Learn Hardcore Korean: saebyeok baedareun baedalbiga byeollo an ssa. - Delivery at dawn isn’t particularly cheap.

은/는 marks the topic. It frames what you’re talking about: “as for early-morning delivery.” It often implies contrast with other possibilities (e.g., regular daytime delivery). So the sentence sets up a topic and then comments on it.

Why are both 은 and 가 used (topic and subject) in the same sentence?

This is a very common topic–comment structure in Korean:

Topic: 새벽 배달은 (as for early-morning delivery)
Comment’s subject: 배달비가 (the delivery fee)
Predicate: 별로 안 싸 (is not particularly cheap) Korean frequently combines a topic-marked phrase with a subject-marked noun inside the comment.

Could I say 새벽 배달이 배달비가… instead?

No. Two subjects like that sound unnatural. If you want a possessive relationship, you could say:

새벽 배달의 배달비가 별로 안 싸요. (the delivery fee of early-morning delivery…) But the original topic–comment style (새벽 배달은 … 배달비가 …) is more idiomatic.

What’s the nuance difference between 안 싸 and 비싸다?

안 싸다 = “not cheap.” It’s softer and leaves room for “maybe it’s not super expensive, but it’s definitely not cheap.”
비싸다 = “expensive.” It’s more direct and stronger. Using 별로 안 싸 specifically adds “not particularly/especially cheap.”

How does 별로 work with negatives?

별로 means “particularly/especially” and, in standard Korean, it’s used with negation to mean “not particularly/very.” Examples:

별로 안 비싸요. = It’s not particularly expensive.
별로 안 멀어요. = It’s not very far. Using 별로 with an affirmative verb/adjective is generally nonstandard or very colloquial.

Where should 별로 go in the sentence?

Place 별로 right before the negative predicate phrase: 배달비가 별로 안 싸요. Don’t put it far from the verb/adjective, and don’t attach it to a noun (it’s an adverb).

Is 안 싸 polite? How would I make this more polite or formal?

안 싸 is intimate/casual. More polite:

별로 안 싸요. (polite informal)
별로 싸지 않아요. (slightly more formal, written-ish)
별로 싸지 않습니다. (formal polite)

Difference among 안 싸요, 싸지 않아요, and 싸진 않아요?

안 싸요: straightforward spoken negation, neutral.
싸지 않아요: same meaning, a bit more formal/literary.
싸진 않아요: adds -는 (topic/contrast) to the negation, implying contrast: “It isn’t cheap (though I’m not saying it’s extremely expensive).”

Could I say 새벽에 배달 instead of 새벽 배달?

They’re different:

새벽 배달: a compound noun, the service/type of delivery done at dawn (as a concept or category).
새벽에 배달(하다): “to deliver at dawn” in a sentence with the time particle -에. In this sentence we’re talking about the service category, so 새벽 배달 fits.

What’s the difference between 배달비, 배달료, and 배송비?

배달비: delivery fee (very common for food delivery and on-demand couriers).
배달료: also “delivery fee,” a bit more formal or sign-like; less common in everyday speech than 배달비.
배송비: shipping fee (e-commerce, parcel shipping/logistics). All can be fees, but 배송비 is strongly associated with parcels/online shopping, while 배달비 is the go-to for food and local delivery.

Is 별로 ever used without a negative?

In standard Korean, 별로 pairs with a negative. In casual speech, some people say things like 별로 좋아요 to mean “pretty good,” but this is nonstandard and can sound dialectal or slangy. For learners, stick to 별로 + negative.

Can particles be dropped here in casual speech?

Yes, in casual conversation you might hear something like:

새벽 배달, 배달비 별로 안 싸. Koreans often omit particles when context is clear. However, using 은 and 가 makes the structure clearer.

Any pronunciation tips and a romanization?

Romanization (RR): Saebyeok baedal-eun baedalbi-ga byeollo an ssa.
Tips:
- 별로 is pronounced close to “byeol-lo” (the ㄹ sounds link).
- 안 싸: pronounce as “an ssa” (the ㅆ is tense).
- Speak smoothly across word boundaries; in careful speech there’s no need to tensify the initial ㅂ of 배달 after 새벽.

Does 싸다 have other meanings I should watch out for?

Yes. 싸다 can mean:

“to be cheap” (adjective).
“to wrap” (verb).
Colloquially, “to poop/ejaculate” when used with certain objects (e.g., 똥을 싸다). In your sentence it’s clearly the adjective “cheap.” Avoid using 싸다 transitively with objects unless you mean “wrap” (e.g., 선물을 싸다) or the colloquial bodily-function meaning.

Could I soften the statement further?

Yes, you can hedge with expressions like:

새벽 배달은 배달비가 별로 싼 편은 아니에요. (It’s not exactly on the cheap side.)
새벽 배달은 배달비가 좀 안 싸요. (It’s kind of not cheap.)