Comparing things: More and Less (더/덜)
더 or 덜 directly before the descriptive word.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use '더' for more and '덜' for less before descriptive adjectives to compare the intensity or quantity of things.
- Place 더 before an adjective to mean 'more': 더 예뻐요 (It is prettier).
- Place 덜 before an adjective to mean 'less': 덜 매워요 (It is less spicy).
- Use the particle -보다 after the object you are comparing against: 사과보다 더 커요 (It is bigger than an apple).
Overview
Comparing elements in Korean often involves understanding adverbs of degree. Two fundamental adverbs for expressing comparison, particularly concerning adjectives and verbs, are 더 (deo) and 덜 (deol). These particles allow you to articulate that something possesses 'more' or 'less' of a quality or action compared to another, or relative to an implied standard.
Mastery of 더 and 덜 is crucial for moving beyond basic sentence structures and expressing nuanced observations in everyday Korean. They are indispensable for tasks ranging from comparing products while shopping to discussing preferences in food, weather, or entertainment.
At its core, 더 translates to 'more' or 'further,' indicating an increased quantity, intensity, or degree. Conversely, 덜 signifies 'less' or 'fewer,' denoting a reduced quantity, intensity, or degree. While simple in concept, their precise application and interaction with other grammatical elements are what elevate an A2 learner's ability to communicate effectively.
This explanation will detail their grammatical function, formation rules, common contexts, potential pitfalls, and how they integrate into a broader understanding of Korean comparison.
How This Grammar Works
더 and 덜 function primarily as adverbs of degree. This means they modify adjectives (형용사, hyeong-yong-sa), verbs (동사, dong-sa), and sometimes other adverbs, to indicate the extent or intensity of the modified word. Their placement is critical: they always precede the word they are modifying.더 and 덜 do not attach directly to nouns or require complex conjugation based on formality or tense. They remain invariant in form, simplifying their application once their placement rule is understood.더 and 덜 directly quantify the degree of a characteristic. For example, 더 예뻐요 (deo yeppeoyo, 'It's prettier') implies an increased level of beauty, while 덜 바빠요 (deol bappayo, 'It's less busy') suggests a decreased level of busyness. This inherent comparative nature allows for concise expression.더 좋아요 (deo joayo, 'It's better'), it implies 'better than it was before' or 'better than an alternative not mentioned.'더 and 덜 frequently pair with the particle -보다 (-boda), meaning 'than.' When -보다 is present, 더 (more) often becomes optional but adds emphasis. Saying 사과가 오렌지보다 달아요 (sagwaga orenji-boda dalayo, 'Apples are sweet compared to oranges') is grammatically correct and implies 'sweeter.' However, including 더 (사과가 오렌지보다 더 달아요, sagwaga orenji-boda deo dalayo, 'Apples are sweeter than oranges') explicitly states the increased degree, making the comparison more emphatic. For 덜, its usage is typically less ambiguous: 이 가방이 저 가방보다 덜 비싸요 (i gabang-i jeo gabang-boda deol bissayo, 'This bag is less expensive than that bag').더/덜 and -보다 forms the backbone of basic comparative structures in Korean.더 can also modify verbs to indicate 'doing an action more' or 'doing an action further.' For instance, 더 먹어요 (deo meogeoyo, 'Eat more') or 더 공부할 거예요 (deo gongbuhal geoyeyo, 'I will study more'). 덜 is less commonly used with verbs to mean 'do an action less,' as native speakers often prefer to use 안 (an, 'not') with an opposite verb or 덜 with an adjective describing the result. For example, instead of 덜 자요 (deol jayo, 'sleep less'), it's more natural to say 잠을 덜 자요 (jam-eul deol jayo, 'I get less sleep') or 일찍 일어나요 (iljjik ireonayo, 'I wake up early').Formation Pattern
더 and 덜 is straightforward once you internalize that they are adverbs modifying the following word. They typically precede adjectives or verbs directly. When making an explicit comparison using -보다 ('than'), the structure also follows a clear pattern.
더 / 덜 + Adjective / Verb
더 or 덜 directly modifies an adjective or verb, implying a comparison without explicitly stating the object of comparison. The modified adjective or verb is then conjugated according to the desired politeness level and tense.
더 + Adjective (Stem + -아/어) | 더 예뻐. | deo yeppeo. | Prettier. |
더 + Adjective (Stem + -ㅂ니다/습니다) | 더 예쁩니다. | deo yeppeumnida. | Prettier (formal). |
덜 + Adjective (Stem + -아/어) | 덜 바빠. | deol bappa. | Less busy. |
덜 + Adjective (Stem + -ㅂ니다/습니다) | 덜 바쁩니다. | deol bappeumnida. | Less busy (formal). |
더 + Verb (Stem + -아/어) | 더 먹어. | deo meogeo. | Eat more. |
더 + Verb (Stem + -ㅂ니다/습니다) | 더 먹습니다. | deo meokseumnida. | Eat more (formal). |
오늘 날씨가 어제보다 더 좋아요. (oneul nalssiga eoje-boda deo joayo., 'Today's weather is better than yesterday's.')
저는 요즘 일이 덜 힘들어요. (jeoneun yojeum iri deol himdeureoyo., 'My work is less difficult these days.')
선생님, 질문이 더 있어요. (seonsaengnim, jilmun-i deo isseoyo., 'Teacher, I have more questions.')
-보다 (-boda) is attached to the target of comparison, meaning 'than.' 더 is often optional here but adds emphasis, while 덜 is usually included for clarity.
사과가 오렌지보다 더 달아. | sagwaga orenji-boda deo dara. | Apples are sweeter than oranges. |
이 책이 저 책보다 덜 비싸. | i chaegi jeo chaek-boda deol bissa. | This book is less expensive than that book. |
-아/어) | 저는 동생보다 더 일찍 일어나. | jeoneun dongsaeng-boda deo iljjik ireona. | I wake up earlier than my younger sibling. |
한국 영화가 미국 영화보다 더 재미있어요. (hanguk yeonghwaga miguk yeonghwa-boda deo jaemiisseoyo., 'Korean movies are more interesting than American movies.')
저는 어제보다 덜 피곤해요. (jeoneun eoje-boda deol pigonhaeyo., 'I am less tired than yesterday.')
우리 팀이 다른 팀보다 더 빨리 달렸습니다. (uri tim-i dareun tim-boda deo ppalli dallyeosseumnida., 'Our team ran faster than the other team.')
-이/가 (-i/ga) or topic particle -은/는 (-eun/neun) is used with the subject, and -보다 is always attached directly to the noun or pronoun representing the item being compared against.
When To Use It
더 and 덜 are fundamental for expressing comparative ideas in a multitude of daily scenarios, from casual conversations to more formal discussions. Understanding their appropriate usage contexts will significantly enhance your fluency.더 or 덜 is used. This often happens when the comparison is clear from context.이 커피가 저 커피보다 더 맛있어요.(i keopiga jeo keopi-boda deo masisseoyo., 'This coffee is more delicious than that coffee.')오늘 날씨가 어제보다 덜 추워요.(oneul nalssiga eoje-boda deol chuweoyo., 'Today's weather is less cold than yesterday's.')저는 아침에 운동을 더 많이 해요.(jeoneun achime undong-eul deo mani haeyo., 'I exercise more in the morning.')
더 and 덜 are incredibly useful for customizing orders or expressing specific preferences, especially concerning quantity or intensity.김치 더 주세요.(kimchi deo juseyo., 'Please give me more kimchi.') – Used when asking for additional portions.커피에 설탕 덜 넣어주세요.(keopie seoltang deol neoeojuseyo., 'Please put less sugar in the coffee.') – A common request for beverages.라면을 덜 맵게 해주세요.(ramyeon-eul deol maepge haejuseyo., 'Please make the ramen less spicy.') – Essential for those sensitive to spice.
더 and 덜 help convey the degree of that change.작년보다 한국어가 더 늘었어요.(jangnyeon-boda hanguk-eoga deo neureosseoyo., 'My Korean has improved more than last year.')예전에는 잠을 덜 잤는데, 요즘은 충분히 자요.(yejeone-neun jam-eul deol jasseoneunde, yojeum-eun chungbunhi jayo., 'Before, I used to sleep less, but these days I sleep enough.')이 프로젝트가 생각보다 더 복잡해요.(i peurojekteuga saenggak-boda deo bokjaphaeyo., 'This project is more complicated than I thought.')
덜):덜 can be employed to politely mitigate a negative assessment, making your statement sound less harsh. Instead of outright stating something is bad, you can suggest it's 'less good' or 'less interesting.' This is a valuable cultural insight; direct criticism is often avoided in Korean communication.- Instead of
그 영화는 재미없었어요.(geu yeonghwaneun jaemieopseosseoyo., 'That movie was not interesting.'), you might say:그 영화는 생각보다 덜 재미있었어요.(geu yeonghwaneun saenggak-boda deol jaemiisseosseoyo., 'That movie was less interesting than I thought.') - Instead of
이 음식은 맛없어요.(i eumshik-eun maseopseoyo., 'This food is not delicious.'), you could say:이 음식은 제가 좋아하는 것보다 덜 맛있어요.(i eumshik-eun jega joahaneun geot-boda deol masisseoyo., 'This food is less delicious than what I like.')
Common Mistakes
더 and 덜 appear simple, learners frequently make specific errors. Awareness of these pitfalls is crucial for accurate and natural expression.더 or 덜 after the word they modify, influenced by English word order. Remember, as adverbs, they always precede the adjective, verb, or adverb they describe.- Incorrect:
이 커피는 맛있어요 더.(i keopineun masisseoyo deo.✗) - Correct:
이 커피는 더 맛있어요.(i keopineun deo masisseoyo., 'This coffee is more delicious.' ✓)
- Incorrect:
저는 바빠요 덜.(jeoneun bappayo deol.✗) - Correct:
저는 덜 바빠요.(jeoneun deol bappayo., 'I am less busy.' ✓)
더 with 또 (tto) or 다시 (dasi):더 means 'more' (in degree or quantity), 또 means 'again' (repetition), and 다시 means 'again' or 'anew' (repetition, often with a sense of starting over or doing it differently).- If you want an additional item, use
더: - Correct:
맥주 더 주세요.(maekju deo juseyo., 'Please give me more beer.') - If you want to repeat an action, use
또or다시: - Correct:
내일 또 만나요.(naeil tto mannayo., 'Let's meet again tomorrow.') - Correct:
다시 한번 설명해 주세요.(dasi hanbeon seolmyeonghae juseyo., 'Please explain it again once more.')
덜 when an antonym with 더 is more natural:덜 is grammatically correct, native speakers often prefer to use 더 with an antonym adjective for more natural expression, particularly when comparing qualities that have clear opposites. For example, instead of saying 'less big,' it's more common to say 'more small.'- Less natural:
이 방은 저 방보다 덜 커요.(i bang-eun jeo bang-boda deol keoyo., 'This room is less big than that room.') - More natural:
이 방은 저 방보다 더 작아요.(i bang-eun jeo bang-boda deo jagayo., 'This room is smaller than that room.')
- Less natural:
이 신발은 덜 편해요.(i sinbarun deol pyeonheyo., 'These shoes are less comfortable.') - More natural:
이 신발은 더 불편해요.(i sinbarun deo bulpyeonhaeyo., 'These shoes are more uncomfortable.')
더 to emphasize the presence of a quality rather than 덜 to emphasize its absence. However, 덜 remains perfectly natural when there isn't a direct and commonly used antonym, or when explicitly wishing to soften a negative statement, as discussed previously.-보다 or omitting the subject/topic particle:-보다 directly follows the noun or pronoun being compared against. Also, remember to attach -이/가 or -은/는 to the subject of your comparison.- Incorrect:
더 저 사람보다 키가 커요.(✗ -더and-보다are in the wrong relative order) - Correct:
제가 저 사람보다 더 키가 커요.(jega jeo saram-boda deo kiga keoyo., 'I am taller than that person.' ✓)
- Incorrect:
수박 사과보다 달아요.(✗ - Missing subject particle and topic particle) - Correct:
수박이 사과보다 더 달아요.(subak-i sagwa-boda deo dalayo., 'Watermelon is sweeter than apple.' ✓)
Real Conversations
Understanding 더 and 덜 in context is essential. Here are examples reflecting how native Korean speakers use these words in various modern conversational settings.
1. Casual Chat (Texting / Social Media):
- A: 요즘 뭐 봐? 재미있는 드라마 있어? (yojeum mwo bwa? jaemiinneun deurama isseo?, 'What are you watching these days? Any interesting dramas?')
- B: 응, '눈물의 여왕' 보는데, 생각보다 더 슬퍼. 휴지 준비해. (eung, 'nunmul-ui yeowang' boneunde, saenggak-boda deo seulpeo. hyuji junbihae., 'Yeah, I'm watching 'Queen of Tears,' and it's sadder than I thought. Prepare tissues.')
- A: 이 카페 라떼 너무 달다. (i kape latte neomu dalda., 'This cafe latte is too sweet.')
- B: 다음엔 덜 달게 해달라고 해봐. (daeumen deol dalge haedallago haebwa., 'Next time, try asking them to make it less sweet.')
2. Shopping / Making Choices:
- A: 이 티셔츠 어때? 저 파란색보다 나아? (i tisyeocheu eottae? jeo paransaek-boda naa?, 'How about this t-shirt? Is it better than that blue one?')
- B: 응, 이게 색깔이 더 예뻐. 그리고 재질도 더 부드러워. (eung, ige saekkkari deo yeppeo. geurigo jaejildo deo budeureowo., 'Yeah, this one's color is prettier. And the material is softer, too.')
- A: 이 신발이 싸긴 한데, 좀 불편하네. (i sinbar-i ssagin hande, jom bulpyeonhane., 'These shoes are cheap, but they're a bit uncomfortable.')
- B: 그래도 저 비싼 것보다는 덜 불편한 것 같아. (geuraedo jeo bissan geot-boda-neun deol bulpyeonhan geot gat-a., 'Still, they seem less uncomfortable than those expensive ones.')
3. Work / Study Context:
- A: 이 과제 언제까지 끝내야 해요? (i gwaje eonjekkaji kkeutnaeya haeyo?, 'By when do I need to finish this assignment?')
- B: 이번 주말까지인데, 시간이 더 필요하면 말해주세요. (ibeon jumal-kkaji-inde, sigan-i deo piryohamyeon malhaejuseyo., 'By this weekend, but if you need more time, please tell me.')
- A: 어제 회의록 정리 다 했어요? (eoje hoeuilok jeongni da haesseoyo?, 'Did you finish organizing yesterday's meeting minutes?')
- B: 네, 생각보다 덜 복잡해서 금방 끝냈어요. (ne, saenggak-boda deol bokjaphaeseo geumbang kkeutnaesseoyo., 'Yes, it was less complicated than I thought, so I finished quickly.')
4. Expressing Opinions / Softening Criticism:
- A: 어제 소개팅 어땠어요? (eoje sogeting eottaesseoyo?, 'How was the blind date yesterday?')
- B: 음... 제 이상형과는 좀 덜 잘 맞는 것 같았어요. (eum... je isanghyeonggwa-neun jom deol jal manneun geot gatasseoyo., 'Hmm... I felt like they were a bit less compatible with my ideal type.')
- (Instead of saying 'didn't match well', 덜 softens the negative feedback.)
Quick FAQ
더 and 덜 that learners often have.- Q1: Can
더and덜be used with nouns? - A: Directly preceding a noun is generally uncommon for
더and덜in the sense of 'more/less noun.' For quantity,더often pairs with numbers or quantity words, like사과 하나 더(sagwa hana deo, 'one more apple') or돈 더(don deo, 'more money').덜is rarely used this way with nouns; instead,적은(jeogeun, 'small amount of') or부족한(bujokhan, 'insufficient') would be used.
- Q2: Is
더always used with-보다? - A: No.
더can be used alone to imply a comparison to an unspoken or understood standard (더 좋아요, 'it's better'). When an explicit comparison is made,-보다is used, and더is often included for emphasis but is technically optional if the comparative meaning is clear from the context.
- Q3: How do
더and훨씬(hwolssin) differ? - A:
더means 'more,' while훨씬means 'much more' or 'far more.'훨씬intensifies더's meaning, indicating a significant difference. You can use them together for maximum emphasis:이게 저것보다 훨씬 더 비싸요.(ige jeogeot-boda hwolssin deo bissa-yo., 'This is much, much more expensive than that.').
- Q4: Can
덜be used to ask for 'fewer' items? - A: No.
덜means 'less' in degree or intensity. To ask for fewer items, you would typically use적게(jeokge, 'few/little') or explicitly state개수를 줄여주세요(gaessu-reul juryeojuseyo, 'please reduce the number'). For example,사탕을 적게 주세요.(satang-eul jeokge juseyo., 'Please give me fewer candies.')
- Q5: Are there situations where
더or덜cannot be used? - A: They are generally not used with inherent qualities that don't have degrees (e.g., 'dead,' 'Korean'). You cannot say
더 죽었어요(deo jugeosseoyo, 'more dead'). Also, they are distinct from superlative expressions like가장(gajang) or제일(jeil) meaning 'the most,' which are used when comparing three or more things.
- Q6: What about
점점 더(jeomjeom deo)? - A:
점점 더means 'gradually more' or 'more and more.' It emphasizes a continuous or progressive increase in degree over time. Example:날씨가 점점 더 추워져요.(nalssiga jeomjeom deo chuweojyeoyo., 'The weather is getting colder and colder.')
- Q7: Can
더be used with honorifics? - A: Yes,
더itself is honorific-neutral. The politeness and honorific level are determined by the verb or adjective ending. For example,더 계세요(deo gyeseyo, 'Please stay longer' - honorific for있다) or더 드세요(deo deuseyo, 'Please eat more' - honorific for먹다).
Comparative Structure Formation
| Target | Particle | Adverb | Adjective |
|---|---|---|---|
|
사과
|
보다
|
더
|
커요
|
|
어제
|
보다
|
덜
|
추워요
|
|
이것
|
보다
|
더
|
비싸요
|
|
그것
|
보다
|
덜
|
맛있어요
|
|
저것
|
보다
|
더
|
예뻐요
|
|
오늘
|
보다
|
덜
|
바빠요
|
Meanings
These adverbs modify adjectives to indicate a higher (더) or lower (덜) degree of a quality compared to a baseline.
Degree Comparison
Comparing the intensity of a quality.
“이게 더 좋아요.”
“어제보다 덜 추워요.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
A보다 더 B
|
사과보다 더 커요
|
|
Negative
|
A보다 덜 B
|
사과보다 덜 커요
|
|
Question
|
A보다 더 B해요?
|
사과보다 더 커요?
|
|
Past
|
A보다 더 B했어요
|
사과보다 더 컸어요
|
|
Future
|
A보다 더 B할 거예요
|
사과보다 더 클 거예요
|
|
Polite
|
A보다 더 B합니다
|
사과보다 더 큽니다
|
Formality Spectrum
이것이 저것보다 더 큽니다. (General comparison)
이게 저것보다 더 커요. (General comparison)
이게 저것보다 더 커. (General comparison)
이게 짱 커. (General comparison)
Comparison Concept Map
More
- 더 more
Less
- 덜 less
Particle
- 보다 than
Examples by Level
이게 더 커요.
This is bigger.
이게 덜 매워요.
This is less spicy.
더 주세요.
Give me more.
이게 더 좋아요.
This is better.
사과보다 배가 더 맛있어요.
Pears are more delicious than apples.
어제보다 덜 추워요.
It is less cold than yesterday.
이 옷이 저 옷보다 더 예뻐요?
Is this dress prettier than that one?
이게 덜 비싸요.
This is less expensive.
그 영화는 생각보다 더 재미있었어요.
That movie was more interesting than I thought.
이 방법이 저 방법보다 덜 복잡해요.
This method is less complicated than that one.
한국어 공부가 처음보다 더 쉬워졌어요.
Studying Korean has become easier than at the beginning.
덜 익은 과일은 맛이 없어요.
Under-ripe fruit doesn't taste good.
이번 프로젝트는 지난번보다 더 체계적이에요.
This project is more systematic than the last one.
그는 예상보다 덜 공격적인 태도를 보였어요.
He showed a less aggressive attitude than expected.
더 이상은 참을 수 없어요.
I can't take it anymore.
이론보다 실습이 더 중요합니다.
Practice is more important than theory.
그의 주장은 논리보다 감정에 더 치우쳐 있습니다.
His argument is more biased toward emotion than logic.
상황이 덜 악화되도록 조치를 취해야 합니다.
We must take measures so the situation doesn't worsen further.
그는 더할 나위 없이 행복해 보였습니다.
He looked as happy as could be.
이 정책은 이전보다 덜 효과적인 것으로 판명되었습니다.
This policy has proven to be less effective than the previous one.
그의 문체는 예전보다 더 간결하고 힘이 있습니다.
His writing style is more concise and powerful than before.
덜 알려진 사실이지만, 그는 역사학자이기도 합니다.
It is a lesser-known fact, but he is also a historian.
더 이상의 논의는 무의미하다고 판단됩니다.
Further discussion is deemed meaningless.
그는 덜 비판적인 시각으로 사안을 바라보았습니다.
He viewed the matter with a less critical perspective.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up comparative (more) and superlative (most).
Learners mix up comparison of degree and equality.
Learners mix up 'less' and 'not'.
Common Mistakes
더 커요 사과보다
사과보다 더 커요
사과가 커요 더
사과가 더 커요
사과보다 커요
사과보다 더 커요
더 사과보다 커요
사과보다 더 커요
덜 매워요 사과보다
사과보다 덜 매워요
사과 덜 매워요
사과보다 덜 매워요
사과보다 매워요 덜
사과보다 덜 매워요
생각보다 더 재미있었어요
생각보다 더 재미있었어요
이 방법이 덜 복잡해요 저 방법보다
이 방법이 저 방법보다 덜 복잡해요
한국어 공부가 더 쉬워졌어요 처음보다
한국어 공부가 처음보다 더 쉬워졌어요
그의 주장은 논리보다 감정에 치우쳐 있습니다 더
그의 주장은 논리보다 감정에 더 치우쳐 있습니다
상황이 악화되도록 덜 조치를 취해야 합니다
상황이 덜 악화되도록 조치를 취해야 합니다
Sentence Patterns
___보다 ___가 더 ___.
___보다 ___가 덜 ___.
생각보다 더 ___.
___는 ___보다 더 ___.
Real World Usage
덜 맵게 해주세요.
이게 저것보다 더 싸요.
어제보다 더 추워요.
더 예뻐졌어요!
이 방법이 더 효율적입니다.
여기가 저기보다 더 조용해요.
Use -보다 for clarity
Don't conjugate
Use 덜 for politeness
Context matters
Smart Tips
Always identify the two items clearly.
Use 덜 to specify your preference.
Use 더 with verbs to show improvement.
Use 더 to emphasize your point.
Pronunciation
Linking
When '보다' is followed by a vowel, the sound flows smoothly.
Question
더 커요? ↑
Rising intonation for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of '더' as 'The' (more) and '덜' as 'Dull' (less).
Visual Association
Imagine a scale. On the '더' side, the scale is heavy and full. On the '덜' side, the scale is light and empty.
Rhyme
더 is more, 덜 is less, use 보다 to express the rest!
Story
Min-su is at a market. He sees two watermelons. He says, 'This one is bigger (더 커요) than that one.' Then he tastes a grape. 'This is less sweet (덜 달아요) than the other one.' He is happy with his choices.
Word Web
Challenge
Look at two objects in your room and write one sentence comparing them using '더' and one using '덜'.
Cultural Notes
Koreans often use '더' to encourage others, e.g., '더 드세요' (Please eat more).
In business, comparisons are used carefully to avoid sounding rude.
When comparing people, it's often better to avoid direct comparisons to maintain harmony.
더 and 덜 are native Korean adverbs that have been used since Middle Korean to indicate degree.
Conversation Starters
어떤 음식이 더 좋아요?
오늘 날씨가 어제보다 더 추워요?
한국어가 영어보다 더 어려워요?
이 프로젝트가 저번보다 더 복잡한가요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
이 사과가 저 사과보다 ___ 커요.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
이게 저것 커요 더.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
This is less spicy.
Answer starts with: 이게 ...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Use: 어제, 오늘, 춥다, 덜.
이 영화는 생각보다 ___ 재미있었어요.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises이 사과가 저 사과보다 ___ 커요.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
이게 저것 커요 더.
더 / 사과보다 / 커요 / 이게
This is less spicy.
Match: 1. 더 커요, 2. 덜 매워요
Use: 어제, 오늘, 춥다, 덜.
이 영화는 생각보다 ___ 재미있었어요.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises지하철이 버스보다 ___ 더 빨라요.
The blue shirt is prettier.
Reorder the words to say 'Apples are sweeter than grapes.'
Match the pairs:
오늘은 바빠요 더.
Choose the correct sentence for 'This place is less crowded.'
언니___ 제가 더 키가 커요.
Please give me a little more.
Choose the most natural sentence:
매운 거 싫어해요. ___ 맵게 해주세요.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Yes, they work with almost all descriptive adjectives.
No, they are adverbs and do not change.
더 can be used with verbs (e.g., 더 먹어요), but 덜 is less common with verbs.
Use '가장' or '제일' instead of '더'.
It marks the point of comparison. Without it, the sentence is incomplete.
Yes, just use formal verb endings like -습니다.
No, '덜' means 'less', while '안' means 'not'.
No, this is a very consistent rule.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
más/menos que
Spanish places 'que' after the noun, similar to Korean's '-보다'.
plus/moins que
French requires agreement in gender/number for the adjective, which Korean does not.
mehr/weniger als
German often uses comparative suffixes like '-er' (e.g., größer), unlike Korean.
motto/yori
The word order is almost identical to Korean.
bǐ
The particle 'bǐ' comes before the adjective, not after the noun.
akthar/aqall min
Arabic uses a specific comparative form of the adjective itself.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
Compared To: Evaluation & Relative Judgement (-에 비해)
Overview Korean, like any language, offers various ways to compare and contrast. While basic comparisons might use parti...
Tending to do / On the side of (-ㄴ/은/는 편이다)
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Related Grammar Rules
Korean Adjectives: Describing Things (is/am/are)
Overview Korean adjectives (`형용사`, `hyeong-yong-sa`) function fundamentally as **descriptive verbs**. Unlike in Engli...
Comparisons: Better than (-boda)
Overview The Korean particle `-보다` (romanization: `-boda`) is the primary mechanism for expressing comparative stateme...
Descriptive Verbs vs Action Verbs: The 'Be' Trap
Overview In Korean, understanding the fundamental distinction between **Action Verbs** (`동사`, *dongsa*) and **Descript...
Korean Superlatives: The Most (가장 / 제일)
Overview In any language, expressing the highest degree of a quality—the superlative—is a fundamental part of communica...
