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보다 [bo-da] 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! You will learn about two different meanings of V아/어/여 보다, practice the examples, and solve quizzes as well!
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1. The meanings of "V아/어/여 보다"
아/어/여 보다 [ah/eo/yeo bo-da] is used to show an experience or suggest trying an action. It is attached to a verb stem. It can't be attached with adjectives. It has two distinct meanings, so I will explain each one.
1. Suggest trying: Give it a try
It indicates attempting an action that has not been experienced in the past. It is mainly used to make recommendations or suggestions. In this case, it is used in the present tense "V아/어/여 봐요." like the "Try Ving" in English.
한국에 가 봐요. [han-gu-gae ga bwa-yo] Try visiting Korea.
2. Experience: have p.p.
It is used to express you've experienced something in the past. In this case, you can use the past tense expression "아/어/여 봤어요." It is used to talk about a special experience, such as a trip or a unique hobby. It is awkward to use this to talk something usually can happen.
저는 한국에 가 봤어요. [jeo-neun han-gu-gae ga-bwa-sseo-yo] 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 but is tired of eating human food, it will be an awkward sentence...
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. By the way, it doesn't mean this 아/어/여 shows the tense. It just has the same conjugating methods so I mentioned to help you to understand the rules better!
1. ㅏ, ㅗ verbs: + 아 보다
If the last syllable of a stem is ㅏ or ㅗ add 아 보다
가다 [ga-da] to go → 가 보다 [ga bo-da] try going/have been
찾다 [chat-dda] to find → 찾아 보다 [cha-ja bo-da] try finding/have found
오다 [oh-da] to come → 와 보다 [wa bo-da] try coming/have come
만나다 [man-na-da] to meet → 만나 보다 [man-na bo-da] try meeting/have met
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 [jeon-wha-ha-da] to make a phone call → 전화해 보다 [jeon-wha-hae bo-da]
도전하다 [do-jeon-ha-da] to challenge → 도전해 보다 [do-jeon-hae bo-da]
시작하다 [si-jak-ha-da] to start → 시작해 보다 [si-jak-hae bo-da]
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 [ip-dda] to wear → 입어 보다 [i-beo bo-da]
그리다 [geu-li-da] to draw/paint → 그려 보다 [geu-lyeo bo-da]
먹다 [meok-dda] to eat → 먹어 보다 [meo-geo bo-da]
마시다 [ma-si-da] to drink → 마셔 보다 [ma-shyeo bo-da]
4. Irregular 불규칙 [bul-gyu-chik]
Here are some irregular verbs. If you want to see detailed rules, please check out the irregular informal present tense rule.
① 불규칙 ㄷ: 듣다 [deu-dda] to listen → 들어 보다 [deu-leo bo-da]
② 불규칙 ㅅ: 짓다 [jit-dda] to build → 지어 보다 [ji-eo bo-da]
③ 불규칙 ㅂ: 굽다 [gup-dda] to bake → 구워 보다 [gu-wo bo-da]
④ Others: 쓰다 [sseu-da] to write → 써 보다 [sseo bo-da]
부르다 [bu-leu-da] to call (name)/to sing → 불러 보다 [bul-leo bo-da]
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. [ah/eo/yeo bwa-yo] Try Ving
이 옷을 입어 봐요. [ee o-seul i-beo bwa-yo] 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. [ah/eo/yeo bo-sae-yo] Please try Ving.
이 옷을 입어 보세요. [ee o-seul i-beo bo-sae-yo] 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. [ah/eo/yeo bol-lae-yo] I want to try. / I will try.
제가 입어 볼래요. [jae-ga i-beo bol-lae-yo] I want to try it on.
V아/어/여 볼래요? [ah/eo/yeo bol-lae-yo?] Do you want to try it?
이 옷을 입어 볼래요? [ee o-seul i-beo bol-lae-yo?] 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. [ah/eo/yeo bwa-sseo-yo] I tried V. / I have p.m.
이 옷을 입어 봤어요. [ee o-seul i-beo bwa-sseo-yo] I tried these clothes on.
3. Sentence information
A. Related word
This 한번 [han-beon] is often used together. The literal meaning is once, but it means trying something as a trial.
이 옷 한번 입어 보세요. [ee ot han-beon i-beo bo-sae-yo] Try wearing these clothes (by way of trial).
전에 한번 먹어 봤어요. [jeo-nae han-beon meo-geo bwa-sseo-yo] I have tried eating it before.
B. Restriction
Since the expression itself has "보다 [bo-da]" it is not combined with the verb 보다 as look, watch, see. 봐 보다 sounds not 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.
봐 봤어요 is definitely the wrong 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). 이 영화를 본 적이 있어요.
4. Examples
1. Suggest trying V
1
이 책을 읽어 보세요. [ee chae-geul il-geo bo-sae-yo] 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. [ee o-si yae-bbeo-yo] These clothes are pretty.
나: 그러면 한번 입어 보세요. [geu-leo-myeon han-beon i-beo bo-sae-yo] Then, try it on.
↪ 그러면 is a conjunction meaning "then".
3
가: 이 문제를 잘 모르겠어요. [ee mun-jae-leul jal mo-leu-gae-sseo-yo] I don't know well about this question.
나: 그러면 선생님께 한번 여쭤 보세요. [geu-leo-myeon seon-saeng-nim-ggae han-beon yeo-jjwo bo-sae-yo] Then, ask to your teacher.
↪ "모르겠어요" means "don't know." 여쭤 보세요 came from 여쭈다 [yeo-jju-da]. It is an honorific version of 묻다 [mut-dda] which means to ask. Because of the word "선생님 [seon-saeng-nim] teacher," we need to use this polite version of the word.
4
가: 뭐 먹어요? [mwo meo-geo-yo?] What are you eating?
나: 떡볶이를 먹어요. [ddeok-bbo-ggi-leul meo-geo-yo] I'm eating tteokbokki.
가: 맛있어요? [ma-si-sseo-yo?] Is it tasty?
나: 네, 맛있어요. 한번 먹어 보세요. [nae, ma-si-sseo-yo. han-beon meo-geo bo-sae-yo] 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".
2. Talk about experiences
1
가: 한국에 가 봤어요? [han-gu-gae ga bwa-sseo-yo?] Have you been to Korea?
나: 네, 가 봤어요. [nae, ga bwa-sseo-yo] Yes, I have.
↪ Talk about the experience, we use the past tense form of 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? [wae-gu-gae ga bwa-sseo-yo?] Have you been abroad?
나: 네, 가 봤어요. [nae, ga bwa-sseo-yo] Yes, I have.
↪ 외국 [wae-guk] means a foreign country.
3
가: 찰스 씨, 떡볶이를 먹어 봤어요? [chal-seu ssi, ddeok-bbo-ggi-leul meo-geo bwa-sseo-yo?] Hey Charles, have you ever eaten tteokbokki?
나: 네, 먹어 봤어요. 맛있었어요. [nae, meo-geo bwa-sseo-yo] Yes, I have. It was delicious.
5. Quiz
Solve the quiz about 아/어/여 보다 grammar. Click the check button to see if your answer is right!
6. Wrap up: V아/어/여 보다 grammar
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 봐요. Try V.
V아/어/여 보세요. Please try V.
V아/어/여 볼래요? Would you like 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.
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