than)

Can express "less than" by negating or using opposite adjectives:

Using Opposite Adjectives

• 동생이 형보다 작아요. (Younger sibling is smaller than older brother.)
• 이것이 저것보다 싸요. (This is cheaper than that.)

Using Negatives

• 이것이 저것보다 안 좋아요. (This is not as good as that. / This is worse than that.)
• 한국어가 일본어보다 어렵지 않아요. (Korean is not as difficult as Japanese.)

보다 with Action Verbs

Can compare actions, not just states:

Speed Comparisons

• 지하철이 버스보다 빨라요. (Subway is faster than bus.)
• 형이 동생보다 더 빨리 달려요. (Older brother runs faster than younger sibling.)

Frequency Comparisons

• 저는 친구보다 더 자주 운동해요. (I exercise more often than friend.)

Ability Comparisons

• 친구가 저보다 한국어를 더 잘해요. (Friend speaks Korean better than me.)
• 언니가 동생보다 노래를 더 잘해요. (Older sister sings better than younger sibling.)

Superlatives (Most)

For superlatives, use 가장 or 제일 without 보다:

가장/제일 + [Adjective]:

• 이것이 가장 좋아요. (This is the best.)
• 여름이 제일 더워요. (Summer is the hottest.)

Note: Don't use 보다 with superlatives.

Common Comparison Patterns

Better/Worse

• 이것이 저것보다 나아요. (This is better than that.)
• 오늘이 어제보다 나빠요. (Today is worse than yesterday.)

More/Less

• A가 B보다 더 많아요. (A is more than B.)
• A가 B보다 더 적어요. (A is less than B.)

Easier/Harder

• 이것이 저것보다 쉬워요. (This is easier than that.)
• 한국어가 영어보다 어려워요. (Korean is harder than English.)

Bigger/Smaller

• 형이 동생보다 커요. (Older brother is bigger than younger sibling.)
• 개가 고양이보다 커요. (Dogs are bigger than cats.)

보다 vs 더

보다 (than)

Marks standard of comparison:

• A가 B보다 크다. (A is bigger than B.)

더 (more)

Emphasizes degree:

• A가 B보다 더 크다. (A is even bigger than B.)

Can use together: 보다 + 더 for emphasized comparison.

Multiple Comparisons

Can make multiple comparisons in one sentence:

• 사과가 배보다 맛있고, 배가 포도보다 맛있어요.
• (Apples are tastier than pears, and pears are tastier than grapes.)

Questions with 보다

Which/What Comparison

• 어느 것이 더 좋아요? (Which is better?)

  • 이것이 저것보다 더 좋아요. (This is better than that.)

• 누가 더 키가 커요? (Who is taller?)

  • 형이 동생보다 키가 커요. (Older brother is taller than younger sibling.)

Asking for Preference

• 커피하고 차 중에 뭐가 더 좋아요? (Between coffee and tea, which is better?)
  • 커피가 차보다 더 좋아요. (Coffee is better than tea.)

Common Expressions

그것보다 (geugeot-boda) - than that

• 이것이 그것보다 좋아요. (This is better than that.)

저것보다 (jeogeot-boda) - than that over there

• 이것이 저것보다 싸요. (This is cheaper than that.)

전에보다 (jeone-boda) - than before

• 지금이 전에보다 좋아요. (Now is better than before.)

생각보다 (saenggak-boda) - than expected / than thought

• 한국어가 생각보다 어려워요. (Korean is harder than I thought.)

Idiomatic Uses

생각보다 (than expected)

Very common expression:

• 한국어가 생각보다 쉬워요. (Korean is easier than expected.)
• 날씨가 생각보다 좋아요. (Weather is better than expected.)

예상보다 (than anticipated)

Formal version:

• 결과가 예상보다 좋았어요. (Results were better than anticipated.)

Position in Sentence

보다 typically appears mid-sentence:

Standard: [Topic] + [Standard + 보다] + [Adjective]

• 저는 친구보다 키가 커요. (I'm taller than friend.)

Can emphasize: 보다 can move for emphasis

• 친구보다 저는 키가 커요. (Than friend, I'm taller.)

With Pronouns

First Person

• 친구가 저보다 키가 커요. (Friend is taller than me.)
• 동생이 나보다 똑똑해요. (Younger sibling is smarter than me.)

Second Person

• 제가 너보다 빨라요. (I'm faster than you.)
• 저는 당신보다 나이가 많아요. (I'm older than you.)

Summary Table

Comparison Type	Example	Translation
Size	형이 동생보다 커요	Older brother is bigger
Quality	이것이 저것보다 좋아요	This is better than that
Quantity	A가 B보다 많아요	A is more than B
Ability	잘해요 보다	Does better than
Speed	빨리 보다	Faster than
Price	비싸다 보다	More expensive than

Key Points

• ✅ Form: 보다 (invariable)
• ✅ Function: Marks standard of comparison
• ✅ Translation: Than, compared to
• ✅ Pattern: A가 B보다 [Adjective/Verb]
• ✅ With 더: 보다 + 더 for emphasis
• ✅ Common use: 생각보다 (than expected)
• ✅ Not for superlatives: Use 가장/제일 instead

Understanding 보다 is essential for making comparisons in Korean. It clearly establishes what you're comparing something to, making comparative statements natural and precise.