🟠 Comparing Two Things in Korean (보다, 만큼) – Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–4)
.jpg "⚖️ Comparing Two Things in Korean (보다 vs 만큼) — Intermediate (TOPIK 3–4)")
⚖️ Comparing Two Things in Korean (보다 vs 만큼) — Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–4)
Do you freeze when you want to say “more than” or “as much as” in Korean? With two tiny words—보다 and 만큼—you can compare cities, food, friends, even your “glow up” since last year.
이 글에서는 보다와 만큼의 차이를 예문과 대화, 퀴즈로 연습하면서 “더 ~하다”와 “~만큼 ~하다”를 자연스럽게 말하는 법을 익혀 봅시다.
🎯 Learning Goal
- Understand the difference between 보다 (“more than”) and 만큼 (“as much as”).
- Use clear patterns to compare people, cities, food, and experiences.
- Express equality and inequality smoothly in everyday conversations.
- Upgrade grammar accuracy for TOPIK 3–4 speaking and writing tasks.
📑 Table of Contents (open/close)
🧩 Key Vocabulary for Comparisons
| Word (KR) | RR | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 보다 | boda | than, compared to |
| 만큼 | mankeum | as much as, as ~ as |
| 훨씬 더 | hweolssin deo | much more |
| 덜 ~하다 | deol ~hada | to be less ~ |
| 인구 | ingu | population |
| 바닷가 | badatga | beach, seaside |
| 매력 | maeryeok | charm, attractiveness |
Tip: When you learn a new comparison word, immediately connect it to one real city/food/person in your life.
📘 Grammar Point — 보다 vs 만큼
1) A보다 B가 더 ~하다 → “B is more ~ than A”
- 서울보다 부산이 덜 복잡해요.
Busan is less complicated than Seoul. - 이 카페가 저 카페보다 훨씬 더 조용해요.
This café is much more quiet than that café.
2) A만큼 B도 ~하다 → “B is as ~ as A” (same level)
- 저는 언니만큼 키가 커요.
I am as tall as my older sister. - 부산도 서울만큼 유명해요.
Busan is as famous as Seoul.
3) 핵심 차이
- 보다 = “different level” → more / less than
- 만큼 = “same level” → as ~ as
✨ Useful Expressions (Everyday Comparisons)
- 오늘이 어제보다 더 따뜻해요.
Oneuli eoje-boda deo ttatteutaeyo. — Today is warmer than yesterday. - 이 영화가 생각한 것만큼 재미있지 않아요.
I yeonghwaga saenggakan geot-mankeum jaemiitji anayo. — This movie isn’t as fun as I expected. - 한국 음식은 생각보다 덜 맵네요.
Hanguk eumsigeun saenggak-boda deol maemnyeo. — Korean food is less spicy than I thought. - 제 친구는 연예인만큼 SNS가 유명해요.
Je chinguneun yeonyein-mankeum eseu-en-eseuga yumyeonghaeyo. — My friend’s SNS is as famous as a celebrity’s.
📖 Reading Passage & Mini Glossary
지문 (Korean):
서울은 부산보다 인구가 많지만, 부산도 서울만큼 바닷가가 아름답습니다. 두 도시는 각각의 매력을 가지고 있어서 비교하기 어렵지만, 여행자들은 보통 바다를 즐기고 싶으면 부산을 선택합니다.
Translation (English):
Seoul has a larger population than Busan, but Busan’s beaches are just as beautiful as Seoul’s. Both cities have their own charm, so it’s hard to compare, but travelers usually choose Busan if they want to enjoy the sea.
어휘/표현 정리:
- 인구 — population
- 바닷가 — beach, seaside
- 매력 — charm, attractiveness
- 비교하다 — to compare
🌀 Say What? — Comparing in MZ-style Korean
한국어:
MZ세대는 비교할 때도 줄임말이나 새로운 표현을 많이 씁니다. 예를 들어 “갓생”은 ‘신처럼 사는 삶’을 뜻하며, “작년보다 갓생 산다”라고 말하면 작년보다 더 열심히 산다는 의미가 됩니다. 또 영어 표현 “glow up”은 한국어로 “확 달라졌다” 또는 “엄청 발전했다”라고 표현할 수 있습니다.
English:
The MZ generation in Korea loves using slang even when comparing. For example, “갓생” literally means “a god-like life” and describes living very diligently. Saying “작년보다 갓생 산다” means “I’m living more diligently than last year.” The English slang “glow up” can be translated as “확 달라졌다” or “엄청 발전했다”, focusing on noticeable improvement.
👩🏫 Teacher’s Tips
한국어:
학습자들이 자주 하는 실수는 만큼과 보다를 같은 의미로 쓰는 것입니다. 만큼은 “같은 정도”, 보다는 “더 ~한” 비교를 나타냅니다.
예) 사과만큼 달아요 → 사과와 같은 정도로 달다
예) 사과보다 달아요 → 사과보다 더 달다
English:
A common mistake is using 만큼 and 보다 as if they were the same. Remember:
만큼 = “as much as” (equality)
보다 = “more/less than” (difference).
Quick check: If you mean “same level,” use 만큼. If you mean “different level,” use 보다.
🙋 Practice Dialogue (Seoul vs Busan)
A: 서울이 부산보다 더 큰 도시예요?
RR: Seouri Busan-boda deo keun dosi-yeyo?
EN: Is Seoul a bigger city than Busan?
B: 네, 인구는 서울이 더 많아요.
RR: Ne, inguneun Seouri deo manayo.
EN: Yes, Seoul has a larger population.
A: 하지만 부산도 서울만큼 아름답죠?
RR: Hajiman Busando Seoul-mankeum areumdapjyo?
EN: But Busan is just as beautiful as Seoul, right?
B: 맞아요. 특히 바닷가는 부산이 훨씬 더 좋아요.
RR: Majayo. Teukhi badatganeun Busani hweolssin deo joayo.
EN: That’s right. Especially the beaches are much better in Busan.
📝 Pop Quiz
1. Translate into Korean:
“Busan is more relaxed than Seoul.”
Show answer
부산은 서울보다 더 여유로워요.
2. Translate into Korean:
“This café is as popular as that café.”
Show answer
이 카페는 저 카페만큼 인기가 있어요.
3. Fill in the blank (보다 / 만큼):
“My house is bigger ______ yours.”
Show answer
보다 → My house is bigger than yours.
🌏 Did You Know?
Korea’s baseball culture is famous for its unique cheering style. Fans sing, dance, and use personalized chants for each player, making the stadium feel almost like a concert.
If you love comparing cultures, try describing a K-baseball game 보다 your home country’s games using today’s patterns.
✍️ It’s Your Turn
- Write 2 sentences using 보다 to compare cities, foods, or hobbies.
- Write 2 sentences using 만큼 to show “same level.”
- Bonus: Try one MZ-style sentence like “작년보다 갓생 살고 있어요.”
Share your best sentence in the comments so you can check if you chose 보다 or 만큼 correctly.
🎓 italki Lesson
Want to check your comparisons in real time?
Book a 1:1 lesson and practice 보다/만큼 with your own stories about travel, work, and daily life. We’ll fix small mistakes before they become habits.
💬 Stay connected for new updates: bookmark this post, share it with a friend learning Korean, and comment one sentence using 보다 or 만큼 you’re proud of.
Your comment helps other learners compare, learn, and grow with you.
