Try Doing (-아/어 보다)
-아/어 보다
Expresses trying or experiencing an action, meaning 'try doing' something.
Pattern
Verb stem + -아/어 보다
Explanation
-아/어 보다 combines a verb with 보다 (to see) to express the idea of trying or experiencing something. It follows standard vowel harmony: -아 보다 after ㅏ/ㅗ stems, -어 보다 after other vowels, and 해 보다 for 하다 verbs. For example, 먹어 보다 means 'try eating' and 가 보다 means 'try going'.
This pattern is extremely useful for suggestions and recommendations. 한번 해 보세요 (Please try it once) is one of the most common phrases in Korean. In past tense, -아/어 봤다 means 'have tried' or 'have experienced': 한국에 가 봤어요 (I have been to Korea / I tried going to Korea).
The experience nuance in past tense makes this pattern important for talking about life experiences. It overlaps with -ㄴ 적이 있다 (have done before), but -아/어 봤다 is more conversational and natural in everyday speech.
Examples
이 음식을 먹어 보세요.
I eumsigeul meogeo boseyo.
Please try eating this food.
한국에 가 봤어요?
Hanguge ga bwasseoyo?
Have you been to Korea?
한번 해 보세요.
Hanbeon hae boseyo.
Please try it once.
이 책을 읽어 봤는데 정말 좋아요.
I chaekeul ilgeo bwanneunde jeongmal joayo.
I tried reading this book and it's really good.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
이 음식을 먹어보다세요.
Correct
이 음식을 먹어 보세요.
보다 must be conjugated (보세요), and there is typically a space between the -아/어 form and 보다.
Wrong
한국에 가어 봤어요.
Correct
한국에 가 봤어요.
가다 uses -아 보다 (가 + 아 = 가), not 가어. The ㅏ vowel contracts.
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