보다 in Korean: “than”
보다
boda
than
Beginner · Particles
보다 (boda) means "than" and attaches to the thing you are comparing against: 어제보다 추워요 means "it's colder than yesterday." It is often paired with 더 (more), but 더 is optional. As a particle, it is written attached to the noun.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (any ending) | + 보다 | 커피 → 커피보다, 어제 → 어제보다 |
| With 더 (more) | + 보다 더 + adjective/verb | 저 → 저보다 더 커요 |
| Verb (doing something) | + 는 것보다 | 집에 있다 → 집에 있는 것보다 |
How to use it
보다 marks the thing being compared against, and the main topic usually takes 이/가 or 은/는: 형이 저보다 커요 (My brother is bigger than me).
더 (more) is often added for emphasis, but the comparison already works without it: 어제보다 추워요 and 어제보다 더 추워요 both mean "colder than yesterday."
생각보다 ("than I thought") is a very common chunk: 생각보다 쉬웠어요 (It was easier than I thought).
보다 has no politeness level. It also works in casual speech: 나보다 잘해 (You're better than me).
Examples
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Ordering at a cafe
Talking about the weather
Describing your family
After a test
Don’t mix it up with
처럼: 처럼 says two things are alike ("like"), while 보다 says one is more or less than the other ("than").
-아/어 보다: The verb 보다 means "to see" or, after -아/어, "to try." The particle 보다 attaches to a noun and means "than."
Common mistakes
Writing a space before the particle, as in 커피 보다. As a particle, 보다 is attached: 커피보다.
Questions learners ask
Do I need 더 with 보다?
No. 더 adds emphasis, but 보다 alone already makes a comparison.
How do I say "better than" in Korean?
Use 보다 with 낫다 (to be better): 이게 저것보다 나아요 (This is better than that).