Lesson 19
We have looked at how to say “more” and “most” in Korean in our previous lessons. Now in this lesson, let us take a look at how to say “less”.
덜 = less
While in English, the word “less” can be used as a noun as well as an adverb/adjective, the Korean word 덜 can only be used as an adverb (modifying verbs only).
Examples:
- 덜 먹다 = to eat (something) less
- 덜 쓰다 = to use (something) less
- 덜 춥다 = to be less cold
- 덜 비싸다 = to be less expensive
Sample phrases
- 어제보다 덜 추워요.
= It’s less cold than yesterday.
- 덜 비싼 것 없어요?
= Don’t you have a less expensive one?
- 물은 더 마시고, 술은 덜 마셔야 돼요.
= You should drink more water and less alcohol.
덜 can also mean “not completely yet”.
덜 basically means “less” but it can also mean “not fully” or “not completely yet”. And naturally, the opposite word is 다, which means “all” or “completely”.
(1)
A: 그 맥주 다 마셨어요?
Did you drink all of that beer?
B: 아니요. 다 안 마셨어요. 덜 마셨어요.
No, I didn’t drink all of it. I haven’t finished it yet.
(2)
A: 다 왔어요?
Are we there yet?
B: 덜 왔어요.
We are not there yet.
(3)
A: 제 책 돌려주세요.
Give me my book back.
B: 아직 덜 봤어요.
I haven’t finished it yet.