For autodidact students of Korean, the comparative particle 보다 (boda) is homophonous with 보다 (see, Lesson 36) but grammatically distinct. N + 보다 = "than N." It appears in comparative constructions: 이것이 저것보다 좋아요 (this is better than that). 보다 더 (than + more) reinforces the comparison: 저보다 더 잘해요 (does better than me). 훨씬 (hwolssin, much/far) intensifies: 훨씬 좋아요 (far better). 덜 (deol) is "less than."
Key Takeaways: - N + 보다: than N — comparative particle - 보다 더: more than — reinforced comparison - 훨씬 (hwolssin): much more / far — intensifier - 덜 (deol): less — comparative less - 아무것도 없는 것보다: than nothing at all - A보다 B가 더 좋다: B is better than A
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38.1 이게 (ige) this-SUBJ 저것보다 (jeogeotboda) than-that 좋아요 (joayo) good-POLITE
38.2 어제보다 (eojeboda) than-yesterday 오늘이 (oneuri) today-SUBJ 더 (deo) more 추워요 (chuwoyo) cold-POLITE
38.3 생각보다 (saenGakboda) than-thought 어려워요 (eoryeowo yo) difficult-POLITE
38.4 저보다 (jeoboda) than-me 잘 (jal) well 해요 (haeyo) do-POLITE
38.5 예상보다 (yesangboda) than-expected 훨씬 (hwolssin) much 좋아요 (joayo) good-POLITE
38.6 밥보다 (bapboda) than-rice 빵을 (ppangeul) bread-OBJ 더 (deo) more 좋아해요 (johahaeyo) like-POLITE
38.7 하는 것보다 (haneun geotboda) than-doing 안 하는 게 (an haneun ge) not-doing-NMLZ 낫겠어요 (natgesseoyo) would-be-better-POLITE
38.8 뭐든 (mwodeon) whatever 없는 것보다 (eopneun geotboda) than-nothing 낫죠 (natjyo) better-right-POLITE
38.9 기대보다 (gidaeboda) than-expectations 별로예요 (byeolRoyeyo) not-great-POLITE
38.10 이게 (ige) this-SUBJ 훨씬 (hwolssin) much 더 (deo) more 맛있어요 (massisseoyo) delicious-POLITE
38.11 나보다 (naboda) than-me 나이가 (naiga) age-SUBJ 많아요 (manayo) many-POLITE?
38.12 말보다 (malboda) than-words 행동이 (haengdoni) action-SUBJ 중요해요 (jungnyohaeyo) important-POLITE
38.13 처음보다 (cheoeumboda) than-first 지금이 (jigeumi) now-SUBJ 훨씬 (hwolssin) much 나아요 (naayo) better-POLITE
38.14 기분이 (gibuni) feeling-SUBJ 어제보다 (eojeboda) than-yesterday 나아졌어요 (naajyeosseoyo) improved-POLITE
38.15 혼자 (honja) alone 보다 (boda) than 같이 (gati) together 가는 게 (ganeun ge) going-NMLZ 더 (deo) more 좋아요 (joayo) good-POLITE
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38.1 이게 저것보다 좋아요. "This is better than that." 38.2 어제보다 오늘이 더 추워요. "Today is colder than yesterday." 38.3 생각보다 어려워요. "It's more difficult than I thought." 38.4 저보다 잘 해요. "You do it better than me." 38.5 예상보다 훨씬 좋아요. "It's much better than expected." 38.6 밥보다 빵을 더 좋아해요. "I like bread more than rice." 38.7 하는 것보다 안 하는 게 낫겠어요. "Not doing it would be better than doing it." 38.8 뭐든 없는 것보다 낫죠. "Anything is better than nothing." 38.9 기대보다 별로예요. "It's not that great compared to expectations." 38.10 이게 훨씬 더 맛있어요. "This is much more delicious." 38.11 나보다 나이가 많아요? "Are you older than me?" 38.12 말보다 행동이 중요해요. "Actions are more important than words." 38.13 처음보다 지금이 훨씬 나아요. "Now is much better than the beginning." 38.14 기분이 어제보다 나아졌어요. "My feeling has improved compared to yesterday." 38.15 혼자보다 같이 가는 게 더 좋아요. "Going together is better than going alone."
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38.1 이게 저것보다 좋아요. 38.2 어제보다 오늘이 더 추워요. 38.3 생각보다 어려워요. 38.4 저보다 잘 해요. 38.5 예상보다 훨씬 좋아요. 38.6 밥보다 빵을 더 좋아해요. 38.7 하는 것보다 안 하는 게 낫겠어요. 38.8 뭐든 없는 것보다 낫죠. 38.9 기대보다 별로예요. 38.10 이게 훨씬 더 맛있어요. 38.11 나보다 나이가 많아요? 38.12 말보다 행동이 중요해요. 38.13 처음보다 지금이 훨씬 나아요. 38.14 기분이 어제보다 나아졌어요. 38.15 혼자보다 같이 가는 게 더 좋아요.
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N + 보다 — comparative "than N": The noun precedes 보다: 어제보다 (than yesterday), 생각보다 (than thought), 저보다 (than me). The compared standard — what is being exceeded — takes 보다. What exceeds it is the subject.
보다 더 vs 보다 훨씬: 보다 더 (more than): 저보다 더 잘해요 (does better than me — by some degree). 훨씬 (far/much): 예상보다 훨씬 좋아요 (far better than expected). 훨씬 implies a large gap; 더 is neutral degree.
생각보다 (saenGakboda) — "than thought / more than expected": 생각 (thought) + 보다 = than what one thought. One of the most useful fixed expressions in Korean: 생각보다 어려워요 (harder than I thought), 생각보다 재미있어요 (more interesting than I thought). Compare: 예상보다 (than expected), 기대보다 (compared to expectations).
낫다 (natda) — "be better / be preferable": The comparative predicate: N보다 A가 낫다 (A is better than N). Irregular: 나아요 (is better — present), 나았어요 (was better — past). 뭐든 없는 것보다 낫죠 (anything is better than nothing) — the grammar of accepting imperfect solutions.
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말보다 행동이 중요해요 (actions are more important than words) — a common Korean proverb-like saying that reflects Confucian pragmatism. 보다 as comparison particle makes value judgements directly: A보다 B가 중요하다 (B is more important than A). Korean ethical discourse runs on 보다 comparisons: 양보다 질이 중요해요 (quality is more important than quantity), 속도보다 방향이 중요해요 (direction is more important than speed).
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이청준 (Yi Cheongjun), 《당신들의 천국》— Your Paradise, 1976
말보다 행동이, 약속보다 실천이 중요하다.
F-A: Interlinear — 말보다 (malboda) than-words 행동이 (haengdoni) action-SUBJ，약속보다 (yaksoboda) than-promise 실천이 (silcheoni) practice-SUBJ 중요하다 (jungnyohada) important-PLAIN
F-B: Translation — "Action more than words, practice more than promise, matters."
F-C: Original — 말보다 행동이, 약속보다 실천이 중요하다.
F-D: Notes — The 보다 comparison used twice in parallel: 말보다/약속보다 (than words/than promise). 실천 (practice/enactment) vs 약속 (promise): the tension between declaring and doing, which is Yi Cheongjun's central theme. 중요하다 as the predicate of the double comparison.
F-E: Commentary — 보다 the comparative particle makes every claim of value relative. Nothing is absolutely good — it is good 보다 (compared to) something else. This relational grammar of value is Korean: 어제보다 오늘이 나아요 (today is better than yesterday). Progress is always comparative. The student who is better today than yesterday is living inside this 보다.
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Two friends shopping and comparing — every comparative construction.
38.16 민준: 이 핸드폰이랑 (i haendeupon-irang) this-phone-AND 저 핸드폰 (jeo haendeupon) that-phone 중에 (junge) among 어느 게 (eoneu ge) which-NMLZ 더 (deo) more 좋아 (joha) good-INF?
38.17 지수: 이게 (ige) this-SUBJ 저것보다 (jeogeotboda) than-that 훨씬 (hwolssin) much 좋은데 (joeunde) good-but 가격이 (gaGEOgi) price-SUBJ 두 배야 (du baeya) double-is-INF
38.18 민준: 생각보다 (saenGakboda) than-thought 비싸다 (bissada) expensive-PLAIN。좀 더 (jom deo) a-little-more 저렴한 거 (jeoRyeomhan geo) cheaper-thing 없어 (eopseo) have-not-INF?
38.19 지수: 가격보다 (gageokboda) than-price 성능을 (seongneungeul) performance-OBJ 봐야지 (bwayaji) should-look-at-INF。싼 게 (ssan ge) cheap-NMLZ 비지떡이라고 (bijiTteogirago) penny-wise-QUOT 하잖아 (hajanha) say-don't-they-INF
38.20 민준: 맞는 말이지만 (matnneun marijiman) right-words-but 예산이 (yesani) budget-SUBJ 한정돼 있으니까 (hanjeonGdwae isseunikka) because-limited
38.21 지수: 그럼 (geureum) then 저것보다 (jeogeotboda) than-that 좀 (jom) a-little 나은 (naen) better 중간 (junggan) middle 거 (geo) thing 어때 (eottae) how-INF?
38.22 민준: 이것도 (igEOtdo) this-also 기대보다 (gidaeboda) than-expectation 별로 (byeolRo) not-great-INF 인 것 (in geot) NMLZ-COPNLZ 같아 (gata) seems-INF
38.23 지수: 뭐든 (mwodeon) whatever 없는 것보다 (eopneun geotboda) than-nothing 낫잖아 (natjanha) better-right-INF。완벽한 건 (wanbyeokhan geon) perfect-thing-TOPIC 없어 (eopseo) have-not-INF
38.24 민준: 알아 (ara) know-INF，알아 (ara) know-INF。그냥 (geunyang) just 이걸로 (igeolro) with-this 할게 (halge) will-do-INF
38.25 지수: 좋아 (joha) good-INF。어제 본 것보다 (bon geotboda) than-seen-yesterday 이게 (ige) this-SUBJ 훨씬 (hwolssin) much 나으니까 (naeunikka) because-better-INF
38.26 민준: 그나저나 (geunajeona) by-the-way 밥은 (babeun) rice-TOPIC 먹었어 (meogeosseo) ate-INF?
38.27 지수: 아직 (ajik) yet-not。뭐 먹을까 (mwo meogeulkka) what-shall-eat-INF?
38.28 민준: 어제 먹은 거보다 (meogeun geoboda) than-what-ate-yesterday 오늘은 (oneureun) today-TOPIC 다른 (dareun) different 게 (ge) thing 먹고 (meokgo) eat-CONJ 싶어 (sipeo) want-INF
38.29 지수: 좋아 (joha) good-INF。어디든 (eodideun) wherever 너가 (neoga) you-SUBJ 고른 (goreun) chose 데보다 (deboda) than-place 더 (deo) more 나쁜 (nappeun) bad 데는 (deneun) place-TOPIC 없을 거야 (eopseul geoya) won't-have-INF
38.30 민준: 그게 (geuge) that-SUBJ 칭찬이야 (chingchaniya) compliment-is-INF，욕이야 (yogiya) insult-is-INF？！
38.16 「이 핸드폰이랑 저 핸드폰 중에 어느 게 더 좋아?」 "'Between this phone and that phone, which is better?'" 38.17 「이게 저것보다 훨씬 좋은데 가격이 두 배야.」 "'This is much better than that, but the price is double.'" 38.18 「생각보다 비싸다. 좀 더 저렴한 거 없어?」 "'More expensive than I thought. Is there anything a bit cheaper?'" 38.19 「가격보다 성능을 봐야지. 싼 게 비지떡이라고 하잖아.」 "'You should look at performance rather than price. They say you get what you pay for.'" 38.20 「맞는 말이지만 예산이 한정돼 있으니까.」 "'True, but the budget is limited.'" 38.21 「그럼 저것보다 좀 나은 중간 거 어때?」 "'Then how about a middle option that's a bit better than that?'" 38.22 「이것도 기대보다 별로인 것 같아.」 "'This also seems not that great compared to expectations.'" 38.23 「뭐든 없는 것보다 낫잖아. 완벽한 건 없어.」 "'Anything is better than nothing. There's no perfect thing.'" 38.24 「알아, 알아. 그냥 이걸로 할게.」 "'I know, I know. I'll just go with this.'" 38.25 「좋아. 어제 본 것보다 이게 훨씬 나으니까.」 "'Good. Since this is much better than what you saw yesterday.'" 38.26 「그나저나 밥은 먹었어?」 "'By the way, have you eaten?'" 38.27 「아직. 뭐 먹을까?」 "'Not yet. What shall we eat?'" 38.28 「어제 먹은 거보다 오늘은 다른 게 먹고 싶어.」 "'I want to eat something different today compared to what I ate yesterday.'" 38.29 「좋아. 어디든 네가 고른 데보다 더 나쁜 데는 없을 거야.」 "'Great. Wherever you pick can't be worse than places you've chosen before.'" 38.30 「그게 칭찬이야, 욕이야?!」 "'Is that a compliment or an insult?!'"
38.16 「이 핸드폰이랑 저 핸드폰 중에 어느 게 더 좋아?」 38.17 「이게 저것보다 훨씬 좋은데 가격이 두 배야.」 38.18 「생각보다 비싸다. 좀 더 저렴한 거 없어?」 38.19 「가격보다 성능을 봐야지. 싼 게 비지떡이라고 하잖아.」 38.20 「맞는 말이지만 예산이 한정돼 있으니까.」 38.21 「그럼 저것보다 좀 나은 중간 거 어때?」 38.22 「이것도 기대보다 별로인 것 같아.」 38.23 「뭐든 없는 것보다 낫잖아. 완벽한 건 없어.」 38.24 「알아, 알아. 그냥 이걸로 할게.」 38.25 「좋아. 어제 본 것보다 이게 훨씬 나으니까.」 38.26 「그나저나 밥은 먹었어?」 38.27 「아직. 뭐 먹을까?」 38.28 「어제 먹은 거보다 오늘은 다른 게 먹고 싶어.」 38.29 「좋아. 어디든 네가 고른 데보다 더 나쁜 데는 없을 거야.」 38.30 「그게 칭찬이야, 욕이야?!」
싼 게 비지떡 (ssan ge bijiTteok) — "cheap things are cheap quality": 싸다 (be cheap) + -ㄴ 게 (thing that is) + 비지떡 (bean-curd-dregs rice cake — low-quality food). A Korean proverb meaning "you get what you pay for." 이라고 하다 makes it a reported proverb: 싼 게 비지떡이라고 해요 (they say cheap things are cheap).
그나저나 (geunajeona) — "by the way / that aside": A discourse connector that pivots the conversation to a different topic, often more practical or mundane: 그나저나 밥은 먹었어? (That aside, have you eaten?). Used when the main topic is settled and a side topic needs addressing. The 한국어 equivalent of "anyway" as a topic changer.
칭찬이야, 욕이야? — "is that a compliment or an insult?": A fixed rhetorical structure for ambiguous statements: A야, B야? (Is it A or is it B?). Here 칭찬 (compliment) vs 욕 (insult/curse) — the ambiguous statement is challenged with this pair. Very common in Korean when something sounds like it could go either way.
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보다 (boda — than) — IPA: /po.da/ — identical pronunciation to 보다 (see). Context entirely determines meaning: 어제보다 (than yesterday — particle), 어제 봐요 (I see [someone] yesterday — verb). The particle is unstressed; the verb carries its own clause stress.
훨씬 (hwolssin) — IPA: /hwʌl.s͈in/ — Two syllables: /hwʌl/ (labialised /w/ + /ʌ/ + lateral /l/) + /s͈in/ (fortis fricative + /i/ + nasal). The ㅆ is the fortis (tense) sibilant.
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