-아/어 보다
Try Doing
-아/어 보다 is used to talk about trying or experiencing an action. It's like saying 'try doing X' or 'have you ever done X?' in English.
How It Works
The pattern -아/어 보다 has two main uses:
1. Trying something or giving it a shot.
This is often used to suggest or recommend an action to someone. In this case, it's frequently combined with the polite command ending -세요 to make -아/어 보세요 ('Please try...').
- 이 옷을 한번 입어 보세요. (Please try on these clothes.)
- 이 책을 읽어 보세요. 재미있어요. (Please try reading this book. It's fun.)
2. Talking about a past experience.
When used in the past tense (-아/어 봤다), it means you have the experience of having done something before. This is similar to the English 'have ever done...'.
- 저는 김치를 만들어 봤어요. (I have tried making kimchi before.)
- 제주도에 가 봤어요? (Have you ever been to Jeju Island?)
Conjugation Rules:
- Verb stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ + -아 보다
- 가다 → 가 보다
- 오다 → 와 보다 (ㅗ + ㅏ contracts to 와) - Verb stems ending in other vowels + -어 보다
- 먹다 → 먹어 보다
- 만들다 → 만들어 보다 - 하다 verbs → 해 보다
- 공부하다 → 공부해 보다
- 요리하다 → 요리해 보다
This pattern is very common and can be combined with other grammar, such as -고 싶다 to say 'I want to try...' (e.g., 먹어 보고 싶어요).
Examples (4)
- 이 김치를 한번 먹어 보세요.
Please try this kimchi once.
Word by Word: This kimchi once eat-try-please.
This is a common way to suggest someone try something. It combines -아/어 보다 with the polite command form -세요.
- 제주도에 가 봤어요?
Have you ever been to Jeju Island?
Word by Word: Jeju Island-to go-have tried?
Here, the past tense form -아/어 봤어요 is used to ask about a past experience.
- 저는 한복을 입어 보고 싶어요.
I want to try wearing a Hanbok (traditional Korean dress).
Word by Word: I Hanbok-object wear-try want.
This shows -아/어 보다 combined with -고 싶다 (want to), expressing a desire to try an action.
- 새로운 컴퓨터 게임을 해 봤는데 정말 재미있었어요.
I tried playing a new computer game, and it was really fun.
Word by Word: New computer game-object do-tried but really was fun.
This sentence describes the experience of trying something and the result.
Common Mistakes
Confusing -아/어 보다 (try doing) with the comparative particle -보다 (more than).
Different Meaning사과보다 바나나를 먹어 봐요.Better사과보다 바나나를 더 좋아해요.The incorrect sentence literally means 'Try eating a banana more than an apple,' which is awkward. -아/어 보다 attaches to a verb to mean 'try the action'. The particle -보다 attaches to a noun for comparison. To say 'I like bananas more than apples,' you should use the comparative particle directly with the noun.
Learn This First
To use this 'try doing' pattern, you need to understand verb conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -아/어 보세요Please Try
This is the polite imperative form of -아/어 보다. It's one of the most common ways this pattern is used, specifically for suggesting that someone try an action.
- -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다Have/haven't Done
Both patterns can describe past experiences. While -아/어 봤다 implies experience, -ㄴ 적이 있다/없다 ('to have the experience of') is more explicit. For asking 'Have you ever...?', they are often interchangeable (e.g., '가 봤어요?' vs. '간 적이 있어요?').
- -고 싶다Want to
This pattern for 'want to do' is frequently combined with -아/어 보다 to form -아/어 보고 싶다, meaning 'I want to try doing...'. It connects the desire to the experience.
- -보다More than
This is the comparative particle meaning 'more than'. It's important not to confuse it with the verb 보다 used in -아/어 보다. The particle -보다 follows a noun, while the verb 보다 follows another verb in the -아/어 form.
- -아/어 보다 / -아/어 보이다Try vs. Seem
Learn the difference between 'try doing' and 'seem/appear'.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.