Comparison with 보다 (than)

Think of 보다 as a sticky label. You stick it onto the noun that is the "benchmark." If you say "A is bigger than B," B is the benchmark. In Korean, you attach 보다 to B. The word order is quite flexible. You can put the benchmark at the start or in the middle. Usually, we add 더 (more) to make the comparison clearer. It is like adding a little extra spice to your sentence. Even without 더, the meaning stays the same. The particle 보다 does all the heavy lifting. It tells the listener exactly what you are measuring against. It is like a grammar traffic light. It tells you where the comparison starts.

1. 1Pick the noun you are comparing against (the benchmark).
2. 2Attach 보다 directly to the end of that noun.
3. 3Do not leave a space between the noun and 보다.
4. 4Add the subject you are talking about.
5. 5Finish with an adjective or a verb.
6. 6(Optional) Add 더 before the adjective for emphasis.
7. 7Example: 사과 (Apple) + 보다 (than) + 수박 (Watermelon) + 더 (more) + 커요 (is big).
8. 8Result: 사과보다 수박이 더 커요. (Watermelons are bigger than apples.)

Use 보다 whenever you want to rank things. It is perfect for ordering food. "I want something spicier than this." It is great for travel. "Is the bus faster than the train?" You can use it for people too. "My brother is taller than me." Use it in job interviews to show growth. "I am more experienced than last year." It works for abstract things like feelings. "I like movies more than books." It is a universal tool for expressing preferences. Use it when you want to be specific. It helps you avoid being vague. It makes your Korean sound much more natural and precise.

Do not attach 보다 to verbs or adjectives directly. It only likes nouns. If you want to compare actions, you must turn the verb into a noun first. For example, use -는 것 to make a noun. Do not use it when you are only talking about one thing. You need two things to compare. If you just want to say "This is the best," use 가장 or 제일 instead. Also, avoid using it with words that already imply comparison, like 최고 (the best). It would sound redundant. Like saying "than the bestest."

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! The most common mistake is the word order. Learners often put 보다 on the wrong noun. Remember: the noun with 보다 is the one you are NOT choosing. If you say 나보다 동생이 커요, the younger sibling is the tall one. Another mistake is adding a space. 사과 보다 is wrong. It must be 사과보다. Some people forget the subject marker 이/가. While you can drop it in casual speech, it is better to keep it while learning. Don't worry, even if you mix it up, people will usually understand. Just keep practicing!

You might know 만큼. This means "as much as." Use 만큼 for equality. Use 보다 for inequality. If you say 사과만큼 커요, they are the same size. If you say 사과보다 커요, one is definitely bigger. Another one is 제일 (the most). Use 제일 for a group of three or more. Use 보다 for comparing two specific things. Think of 보다 as a duel between two items. 제일 is the winner of a whole tournament. Knowing the difference makes you look like a pro. It shows you understand the nuances of the language.