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A2 verb #1,500 mais comum 6 min de leitura

덜하다

Top 1,500

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas 덜하다 em 30 segundos

Explicação 덜하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of '덜하다' as a way to say 'not so much' or 'less.' It is often used with weather or simple feelings. For example, if yesterday was very cold and today is only a little cold, you can say '오늘이 덜 추워요' (Today is less cold) or more simply '추위가 덜해요.' It helps you make basic comparisons about the world around you. Imagine a scale from 1 to 10. If something was at 10 and now it is at 5, it is '덜하다.' You will mostly see it in short sentences describing how you feel or what the weather is like. It is a very useful word for expressing relief when something bad becomes a little better.

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At the A2 level, you start using '덜하다' to compare two specific things using the '~보다' (than) pattern. For example, '이 가방이 저 가방보다 무게가 덜해요' (This bag weighs less than that bag). You also use it to describe the reduction of symptoms or problems. If you had a headache and it's getting better, you say '머리가 덜 아파요.' At this level, it's important to distinguish '덜' (the adverb) from '덜하다' (the adjective). You use '덜' before a verb like '덜 먹어요' (I eat less), but you use '덜하다' as the ending of a sentence to describe a state. It's a key word for daily life and basic health descriptions.

At the B1 level, '덜하다' is used for more abstract concepts like interest, pressure, or difficulty. You might say '시험이 끝나서 부담이 덜하다' (The pressure is less because the exam is over). It allows you to express nuanced changes in your mental state or social situations. You also begin to use it in the middle of sentences as a modifier, such as '덜한 곳' (a place that is less [something]). It is frequently used in discussions about preferences, explaining why you prefer one option over another because its negative aspects are 'less' (e.g., '여기가 소음이 덜해서 좋아요' - I like it here because there is less noise).

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At the B2 level, you use '덜하다' to discuss complex social trends and comparisons. For instance, '환경에 대한 관심이 예전보다 덜하다' (Interest in the environment is less than before). You can use it to critique quality or performance in a sophisticated way. It often appears in news reports or articles describing economic shifts or changes in public opinion. You should be able to use it with various grammatical connectors like '~기는 하지만' (It is less..., but...) or '~ㄹ 정도로' (To the extent that it is less...). It becomes a tool for precise description in debates or written essays where you need to compare degrees of intensity or importance.

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At the C1 level, '덜하다' is used in literary and highly formal contexts. It can describe subtle shifts in atmosphere, emotion, or philosophical concepts. For example, '그의 슬픔은 시간이 흘러도 덜하지 않았다' (His sadness did not lessen even as time passed). Here, it takes on a more poetic or profound tone. You will also encounter it in academic writing to describe variables that have a lesser impact compared to others. At this level, you understand the subtle difference between '덜하다' and its more formal synonyms like '감소하다' (to decrease) or '경감되다' (to be mitigated), choosing '덜하다' when you want to emphasize the subjective experience of the state.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of '덜하다' and can use it in any register. You might use it in legal or technical documents to describe a reduction in liability or a lesser degree of a specific condition. You can also use it to express irony or understatement in high-level literature. You understand how '덜하다' interacts with complex idiomatic expressions and can use it to create nuanced rhetorical effects. For a C2 learner, '덜하다' is not just a word for 'less,' but a precise instrument for calibrating the intensity of any given subject in a way that sounds perfectly natural and native-like, even in the most abstract or specialized discussions.

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덜하다 em 30 segundos

덜하다 is an adjective meaning 'to be less' in degree, intensity, or quality compared to a previous state or another object.
It is commonly used to describe the reduction of pain, weather conditions (cold/heat), or abstract burdens like stress.
Grammatically, it functions as a descriptive verb (adjective) and should not be confused with the adverb '덜'.
It often appears in the pattern '[Noun]이/가 덜하다' or '[A]보다 [B]이/가 덜하다' for comparisons.

The Korean word 덜하다 is a multifaceted adjective that primarily translates to 'to be less' or 'to be reduced.' At its core, it describes a state where the intensity, quantity, or quality of something is not as high as it could be or as it was previously. It is an essential word for expressing comparisons and changes in condition. Unlike the adverb '덜' (less), which modifies verbs or other adjectives, '덜하다' acts as the main predicate of a sentence.

Intensity Reduction: This is most commonly heard in medical or physical contexts. When a patient says their pain is '덜하다', they mean the sharp or heavy sensation has subsided to a more manageable level. It doesn't necessarily mean the pain is gone, but that the 'volume' of the sensation has been turned down.

약 덕분에 통증이 훨씬 덜하다.

Translation: Thanks to the medicine, the pain is much less.

Comparative Quality: In comparisons, it suggests that one thing lacks a certain degree of a quality compared to another. For example, if a room is 'less noisy' than the street, you would use this word. It often carries a slightly negative nuance when referring to performance or quality, implying something is 'not as good' as it should be.

Furthermore, '덜하다' is used in weather descriptions. When the sweltering heat of summer begins to break, Koreans say '더위가 덜하다'. This indicates a relief from the extreme. It is a word of degrees, focusing on the relative scale of experience. In a social context, it can describe a person's personality or behavior being less extreme or burdensome than expected. For instance, a task might be 'less difficult' (어려움이 덜하다) than initially feared. Understanding this word requires grasping the concept of a sliding scale of intensity.

Using 덜하다 correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as an adjective. It typically follows a noun that represents the quality or sensation being measured. The most common structure is [Noun]이/가 덜하다. When comparing two things, the structure [Noun A]보다 [Noun B]이/가 덜하다 is used, meaning 'B is less [quality] than A.'

Subject-Predicate Agreement: The subject of '덜하다' is usually an abstract noun like pain (통증), cold (추위), heat (더위), or noise (소음). You are describing the state of that noun. For example, '추위가 덜하다' literally means 'The cold is less.'

오늘은 어제보다 바람이 덜하다.

In more advanced usage, '덜하다' can be used as a modifier: '덜한 [Noun]'. For example, '덜한 고통' (lesser pain). It can also be combined with other grammar points like '~기 마련이다' (it is bound to be...) or '~ㄹ 리가 없다' (there is no way that...). For instance, '노력이 부족하면 성과가 덜하기 마련이다' (If effort is lacking, results are bound to be less). This shows its versatility in expressing logical consequences regarding degrees of outcome. When you want to emphasize that something is significantly less, you can add adverbs like '훨씬' (much) or '상당히' (considerably) before it.

You will encounter 덜하다 in a variety of daily scenarios in Korea, ranging from casual conversations to professional medical consultations. It is a word that bridges the gap between everyday speech and formal reporting.

At the Hospital: Doctors frequently ask, '통증이 좀 덜합니까?' (Is the pain a bit less?). Patients use it to describe their recovery progress. It is a key term in managing health expectations and reporting symptoms accurately.

어제보다는 붓기가 덜한 것 같아요.

Weather Forecasts: Meteorologists use this word to describe the easing of extreme weather conditions. '내일은 오늘보다 추위가 덜하겠습니다' (Tomorrow, the cold will be less than today). It provides a relative comparison that helps people plan their day.

In the workplace, you might hear it during project reviews. If a new system is implemented, a manager might say, '업무 부담이 예전보다 덜해졌습니다' (The work burden has become less than before). In shopping, if a product is slightly inferior to another but cheaper, a reviewer might say '품질은 좀 덜하지만 가성비가 좋습니다' (The quality is a bit less/inferior, but the cost-effectiveness is good). It is also common in discussions about social issues, such as saying '관심이 예전보다 덜하다' (Interest is less than before), reflecting a shift in public sentiment.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing the adverb 덜 with the adjective 덜하다. While they share the same root meaning of 'less,' their grammatical functions are entirely different.

Adverb vs. Adjective: '덜' is an adverb and must precede a verb or adjective (e.g., 덜 먹다 - to eat less). '덜하다' is an adjective and acts as the predicate (e.g., 배고픔이 덜하다 - hunger is less). You cannot say '배고픔이 덜' alone.

Incorrect: 매운 맛이 덜.
Correct: 매운 맛이 덜하다.

Another mistake is using '덜하다' when '적다' (to be few/little in quantity) is more appropriate. '덜하다' implies a reduction from a previous state or a comparison of intensity, whereas '적다' simply describes a small amount. For example, if you have a small amount of water, use '물이 적다'. If the amount of water is less than what was there before, you could say '양이다 덜하다' (though '줄어들다' is often better for physical volume). Lastly, learners sometimes forget that '덜하다' is a descriptive verb and try to conjugate it as an action verb (e.g., 덜하고 있다), which is incorrect in most contexts.

To truly master 덜하다, it is helpful to compare it with other words that express decrease or inferiority. Korean has a rich vocabulary for these nuances.

덜하다 vs. 줄어들다: '줄어들다' is an action verb meaning 'to shrink' or 'to decrease' in physical size or number. '덜하다' is a descriptive verb focusing on the state of being 'less' in intensity or quality. You use '줄어들다' for the population decreasing, but '덜하다' for the coldness decreasing.

인구가 줄어들다 (Population decreases) vs. 소음이 덜하다 (Noise is less/quieter).

덜하다 vs. 약하다: '약하다' means 'to be weak.' While a 'weak' pain (약한 통증) and 'less' pain (덜한 통증) are similar, '덜하다' specifically implies a comparison to a stronger state. '약하다' is an absolute description of strength.

Other related words include '완화되다' (to be eased/alleviated), which is more formal and often used in medical or policy contexts, and '못하다' (to be inferior), which is used when comparing skills or the quality of objects. For example, '동생이 형보다 공부가 덜하다' (The younger brother studies less/is less academic than the older) vs '동생이 형보다 공부를 못한다' (The younger brother is worse at studying than the older). '덜하다' is often perceived as a softer, more objective way to describe a lesser degree without necessarily implying failure or total absence.

How Formal Is It?

Nível de dificuldade

Gramática essencial

~보다 (than)

~어지다 (become)

~ㄴ 것 같다 (seems like)

~기 마련이다 (bound to)

~ㄴ 편이다 (tend to)

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Exemplos por nível

오늘은 추위가 덜해요.

Today the cold is less.

Present tense polite form.

매운 맛이 덜해요.

The spicy taste is less.

Describing a flavor.

이제 배가 덜 아파요.

My stomach hurts less now.

Describing physical pain.

소음이 덜해요.

The noise is less.

Describing an environment.

어제보다 바람이 덜해요.

The wind is less than yesterday.

Simple comparison with ~보다.

걱정이 덜해요.

The worry is less.

Describing an emotion.

이 옷은 무게가 덜해요.

This clothing weighs less.

Describing weight.

졸음이 덜해요.

The sleepiness is less.

Describing a physical state.

약간 덜한 것으로 주세요.

Please give me one that is a bit less (e.g., spicy/sweet).

Using 덜하다 as a noun modifier (~ㄴ 것).

버스를 타면 걷는 게 덜해요.

If you take the bus, the walking is less.

Conditional ~면.

이 방은 저 방보다 햇빛이 덜해요.

This room gets less sunlight than that room.

Comparative ~보다.

주말에는 평일보다 사람이 덜해요.

There are fewer people on weekends than on weekdays (in this specific place).

Describing crowd density.

비가 오니까 더위가 덜하네요.

Since it's raining, the heat is less.

Reasoning with ~니까.

새 신발이라 발의 피로가 덜해요.

Because they are new shoes, the foot fatigue is less.

Describing fatigue.

이 문제는 저 문제보다 어려움이 덜해요.

This problem is less difficult than that one.

Abstract noun '어려움'.

설탕을 넣으니 쓴맛이 덜해요.

Since I added sugar, the bitter taste is less.

Causal connector ~으니.

부모님과 함께 있으니 외로움이 덜하다.

Being with my parents, the loneliness is less.

Plain form in a journal-like sentence.

경험이 쌓이면 긴장감이 덜할 거예요.

As you gain experience, the nervousness will be less.

Future tense ~ㄹ 거예요.

이 제품은 소음이 덜해서 인기가 많아요.

This product is popular because it makes less noise.

Reasoning with ~해서.

예전만큼 열정이 덜한 것 같아 고민이에요.

I'm worried because it seems my passion is less than before.

Conjecture ~ㄴ 것 같다.

대도시보다는 시골이 공해의 정도가 덜하다.

The degree of pollution is less in the countryside than in big cities.

Formal comparison.

마스크를 쓰면 감기 걱정이 덜해요.

If you wear a mask, the worry about colds is less.

Practical advice.

수술 후에는 통증이 훨씬 덜해졌습니다.

After the surgery, the pain has become much less.

Change of state ~어지다.

이곳은 관광객의 발길이 덜한 곳입니다.

This is a place where tourists' visits are less frequent.

Modifier form ~ㄴ.

정부의 대책 발표 이후 시장의 혼란이 덜해졌다.

Market confusion has lessened since the government's announcement.

Formal past tense.

그는 실력은 좋지만 겸손함이 덜해서 아쉽다.

It's a pity that he is less humble despite his great skills.

Contrast with ~지만.

디지털 기기 사용으로 종이 소비가 덜할 줄 알았다.

I thought paper consumption would be less due to the use of digital devices.

Assumption ~ㄹ 줄 알았다.

환경 보호에 대한 인식이 예전보다 덜하지 않다.

Awareness of environmental protection is no less than before.

Double negative for emphasis.

이 영화는 전작에 비해 긴장감이 덜한 편이다.

This movie tends to have less tension compared to the previous one.

Tendency ~ㄴ 편이다.

비용 부담이 덜한 방향으로 계획을 수정합시다.

Let's revise the plan in a direction where the cost burden is less.

Suggestive ~읍시다.

사과를 하면 상대방의 화가 덜하기 마련이다.

If you apologize, the other person's anger is bound to be less.

Inevitable outcome ~기 마련이다.

그의 연기는 예전의 명성에 비해 감동이 덜했다.

His acting was less moving compared to his past reputation.

Critical comparison.

고전 문학에 대한 청년층의 관심이 덜해지는 추세이다.

There is a trend of decreasing interest in classical literature among the youth.

Describing a trend ~는 추세이다.

인간의 욕망은 채워질수록 덜하기는커녕 더해만 간다.

Far from lessening as they are filled, human desires only increase.

Contrastive ~기는커녕.

도시의 화려함 뒤에는 소외된 이들의 아픔이 덜하지 않다.

Behind the city's splendor, the pain of the marginalized is no less.

Social commentary.

이 이론은 실증적 근거가 덜하여 학계에서 비판을 받았다.

This theory was criticized in academia for having less empirical evidence.

Formal reason ~하여.

세월이 흐른다고 해서 그리움이 덜해지는 것은 아니다.

Just because time passes doesn't mean the longing becomes less.

Refuting a common belief ~ㄴ다고 해서 ... 것은 아니다.

작가는 인물의 내면 묘사에 치중하여 사건의 비중은 덜한 편이다.

The author focused on the characters' inner descriptions, so the weight of the events is relatively less.

Literary analysis.

규제가 완화되자 시장의 저항이 눈에 띄게 덜해졌다.

As regulations were relaxed, market resistance noticeably lessened.

Adverbial '눈에 띄게'.

그의 주장은 논리적 일관성이 덜하여 설득력이 떨어진다.

His argument lacks logical consistency, so its persuasiveness is low.

Formal cause and effect.

존재의 가벼움이 생의 무게를 덜어줄지언정 고뇌를 덜하지는 못한다.

While the lightness of being might ease the weight of life, it cannot lessen the anguish.

Philosophical contrast ~ㄹ지언정.

기술의 진보가 인간의 소외를 덜하기보다는 오히려 심화시키는 측면이 있다.

There is an aspect where technological progress intensifies rather than lessens human alienation.

Critical analysis ~기보다는 오히려.

법적 구속력이 덜한 권고 사항이라 하더라도 준수할 의무가 있다.

Even if it is a recommendation with less legal binding force, there is an obligation to comply.

Legal context ~라 하더라도.

예술적 성취가 대중적 인기보다 덜하다고 해서 그 가치가 폄하되어서는 안 된다.

Just because artistic achievement is less than popular popularity, its value should not be disparaged.

Ethical argument.

역사적 진실의 무게는 결코 덜하지 않으며, 우리는 이를 직시해야 한다.

The weight of historical truth is by no means less, and we must face it directly.

Emphatic '결코'.

언어의 장벽이 덜해질수록 문화적 융합은 가속화되기 마련이다.

As language barriers lessen, cultural fusion is bound to accelerate.

Proportional relationship ~ㄹ수록.

그의 문체는 수식어가 덜하여 오히려 담백하고 깊은 울림을 준다.

His writing style has fewer modifiers, making it plain yet deeply resonant.

Aesthetic description.

자본의 논리가 지배하는 사회에서 인간 존엄성의 가치는 덜해지기 쉽다.

In a society dominated by the logic of capital, the value of human dignity is prone to lessen.

Sociological observation ~기 쉽다.

Colocações comuns

통증이 덜하다 (pain is less)

추위가 덜하다 (cold is less)

더위가 덜하다 (heat is less)

소음이 덜하다 (noise is less)

부담이 덜하다 (burden is less)

걱정이 덜하다 (worry is less)

관심이 덜하다 (interest is less)

피로가 덜하다 (fatigue is less)

어려움이 덜하다 (difficulty is less)

무게가 덜하다 (weight is less)

Frases Comuns

어제보다 덜하다 (to be less than yesterday)

훨씬 덜하다 (to be much less)

생각보다 덜하다 (to be less than expected)

전보다 덜하다 (to be less than before)

덜한 곳 (a place that is less...)

덜하기 마련이다 (to be bound to be less)

덜하면 좋겠다 (I wish it were less)

조금 덜하다 (to be a little less)

상당히 덜하다 (to be considerably less)

눈에 띄게 덜하다 (to be noticeably less)

Frequentemente confundido com

덜하다 vs 덜 (adverb)

덜하다 vs 못하다 (inferiority/inability)

덜하다 vs 적다 (small quantity)

Expressões idiomáticas

"덜도 말고 더도 말고 (neither less nor more - exactly)"

"덜 된 사람 (an immature or incomplete person)"

"손이 덜 가다 (to require less work/effort)"

"말이 덜 나오다 (to be less talked about)"

"기가 덜 차다 (to be less dumbfounded/absurd)"

"맛이 덜 들다 (to be not fully ripened/flavored)"

"철이 덜 들다 (to be still immature)"

"빛이 덜 나다 (to be less shiny/impressive)"

"힘이 덜 들다 (to require less strength/effort)"

"눈치가 덜 보이다 (to feel less self-conscious)"

Fácil de confundir

덜하다 vs

Padrões de frases

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Como usar

nuance

It often implies a positive change when referring to something negative (like pain), but can be negative when referring to something positive (like passion).

comparison

Always implies a reference point, even if not explicitly stated.

Erros comuns

Using '덜' as a sentence ending.
Confusing '덜하다' with '줄어들다' for physical size.
Using '덜하다' to mean 'bad' (it only means 'less').
Incorrectly conjugating as a verb (덜한다).
Using it for countable objects without a quality noun.

Dicas

Pain Management

Use this word when talking to a doctor to describe how your symptoms are improving.

Adjective Rules

Remember not to use action verb endings like -는 중이다 with 덜하다.

Synonym Choice

Use '완화되다' for formal writing and '덜하다' for speaking.

Politeness

Saying '실력이 좀 덜하다' is a softer way to say someone isn't very good.

Climate

It's the most natural way to say the weather is getting milder.

Relative Scale

Always think about what you are comparing the current state to.

Root Word

Focus on the root '덜' which always means 'less' in Korean.

Natural Flow

Add '훨씬' (much) before it to sound more like a native speaker.

Topic Sentences

Use it in topic sentences to introduce a comparative analysis.

Context Clues

If you hear '덜하다', look for the noun before it to understand what is decreasing.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'Deol' as 'Dull'. When pain becomes 'Dull-hada', it is 'less' intense.

Origem da palavra

Native Korean

Contexto cultural

It is the standard way to report improvement in symptoms to elders or doctors.

Using '덜하다' can soften a negative comparison.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Iniciadores de conversa

"오늘 날씨가 어제보다 좀 덜한 것 같지 않아요? (Don't you think the weather is a bit less [cold/hot] than yesterday?)"

"매운 거 잘 못 드시면, 이건 매운 맛이 좀 덜해요. (If you can't eat spicy food well, this one is less spicy.)"

"요즘 업무 스트레스가 좀 덜해졌나요? (Has your work stress lessened lately?)"

"이 약 먹고 나서 통증이 좀 덜해요? (Is the pain a bit less after taking this medicine?)"

"새로 이사한 집은 소음이 좀 덜한가요? (Is the noise a bit less in your new house?)"

Temas para diário

최근에 걱정했던 일들 중 걱정이 덜해진 것이 있나요? (Is there anything you were worried about recently that you are now less worried about?)

어제와 오늘을 비교했을 때, 오늘 덜한 것은 무엇인가요? (Comparing yesterday and today, what is 'less' today?)

내가 예전보다 열정이 덜해진 분야가 있다면 무엇인가요? (Is there a field where your passion has become less than before?)

스트레스를 덜하기 위해 내가 할 수 있는 일은 무엇일까요? (What can I do to make my stress less?)

어떤 상황에서 '덜하다'라는 말을 가장 자주 쓰나요? (In what situations do you use the word '덜하다' most often?)

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

It is an adjective (descriptive verb) in Korean grammar because it describes a state rather than an action.

Yes, but usually to describe a quality of the person, like '그는 욕심이 덜하다' (He has less greed).

덜 is an adverb used before verbs/adjectives. 덜하다 is an adjective used as a predicate at the end of a sentence.

No, because it is an adjective, the plain form is '덜하다'.

You can say '점점 덜해지다'.

Usually, we use '싸다' (cheap) or '가격이 낮다' (price is low), but you could say '부담이 덜하다' regarding the price.

Yes, in phrases like '덜 된 음식' (undercooked food), it comes from the verb '덜 되다'.

It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Not always. If your 'enthusiasm' is 덜하다, that's usually not a good thing.

The direct opposite is '더하다' (to be more/worse).

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