doseogwani sikdangboda joyonghaeyo.

subject particle

Breakdown of doseogwani sikdangboda joyonghaeyo.

• 도서관: library
• 식당: restaurant
• 조용하다: quiet

Questions & Answers about doseogwani sikdangboda joyonghaeyo.

Why is 도서관이 used instead of 도서관은 in this sentence?

In Korean, 이/가 is the subject marker and often highlights the new or focused information—here, that the library is quieter. 은/는 is the topic marker and can imply contrast or general topic. You could say 도서관은 식당보다 조용해요, but that version with 은 might sound like you’re contrasting the library with something else previously mentioned, not just making a simple comparison.

What does -보다 mean in 식당보다?

-보다 is the comparative suffix meaning “than.” When you attach it to 식당 (“restaurant”), 식당보다 means “than the restaurant.” The structure is [A]보다 [B]이/가 [adjective] → “B is [adjective] compared to A.”

Why is there no 더 (“more”) before 조용해요? Can I add it?

You don’t have to use 더 because -보다 already signals the comparative. If you say 도서관이 식당보다 더 조용해요, it’s grammatically fine but a bit redundant—더 literally means “more,” so you’d be saying “more quieter.” Most Koreans omit 더 in this pattern.

Why is 조용하다 conjugated as 조용해요 instead of 조용합니다?

Korean has multiple politeness levels. 조용해요 is the polite (honorific) informal form, common in daily speech. is the formal (deferential) form, used in announcements or very polite contexts. Both convey the same meaning (“is quieter”).