Building Sentences: Comparison and Scope Particles
The Magic Toolbox of Comparison
Imagine you have a magic toolbox. Inside are special tools that help you compare things, set boundaries, and talk about groups. In Korean, these tools are tiny word endings called particles. Let’s open the toolbox and discover each one!
🔍 The Comparison Particle: 보다 (boda)
What Is It?
보다 is like saying “than” in English. It helps you compare two things.
Think of it like a seesaw. One side is heavier, taller, or faster than the other side.
How It Works
Put 보다 after the thing you are comparing to:
[Thing B]보다 [Thing A] is [adjective]
Examples
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 사과보다 바나나가 길어요 | Bananas are longer than apples |
| 고양이보다 강아지가 커요 | Dogs are bigger than cats |
| 어제보다 오늘 더워요 | Today is hotter than yesterday |
Quick Tip
The thing that comes before 보다 is the “loser” in the comparison. The thing that comes after is the “winner.”
graph TD A[사과보다] --> B[바나나가 길어요] A --> C["Apple is the comparison point"] B --> D["Banana wins - it's longer!"]
🪞 The Like/As Particle: 처럼 (cheoreom)
What Is It?
처럼 means “like” or “as.” It shows that something is similar to something else.
Think of it like looking in a mirror. You see something that looks like you!
How It Works
Put 처럼 after the thing you want to be similar to:
[Thing]처럼 [action or description]
Examples
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 새처럼 날고 싶어요 | I want to fly like a bird |
| 엄마처럼 요리해요 | I cook like mom |
| 아이처럼 웃어요 | I laugh like a child |
The Feeling
처럼 is about copying or resembling. When you say “새처럼,” you imagine yourself having bird-like qualities.
🔄 The Each Particle: 마다 (mada)
What Is It?
마다 means “every” or “each.” It shows that something happens to all items in a group, one by one.
Think of it like giving stickers to every kid in a classroom. Each kid gets one!
How It Works
Put 마다 after a time word or noun:
[Thing]마다 = every [thing]
Examples
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 날마다 운동해요 | I exercise every day |
| 사람마다 달라요 | Each person is different |
| 주마다 영화 봐요 | I watch a movie every week |
| 집마다 문이 있어요 | Every house has a door |
Visual
graph TD A[마다] --> B[날마다 = every day] A --> C[주마다 = every week] A --> D[사람마다 = each person] A --> E[집마다 = every house]
⏱️ The Until Particle: 까지 (kkaji)
What Is It?
까지 means “until,” “up to,” or “to.” It shows the ending point of something.
Think of it like a finish line in a race. You run until you reach it!
How It Works
Put 까지 after the ending point (time or place):
[End Point]까지 = until/to [end point]
Examples
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 5시까지 기다려요 | I wait until 5 o’clock |
| 서울까지 가요 | I go to Seoul |
| 끝까지 읽어요 | I read until the end |
| 여기까지 오세요 | Come up to here |
Bonus Meaning
까지 can also mean “even” when emphasizing something surprising:
- 아이까지 알아요 = Even children know it
🏁 The From Particle: 부터 (buteo)
What Is It?
부터 means “from” or “starting from.” It shows the beginning point of something.
Think of it like the starting line in a race. Everything begins from here!
How It Works
Put 부터 after the starting point:
[Start Point]부터 = from [start point]
Examples
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 9시부터 일해요 | I work from 9 o’clock |
| 여기부터 시작해요 | Let’s start from here |
| 월요일부터 공부해요 | I study from Monday |
| 처음부터 다시 해요 | I do it again from the beginning |
Pair Power: 부터 + 까지
These two particles are best friends. They work together to show a range:
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 9시부터 5시까지 일해요 | I work from 9 until 5 |
| 서울부터 부산까지 가요 | I go from Seoul to Busan |
| 1부터 10까지 세요 | Count from 1 to 10 |
graph LR A["9시부터"] --> B["일해요"] B --> C["5시까지"] A --> D["START"] C --> E["END"]
🎯 The Among Particle: 중에 (junge)
What Is It?
중에 means “among” or “out of.” It helps you pick one from a group.
Think of it like picking your favorite candy from a bowl. Among all the candies, you choose one!
How It Works
Put 중에 after the group:
[Group]중에 = among [group]
Examples
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 과일 중에 사과가 좋아요 | Among fruits, I like apples |
| 친구 중에 민수가 제일 커요 | Among friends, Minsu is the tallest |
| 이 중에 하나 골라요 | Pick one out of these |
| 우리 중에 누가 갈까요? | Among us, who will go? |
Common Pattern
중에 + 제일/가장 (most) = picking the best from a group:
- 색 중에 파란색이 제일 좋아요 = Among colors, blue is my favorite
🎁 Summary: Your Complete Toolbox
| Particle | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 보다 | than | 사과보다 커요 (bigger than apple) |
| 처럼 | like, as | 새처럼 날아요 (fly like a bird) |
| 마다 | every, each | 날마다 (every day) |
| 까지 | until, to | 5시까지 (until 5) |
| 부터 | from | 9시부터 (from 9) |
| 중에 | among | 친구 중에 (among friends) |
🌟 Remember This Story
Imagine you are a superhero!
- You are faster than (보다) a car
- You fly like (처럼) a bird
- You save people every (마다) day
- You work from (부터) morning until (까지) night
- Among (중에) all heroes, you are the best!
Now you have all the tools to compare, describe, and set boundaries in Korean. Go build amazing sentences!