보다 is a verb meaning "see," "watch," or "look." However, when it is used in the expression "아/어/여 보다," it can show some other meanings! I'll show you two different meanings of V아/어/여 보다 with examples. You can also download the free worksheet!
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1. The Meanings of "V아/어/여 보다"
아/어/여 보다 has two meanings. It is used to show an experience or suggest trying an action. It is attached to a verb stem only and can't be attached to adjectives. Since it has two distinct meanings, I will explain each one.
1. Suggest trying: Give it a try
It refers to trying an action that one has not tried before. It is commonly used to give recommendations or suggestions. In this scenario, it is employed in the present tense. You can say "아/어/여 봐요." or in the command form as "아/어/여 보세요." Its English equivalent is "Try Ving."
한국에 가 봐요. Try visiting Korea.
이것 좀 먹어 보세요. Please try eating this.
2. Experience: have p.p.
The past tense expression "아/어/여 봤어요" is utilized to indicate that you have had an experience in the past, particularly when discussing a special experience like a trip or a unique hobby. It is not suitable for describing something that typically occurs.
저는 한국에 가 봤어요. I've been to Korea.
(X) 저는 밥을 먹어 봤어요. I've eaten (food). - Unless you are a robot who doesn't need to eat at all, it will be an awkward sentence...
저는 개구리 다리를 먹어 봤어요. I've had frog legs before. - You can mention this because it's not a common experience.
2. Conjugation Information
The expression 아/어/여 보다 consists of two parts; 아/어/여 and 보다. There is a space between the two parts.
A. 아/어/여 part
The key to conjugating this part is the last vowel of the stem, just like the informal present tense conjugation rules. Before, you've learned to use 아요, 어요, or 여요 to make the present tense depending on the last vowel.
Here, you can erase 요 and just use 아/어/여 with the same rules. If you want to see the step-by-step conjugating rules, please click here.
1. ㅏ, ㅗ verbs: + 아 보다
If the last syllable of a stem is ㅏ or ㅗ add 아 보다.
가다 to go → 가 보다
찾다 to find → 찾아 보다
오다to come → 와 보다
만나다 to meet → 만나 보다
2. 하다 verbs: +여 보다 → 하여 보다 → 해 보다
If the verb ends with 하다, you were supposed to add 여 보다 to the stem 하. But 하여 보다 is shortened to 해 보다 in modern Korean.
전화하다 to make a phone call → 전화해 보다
도전하다 to challenge → 도전해 보다
시작하다 to start → 시작해 보다
3. Other than the rule 1 and 2: + 어 보다
If the last syllable of the stem is not ㅏ or ㅗ or 하, you will add 어 보다.
입다 to wear → 입어 보다
그리다 to draw/paint → 그려 보다
먹다 to eat → 먹어 보다
마시다 to drink → 마셔 보다
4. Irregular 불규칙
Here are some irregular verbs. If you want to see detailed rules, please check out the irregular informal present tense rule.
① 불규칙 ㄷ: Replace ㄷ with ㄹ. Then add 아/어 보다 depending on the vowel.
듣다 to listen → 들어 보다
② 불규칙 ㅅ: Erase ㅅ. Then add 아/어 보다.
짓다 to build → 지어 보다
③ 불규칙 ㅂ: Erase ㅂ. Add 와 보다 for the rules of 아 보다. Other than that add 워 보다.
굽다 to bake → 구워 보다
④ 불규칙 ㅡ & 르: Erase ㅡ then add 아/어 보다. For 르 words, add one more ㄹ.
쓰다 to write → 써 보다
부르다 to sing → 불러 보다.
B. 보다 part
Depending on the meaning, 보다 part has a different tense.
1. Try
① When it is used to suggest the listener's action, it is usually used in the present tense.
V아/어/여 봐요. Try Ving
이 옷을 입어 봐요. Try it on. (Try these clothes on.)
② Based on its "suggest" meaning, it is also used well with the suggestion (command) ending (으)세요. It is attached to the ending 보다 and turns it into 보세요. This form is more commonly used than just 봐요.
V아/어/여 보세요. Please try Ving.
이 옷을 입어 보세요. Try wearing these clothes.
③ It can also work with the intention marker, (으)ㄹ래요. When it is a statement, you are volunteering to try. In a question, you are asking the listener if he or she wants to try.
V아/어/여 볼래요. I want to try. / I will try.
제가 입어 볼래요. I want to try it on.
V아/어/여 볼래요? Do you want to try it?
이 옷을 입어 볼래요? Do you want to try it on?
2. Talk about experience
When you talk about your experience, it is an event that already happened in the past. So, you need to use the past tense.
V아/어/여 봤어요. I tried V. / I have p.p.
이 옷을 입어 봤어요. I tried these clothes on.
V아/어/여 봤어요? Have you ever tried?
이 옷을 입어 봤어요? Have you ever tried wearing these clothes?
3. Sentence Information
A. Related word
한번 is often used together. The literal meaning is once, but it means trying something as a trial.
이 옷 한번 입어 보세요. Try wearing these clothes (by way of trial).
전에 한번 먹어 봤어요. I have tried eating it before.
B. Restriction
Since the expression itself has "보다" it is not combined with the verb 보다 as look, watch, see. 봐 보다 sounds not that natural.
(?) 이 책을 봐 보세요. / (?) 이 책을 봐 봐요.
As a suggestion, 봐 봐요 or 봐 보세요 sounds a bit awkward. In this case, you can use just the suggestion ending (으)세요 and say either 이 책을 보세요. or 이 책을 한번 보세요.
(X) 이 영화를 봐 봤어요. ⇨ (O) 이 영화를 본 적이 있어요.
봐 봤어요 is definitely the weird sentence. In the case of talking about an experience, you can use other experience ending 으(ㄴ) 적이 있어요. With the verb 보다, you will say, 본 적이 있어요 (have looked/watched/seen).
4. Examples
1. Suggest trying V
1
이 책을 읽어 보세요. Please try reading this book.
이 is a pronoun meaning "this." You can use it to point to something close to you.
2
가: 이 옷이 예뻐요. These clothes are pretty.
나: 그러면 한번 입어 보세요. Then, try it on.
그러면 is a conjunction meaning "then". 한 번 doesn't literally mean one time or once. With this expression, it is more close to "trial" that emphasizes the expression.
3
가: 이 문제를 잘 모르겠어요. I don't know this question well.
나: 그러면 선생님께 한번 여쭤 보세요. Then, ask your teacher.
"모르겠어요" means "don't know." 여쭤 보세요 came from 여쭈다. It is an honorific version of 묻다 which means to ask. Because "선생님(teacher)" is older than you and also holds a higher social status than you, you need to use this polite version of the word.
4
제니: 뭐 먹어요? What are you eating?
영수: 떡볶이를 먹어요. I'm eating tteokbokki.
제니: 떡볶이는 맛있어요? Is tteokbokki tasty?
영수: 네, 맛있어요. 한번 먹어 보세요. Yes, it is delicious. Try it.
떡볶이 is a Korean food. It is a boiled rice cake dish with hot pepper sauce. 맛있다 means "to be delicious" or "tasty". In this conversation, we can assume 제니 never tried 떡볶이 before. So, 영수 suggested her to try!
2. Talk about experiences
1
가: 한국에 가 봤어요? Have you been to Korea?
나: 네, 가 봤어요.Yes, I have.
To talk about the experience, we use the past tense form of the expression "아/어/여 봤어요." If you use it with a question mark, you can ask about the listener's experience.
2
가: 외국에 가 봤어요? Have you been abroad?
나: 네, 가 봤어요. Yes, I have.
외국 means a foreign country. Korean people refer to other countries than Korea(한국) as 외국. So, 외국인 or 외국 사람 means a foreigner.
3
가: 찰스 씨, 떡볶이를 먹어 봤어요? Hey Charles, have you ever eaten tteokbokki?
나: 네, 먹어 봤어요. 맛있었어요. Yes, I have. It was delicious.
4
저는 암벽 등반을 배워 봤어요. I learned rock climbing.
You can talk about some unusual experience with "아/어/여 봤어요." So you can talk about some special hobby or learning experience with this too.
5. Wrap-up & Worksheets: V아/어/여 보다 Grammar
You learned about two meanings of 아/어/여 보다 grammar today. Let's review your lesson! Please read the summary below first and then solve the worksheet.
V아/어/여 보다 is used to suggest or talk about your experience.
To suggest, you can use the expressions with the present tense conjugation.
V아/어/여 보세요. Please try V.
To talk about an event that happened before, you conjugate it with the past tense.
V아/어/여 봤어요. I have p.p.
Since there are two major meanings, I prepared the two worksheets. They are free and printable, so please use them to improve your Korean skills!
① Suggest
② Experience
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