Log inSign up

doseogwaneun sikdange bihae joyonghaeyo.

도서관은 식당에 비해 조용해요.doseogwaneun sikdange bihae joyonghaeyo.
The library is quieter than the restaurant.
FromLesson 22inHardcore Korean
……

Questions & Answers about doseogwaneun sikdange bihae joyonghaeyo.

Why is 도서관은 used instead of 도서관이?
은 is the topic marker. It tells the listener that you’re talking about the library as your topic. If you used 이, you’d be marking the library as the grammatical subject and focusing on an action it does. In comparative sentences, it’s more natural to set the first noun as the topic with 은/는.
Why do we say 식당에 비해 instead of just 식당 비해?
비하다 means “to compare.” When you compare to something, you attach the particle 에 to that thing. So 식당에 비해(서) literally means “compared to the restaurant.” You can optionally add 서 to make 비해서, but dropping 서 is common in everyday speech.
What’s the difference between 에 비해 and 보다 for comparisons?

Both express “than” or “compared to,” but they differ slightly in tone:

  • 보다 is the more basic, everyday way:
    • 도서관은 식당보다 조용해요.
  • 에 비해(서) sounds a bit more formal or literary:
    • 도서관은 식당에 비해 조용해요.
Can I add 더 (“more”) in this sentence?

Yes. 더 emphasizes “more.” For example:
• 도서관은 식당보다 더 조용해요.
• 도서관은 식당에 비해 더 조용해요.
With 보다, adding 더 is very common. With 에 비해, you can still use 더 for extra emphasis, though it’s not always necessary.

Why is the adjective 조용해요 instead of 조용이다?

In Korean, adjectives (descriptive verbs) conjugate like verbs. The dictionary form is 조용하다. To make it polite present tense, you:

  1. Remove 다 → 조용하
  2. Add ~ㅐ요 → 조용해요
Could I say 도서관은 식당에 비해서 조용해요?

Absolutely. 비해서 (with 서) is the verb ending form of 비해. Both are correct:
• 도서관은 식당에 비해 조용해요.
• 도서관은 식당에 비해서 조용해요.

What does adding 는 after 비해서 do (i.e., 비해서는)?

Adding 는 after 비해서 shifts focus and contrast even more onto the comparison clause:
• 도서관은 식당에 비해서는 조용해요.
It’s like saying “as for compared to restaurants, the library is quiet,” emphasizing that particular comparison.

Is the word order in 도서관은 식당에 비해 조용해요 fixed?

Korean allows some flexibility, but the natural flow here is:

  1. Topic (도서관은)
  2. Comparison target (식당에 비해)
  3. Predicate (조용해요)
    You can swap (2) and (1) for nuance, but keep the predicate at the end for clarity.
Can we drop the particles and say 도서관 식당에 비해 조용해요?
In very casual spoken Korean, some particles might be dropped, but in polite or written Korean you should keep 은 (and 에) to sound natural and clear. Dropping them can make the sentence feel incomplete.

More from this lesson

botongjeoneun botong achime yogareul haeyo.haruharue chaegeul han gwon ilgeoyo.beonnaneun botong harue du beon keopireul masyeo.ppareugekyeoda
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How do speech levels work in Korean?”
Korean has multiple speech levels that indicate formality and politeness. The most common are the formal polite (‑습니다/‑ㅂ니다), informal polite (‑아요/‑어요), and casual (‑아/‑어) forms. Which level you use depends on who you're speaking to and the social context.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Korean

Master Korean — from doseogwaneun sikdange bihae joyonghaeyo to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Korean freeBrowse the full course