Learn Hardcore Korean: doseogwani sikdangboda joyonghaeyo. - The library is quieter than the restaurant.

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. 조용합니다 is the formal (deferential) form, used in announcements or very polite contexts. Both convey the same meaning (“is quieter”).

Can I reverse the order and say 식당보다 도서관이 조용해요?

Yes. 식당보다 도서관이 조용해요 is perfectly natural and still means “The library is quieter than the restaurant.” It just emphasizes 식당보다 (“than the restaurant”) first, then states the subject 도서관이.

How would I say “The restaurant is noisier than the library” in Korean?

You flip the comparison and choose the opposite adjective:
• 식당이 도서관보다 시끄러워요.
Here 시끄럽다 means “to be noisy,” and it’s conjugated politely as 시끄러워요.

Could I use a superlative like “quietest” with this structure?

For superlatives, you’d use 가장 (“most”) before the adjective and drop -보다:
• 도서관이 가장 조용해요. → “The library is the quietest.”

Is the word order flexible in Korean comparisons?

Yes, Korean word order is relatively flexible because of the particles. The key is that the thing you’re comparing gets -보다, and the subject gets 이/가. You can reorder as long as you keep 식당보다 and 도서관이 attached to the right particles.