-아/어 보세요
Please Try
Use -아/어 보세요 to politely suggest someone try an action, like 'Please try eating this'.
How It Works
This pattern is a gentle and polite way to recommend or suggest an action to someone. It literally means 'please try doing (verb)'. It's much softer than a direct command using -세요 and is very common in daily conversation, especially when recommending food, activities, or solutions to problems.
Conjugation Rules:
It attaches directly to the verb stem.
1. Verb stem ends in ㅏ or ㅗ: Add -아 보세요
- 가다 (to go) → 가 + 아 보세요 → 가 보세요 (Please try going)
- 오다 (to come) → 오 + 아 보세요 → 와 보세요 (Please try coming)
2. Verb stem ends in any other vowel: Add -어 보세요
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 어 보세요 → 먹어 보세요 (Please try eating)
- 읽다 (to read) → 읽 + 어 보세요 → 읽어 보세요 (Please try reading)
3. 하다 verbs: Becomes 해 보세요
- 공부하다 (to study) → 공부해 보세요 (Please try studying)
- 전화하다 (to call) → 전화해 보세요 (Please try calling)
Examples (5)
- 이 김치찌개는 정말 맛있어요. 한번 먹어 보세요.
This kimchi stew is really delicious. Please try it once.
Word by Word: This kimchi stew really is delicious. One time eat try please.
The speaker is politely recommending the kimchi stew. 먹다 becomes 먹어 보세요.
- 제주도는 아주 아름다워요. 꼭 가 보세요.
Jeju Island is very beautiful. You should definitely try going.
Word by Word: Jeju Island very is beautiful. For sure go try please.
A strong but polite recommendation to visit Jeju Island. 가다 becomes 가 보세요.
- 모르는 단어가 있으면 사전을 찾아보세요.
If there's a word you don't know, try looking it up in the dictionary.
Word by Word: Not knowing word if there is dictionary look up try please.
Suggesting a helpful action to solve a problem. 찾다 becomes 찾아 보세요.
- 이 옷이 마음에 들어요? 한번 입어 보세요.
Do you like these clothes? Try them on.
Word by Word: These clothes to your heart enter? One time wear try please.
A common phrase used in clothing stores. 입다 becomes 입어 보세요.
- 문제가 있으면 선생님께 질문해 보세요.
If you have a problem, try asking the teacher.
Word by Word: Problem if there is to the teacher ask try please.
질문하다 is a 하다 verb, so it becomes 질문해 보세요.
Common Mistakes
Using a direct command (-으세요) instead of a suggestion (-아/어 보세요).
Different Meaning이 책을 읽으세요.Better이 책을 읽어 보세요.While '읽으세요' is grammatically correct, it's a direct command ('Read this book!'). When you are recommending a book because it's good, the softer suggestion '읽어 보세요' ('Try reading this book') is much more natural and polite.
Learn This First
To use this 'please try' form, you need to understand verb conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -(으)세요Please
-아/어 보세요 is built on the -세요 pattern. It adds the meaning of 'trying' (-아/어 보다) to the polite command, making it a suggestion rather than a direct order.
- -아/어 보다Try Doing
This is the core of the pattern, meaning 'to try doing something'. -아/어 보세요 is simply the polite command form of -아/어 보다.
- -아/어 주세요Please Give Me
Both are polite requests. However, -아/어 보세요 is a suggestion for the listener's benefit ('You should try this'). -아/어 주세요 is a request for something to be done for the speaker's benefit ('Please do this for me').
- -지 마세요Please Don't
This is the negative command form, meaning 'please don't do'. It's the opposite of a positive command like -세요 and contrasts with the positive suggestion of -아/어 보세요.