Comparison Particles (보다, 처럼/같이, 만큼)

Quick Reference

• 보다: "than" (comparative - X is more than Y)
• 처럼/같이: "like" (similarity - X is similar to Y)
• 만큼: "as much as" (equality - X equals Y in degree)
• All attach directly to nouns without 받침 distinctions
• Position: comes after the noun being compared to (not the subject)

Detailed Explanation

보다 (Than)

Used for comparisons showing difference or superiority.

Formation: - Noun + 보다 - No 받침 distinction

Meaning: - "More than X" - "Compared to X" - Subject is greater/lesser than the noun with 보다

Structure:

[Comparison standard] + 보다 + [Subject] + 이/가 + [Adjective/Verb]
형보다 제가 키가 커요. (I am taller than my older brother.)

Examples:

어제보다 (than yesterday)
형보다 (than older brother)
이것보다 (than this)
작년보다 (than last year)

처럼/같이 (Like)

Used to show similarity or likeness.

Formation: - Noun + 처럼 or Noun + 같이 - No 받침 distinction - 처럼 and 같이 are interchangeable in most contexts

Meaning: - "Like X" - "As X does" - "Similar to X"

Nuance difference: - 처럼: Slightly more formal, emphasizes resemblance - 같이: Can also mean "together" (context-dependent)

Examples:

천사처럼 (like an angel)
친구같이 (like a friend)
예전처럼 (like before)
선생님같이 (like a teacher)

Note on 같이: The word 같이 can mean both "like" (comparison) and "together" (accompaniment) depending on context.

친구같이 행동해요. (Acts like a friend.) - comparison
친구같이 갔어요. (Went together with friend.) - accompaniment

To avoid confusion, use 처럼 for comparisons or use 친구와 같이 (together with friend) for accompaniment.

만큼 (As Much As)

Used to show equal degree or extent.

Formation: - Noun + 만큼 - No 받침 distinction

Meaning: - "As much as X" - "To the extent of X" - "Equal to X in degree" - Indicates subject matches the comparison standard

Examples:

형만큼 (as much as older brother)
예전만큼 (as much as before)
기대만큼 (as much as expected)
그만큼 (that much, to that extent)

Usage note: Often implies "at least as much" or "to that degree."

Comparison Summary

Particle	Meaning	Relationship	Example
보다	than	Difference/superiority	형보다 커요 (taller than brother)
처럼/같이	like	Similarity	형처럼 커요 (tall like brother)
만큼	as much as	Equality	형만큼 커요 (as tall as brother)

Sentence Structure

보다 structure:

[Standard] + 보다 + [Subject] + Adjective
어제보다 오늘이 더워요. (Today is hotter than yesterday.)

처럼/같이 structure:

[Comparison] + 처럼/같이 + Verb/Adjective
천사처럼 예뻐요. (Pretty like an angel.)

만큼 structure:

[Standard] + 만큼 + [Subject] + Adjective
형만큼 키가 커요. (As tall as older brother.)

Using 더 (More) with 보다

The word 더 (more) is often used with 보다 for emphasis, though it's optional.

Examples: - 어제보다 오늘이 (더) 추워요. (Today is [more] cold than yesterday.) - 형보다 제가 (더) 빨라요. (I am [more] fast than my older brother.)

When to Use

보다 (Comparative): - Comparing two specific things - Showing superiority or inferiority - "Which is better/bigger/more?" - Expressing preference

처럼/같이 (Similarity): - Describing someone/something using comparison - Similes and metaphors - "Behaving like," "looks like" - Showing resemblance

만큼 (Equality): - Showing equal degree - "As [adjective] as" - Meeting expectations - Proportional relationships

Examples

보다 (Than): - 형보다 동생이 키가 커요. (The younger sibling is taller than the older brother.) - 어제보다 오늘이 더 바빠요. (Today is busier than yesterday.) - 한국어는 영어보다 어려워요. (Korean is harder than English.) - 버스보다 지하철이 빨라요. (The subway is faster than the bus.) - 작년보다 올해가 좋아요. (This year is better than last year.)

처럼/같이 (Like): - 그는 천사처럼 착해요. (He's kind like an angel.) - 언니같이 예뻐요. (Pretty like an older sister.) - 예전처럼 행복해요. (Happy like before.) - 어린아이처럼 행동해요. (Acts like a young child.) - 친구같이 편해요. (Comfortable like a friend.)

만큼 (As Much As): - 형만큼 키가 커요. (I'm as tall as my older brother.) - 예상만큼 어렵지 않아요. (It's not as difficult as expected.) - 그만큼 열심히 공부했어요. (I studied hard to that extent.) - 오빠만큼 똑똑해요. (Smart as my older brother.) - 기대만큼 재미있어요. (It's as fun as expected.)

Dialogue:

A: 서울이 부산보다 커요?
B: 네, 서울이 훨씬 더 커요.
A: 날씨는 어때요?
B: 서울은 부산만큼 따뜻하지 않아요.
A: 사람들은요?
B: 부산 사람들은 서울 사람들처럼 바쁘지 않아요.

A: Is Seoul bigger than Busan?
B: Yes, Seoul is much bigger.
A: How's the weather?
B: Seoul isn't as warm as Busan.
A: What about the people?
B: Busan people aren't as busy as Seoul people.

More examples:

보다 + 더:
- 이 가방이 저것보다 더 비싸요. (This bag is more expensive than that one.)
- 오늘이 어제보다 더 춥네요. (Today is colder than yesterday.)

처럼:
- 너는 연예인처럼 예뻐. (You're pretty like a celebrity.)
- 그 사람은 선생님처럼 가르쳐요. (That person teaches like a teacher.)

만큼:
- 노력한 만큼 결과가 나와요. (Results come out as much as you try.)
- 먹은 만큼 운동해야 해요. (You should exercise as much as you eat.)

Combining comparisons:

형만큼 크고 싶어요. (I want to be as big as my older brother.)
- Expresses desire for equality

형보다 더 크고 싶어요. (I want to be bigger than my older brother.)
- Expresses desire for superiority

형처럼 되고 싶어요. (I want to become like my older brother.)
- Expresses desire for similarity

Practice

1. Complete: 이 책은 저 책 ______ 재미있어요. (This book is more interesting than that book.)

2. Complete: 천사 ______ 예뻐요. (Pretty like an angel.)

3. Complete: 형 ______ 키가 커요. (As tall as older brother.)

4. Which particle shows equality: (a) 보다 (b) 처럼 (c) 만큼?

5. Translate: The subway is faster than the bus.

6. Complete: 예전 ______ 행복하지 않아요. (Not as happy as before.) [equality comparison]

7. Translate: He acts like a child.

8. Complete: 오늘은 어제 ______ 더 추워요. (Today is colder than yesterday.)

9. Create a sentence using 처럼 to compare someone to an animal or object.

10. Create three sentences comparing two things using 보다, 처럼/같이, and 만큼.

Show Answers

1. 보다 2. 처럼 or 같이 3. 만큼 4. (c) 만큼 5. 지하철은 버스보다 빨라요. With 더: 지하철은 버스보다 더 빨라요. 6. 만큼 7. 그는 어린아이처럼 행동해요. Alternative: 아이같이 행동해요. 8. 보다 9. Example answers: - 고양이처럼 조용해요. (Quiet like a cat.) - 사자같이 용감해요. (Brave like a lion.) - 꽃처럼 예뻐요. (Pretty like a flower.) - 토끼같이 빨라요. (Fast like a rabbit.) 10. Example answers: Using 보다: - 커피는 차보다 진해요. (Coffee is stronger than tea.) Using 처럼/같이: - 그 가수는 천사처럼 노래해요. (That singer sings like an angel.) Using 만큼: - 저는 친구만큼 열심히 공부해요. (I study as hard as my friend.) Another set: - 여름이 봄보다 더워요. (Summer is hotter than spring.) - 동생은 인형같이 귀여워요. (My younger sibling is cute like a doll.) - 이 음식은 기대만큼 맛있어요. (This food is as delicious as expected.)