QuizLingua

-아/어 보다 – Korean try / have the experience of

Meaning
try doing, have ever done
Level
Intermediate
Topic
Conditions, obligation & permission

Attempting or experiencing something: 먹어 보세요 = Try eating it. In the past tense it means “have (ever) done”: 가 봤어요 = I have been there.

Key rules

  • -아/어 보다 = try
  • -아/어 봤다 = tried
  • Experience marker
  • -아/어 보세요 = please try
  • Shopping context
  • Polite suggestion
  • ㄷ irregular verb
  • Information seeking

Examples with -아/어 보다

The highlighted part is the grammar form.

  • 한국 음식을 먹어 봤어요 Hanguk eumsigeul meogeo bwasseoyo I've tried Korean food 아/어 봤다 = have tried/experienced. · Base form: 먹다
  • 이 옷을 입어 보세요 I oseul ibeo boseyo Please try on these clothes 입 + 어 보세요 for polite suggestion. · Base form: 입다
  • 물어 볼게요 Mureo bolgeyo I'll try asking 묻 → 물어 (ㄷ irregular) + 볼게요. · Base form: 묻다
  • 일본에 가 봤어요? Ilbone ga bwasseoyo? Have you been to Japan? 가 + 아 봤어요 = 가 봤어요 (vowel merge). · Base form: 가다
  • 새 카페에 가 봐요 Sae kapee ga bwayo Let's try going to the new cafe Casual suggestion to try. · Base form: 가다
  • 해 봤는데 안 됐어요 Hae bwanneunde an dwaesseoyo I tried but it didn't work 하 + 여 봤는데 = 해 봤는데. · Base form: 하다
  • 한국어를 배워 보고 싶어요 Hangugeoreul baeweo bogo sipeoyo I want to try learning Korean 배우 + 어 보고 싶다 = 배워 보고 싶다. · Base form: 배우다
  • 전화해 봤는데 안 받았어요 Jeonwahae bwanneunde an badasseoyo I tried calling but they didn't answer Compound verb: 전화하다 → 전화해 봤는데. · Base form: 전화하다

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More: conditions, obligation & permission