beoseuneun taeksiboda hwolssin ssayo.

The bus is much cheaper than the taxi.

Breakdown of beoseuneun taeksiboda hwolssin ssayo.

• ~는: topic particle
• 버스: bus
• 싸다: cheap
• 택시: taxi
• 훨씬: much
• ~보다: than

Questions & Answers about beoseuneun taeksiboda hwolssin ssayo.

Why is 는 attached to 버스 instead of 가?

는 is the topic marker, so 버스는 literally means “As for buses…” In comparison sentences, using 는 sets up what you’re talking about (buses) and often implies a contrast with the other item (taxis). You could technically say 버스가 택시보다 싸요, but 는 makes it a more general statement about buses in contrast to taxis.

What does 보다 in 택시보다 mean?

보다 is the comparative particle meaning “than.” It attaches to the noun you’re comparing against. So 택시보다 means “than a taxi.”

What is the role of 훨씬 in this sentence?

훨씬 is an adverb meaning “by far,” “much,” or “far more.” It intensifies the comparison, so 훨씬 싸요 means “is much cheaper.”

Can I use 더 instead of 훨씬?

Yes, you can say 더 싸요 (“cheaper”), but 훨씬 is stronger: “much cheaper.” Koreans sometimes even say 훨씬 더 싸요, but it’s a bit redundant since 훨씬 already includes the idea of “more.”

Why isn’t there a separate word for “much” inside the adjective 싸요?

In Korean, you intensify adjectives with separate adverbs (like 훨씬, 매우, 아주) rather than modifying the adjective stem itself. So rather than “싸-” + “much” inside the verb, you place 훨씬 before 싸요.

How do you get 싸요 from the dictionary form 싸다?

1. Take the adjective stem 싸-.
2. Because the final vowel is ㅏ, you add -아요 to form the polite present.
3. 싸 + 아요 = 싸요.

Why is the word order 버스는 택시보다 훨씬 싸요? Could it be different?

The typical structure for comparisons is:
1) [Topic] + 2) [Noun+보다] + 3) [Adverb] + 4) [Adjective/Verb].
That’s why 버스는 택시보다 comes first, then 훨씬, then 싸요. You could flip the two noun phrases: 택시보다 버스가 훨씬 싸요, which is also correct but uses 가 and shifts the emphasis: “Compared to a taxi, the bus is much cheaper.”

What politeness level is 싸요, and is it okay to use in everyday speech?

싸요 is informal polite (해요체), suitable for everyday conversation with strangers, colleagues, or acquaintances. If you need to be more formal (e.g. giving a public announcement), you’d use 쌉니다. For casual talk with friends, you might drop the 요 and say 싸.