‘더’ and ‘보다 더’ in Korean grammar: ‘more’, ‘more than’

- Author: Niya (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Editor: Good Job Korean team 

 ‘더’ simply means ‘more’ in Korean, and it is an adverb so it describes verb, adjective, or adverb.

 ‘더’ + verb/adjective/adverb: More

 Ex)

 비싸다 (to be expensive) -> 더 비싸다 (to be more expensive)

 잘생기다 (to be handsome) -> 더 잘생기다 (to be more handsome)

 예쁘다 (to be pretty) -> 더 예쁘다 (to be prettier)

 크다 (to be big) -> 더 크다 (to be bigger)

 *NOTE

 As 더 is an adverb, it cannot describe a noun unlike the English word ‘more’. For example, in order to say ‘more money’, we need another adjective such as ‘많은’ in Korean. 

 더 돈 (x)

 더 많은 돈 (O)

 *돈: money    *많은: a lot (adjective)

 [Noun] + 보다 더: More than, Compare to 

 보다 can be translated as the English words ‘Than’ or ‘Compare to’, so 보다(than) and 더(more) are normally used together. In this case, 보다 더’ word order is opposite to the English ‘More than’. So you have to pay attention in order to not be confused.

 [NOUN] + 보다 더

 More than + [NOUN]

 Let’s check some example sentences!

 Ex)

 사과보다 더 커요.

 It is bigger than an apple.

 *사과: apple   *크다: to big

 돈보다 더 중요해요.

 It is more important than money.

 *돈: money   *중요하다: to be important

 Note:

 One interesting part you can drop ‘더’ and it means the same, because ‘보다’ itself can mean ‘compare to’ or ‘more than’.

 Ex)

 오늘은 어제보다 더 더워요.

 오늘은 어제보다 더워요.

 Today is hotter than yesterday. (Today is hot compared to yesterday)

 *오늘: today   *어제: yesterday   *덥다: to be hot (weather)

 저는 고기보다 야채를 더 좋아해요.

 저는 고기보다 야채를 좋아해요.

 I like meats more than vegetables.

 *저: I (polite speech)   *고기: meat   *야채: vegetable   *좋아하다: to like

 Example sentences of ‘보다 더’

 오늘보다 어제가 더 피곤했어요.

 I was more tired yesterday than today.

 오늘: today   *어제: yesterday   *피곤하다: to be tired

 커피를 차보다 더 좋아해요.

 I like coffee more than tea.

 *커피: coffee   *차: tea   *좋아하다: to like

 내일은 오늘보다 추울 거예요.

 Tomorrow will be colder than today.

 *내일: tomorrow    *춥다: to be cold

 차보다 비행기가 더 빨라요. 

 Airplane is faster than a car.

 *차: car   *비행기: airplane   *빠르다: to be fast

- Author: Niya (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Editor: Good Job Korean team