Lesson 19 · N보다 & N처럼: Than and Like
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean Grammar Class · Lesson 19
N보다 & N처럼: Than and Like
Compare degree with N보다 and describe likeness with N처럼, using clear reference points, dialogues, and practice answers.
Introduction & Review
You can say 이 가방은 싸요. To say which bag is cheaper, add a reference: 이 가방은 저 가방보다 싸요. To describe a similar manner, use 처럼: 친구처럼 한국어를 공부해요. Today, N means a noun. 보다 marks the comparison reference, while 처럼 marks the model of a similar appearance, state, or manner.
Today’s Grammar
Model N + 처럼
Attach either particle directly to the noun. There is no consonant/vowel change: 친구보다 / 학교보다; 친구처럼 / 가수처럼. The two particles have different meanings even though English may translate both as part of a comparison. 가수 = singer, used as a simple model in today’s examples.
1 · N보다: Than
The noun with 보다 is the reference, not necessarily the thing that is greater: 친구보다 means than my friend. 더 makes “more” explicit, but a clear comparison can omit it. A feature such as price, height, length, or weight tells the listener what you are comparing. These are practice situations, not universal facts about every journey or product.
2 · N처럼: Like a Model
처럼 expresses likeness in the relevant action or quality. It does not claim that two things are identical in every way. 노래해요 = sing, reviewed from the activities theme. In 친구처럼 공부해요, you study in a similar way; to mean studying together, use 친구와 공부해요.
Compare the Meaning
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 친구보다 키가 커요. | Taller than my friend: a difference in degree. |
| 친구처럼 공부해요. | Study like my friend: a similar manner. |
| 이 가방이 저 가방보다 더 가벼워요. | This bag has less weight than the reference bag. |
| 이 가방이 저 가방처럼 가벼워요. | This bag shares the quality of being light with the model bag. |
Hyeju’s Note · Point to the Reference
Touch or point to the noun with 보다 first: 저 가방보다. Then describe the other bag. This helps keep “A is cheaper than B” from becoming “B is cheaper than A.” The main verb 보다 means see/watch in 영화를 봐요; the particle 보다 in 가방보다 has a different role.
Mini Dialogue
A: 어느 가방이 더 싸요?
eoneu gabangi deo ssayo · Which bag is cheaper?
B: 이 가방이 저 가방보다 더 싸요.
i gabangi jeo gabangboda deo ssayo · This bag is cheaper than that bag over there.
A: 가벼워요?
gabyeowoyo · Is it light?
B: 네, 저 가방처럼 가벼워요.
ne, jeo gabangcheoreom gabyeowoyo · Yes, it is light like that bag over there.
어느 means which before a noun. 어느 가방 asks you to choose among bags; 더 is optional in the answer when the comparison is clear.
Compare with similar grammar
RELATED PATTERN
제일 / 가장
우리 반에서 민수가 제일 커요.보다 compares two things. 제일 (or 가장) picks the top of a group: “the most”.
RELATED PATTERN
N같이
꽃같이 예뻐요.N같이 means the same as N처럼: “like N”.
LESSON 48
A-(으)ㄴ N
저보다 키가 큰 동생이 있어요.A 보다 phrase can also describe a noun: 저보다 키가 큰 동생 (a sibling taller than me).
Look ahead: Lesson 48 →LESSON 68
A-게
선수처럼 빠르게 달려요.처럼 compares with a noun (“like an athlete”). -게 turns an adjective into “how”: 빠르게.
Look ahead: Lesson 68 →| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 보다 | than | 커피보다 차가 좋아요 |
| 처럼 | like, as … as | 아이처럼 웃어요 |
| 같이 | like (= 처럼) | 꽃같이 예뻐요 |
| 제일 | the most | 이게 제일 싸요 |
Common mistakes
To say this bag is cheaper than that one, write 이 가방이 저 가방보다 싸요. Reversing the nouns reverses the claim.
친구처럼 공부해요 means study like a friend, not necessarily study together with a friend. Write 가방보다 and 친구처럼 without spaces before the particles. Do not use 처럼 when you mean “more than.”
보다 goes right after the thing you compare with: 어제보다 (than yesterday).
보다 and 처럼 attach with no space.
좋아하다 (to like) takes 을/를. (차가 좋아요 also works with 좋다.)
Don’t mix 보다 (two things) with 제일 (top of a group).
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank기차가 버스___ 빨라요.
Check answer
기차가 버스보다 빨라요.
Comparing two things → 버스보다. “The train is faster than the bus.”
- Fill in the blank그 사람은 한국 사람___ 한국어를 잘해요.
Check answer
그 사람은 한국 사람처럼 한국어를 잘해요.
“Like a Korean” → 한국 사람처럼.
- Choose the correct form저는 여름(보다 / 처럼) 겨울을 더 좋아해요.
Check answer
보다
You like winter more than summer, so it’s a comparison: 여름보다.
- Choose the better form10월인데 오늘은 봄(보다 / 처럼) 따뜻해요.
Check answer
처럼
It’s October, but today is warm “like spring”: 봄처럼.
- Find and fix the mistake지하철이 보다 택시 빨라요.
Check answer
지하철이 택시보다 빨라요.
보다 goes right after the thing you compare with: 택시보다.
- Say it in KoreanMy older brother is taller than me.
Check answer
형이 저보다 키가 커요.
저보다 = than me. A female speaker would say 오빠.
Today’s Key Point
N보다 identifies the reference for a difference: than.
N처럼 identifies a model for likeness: like.
Keep the reference and the described subject in the right order.
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