-아/어 봤자
Even if You Do
Used to say that even if you do an action, the result will be negative, useless, or not what you expect. It strongly implies futility.
How It Works
This expression conveys a sense of pessimism or resignation, suggesting that an effort is pointless. It's formed by attaching -아/어 봤자 to a verb or adjective stem.
Conjugation:
- Stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ + -아 봤자
- 가다 → 가 봤자 (even if you go)
- 보다 → 봐 봤자 (even if you see) - Stems ending in other vowels + -어 봤자
- 먹다 → 먹어 봤자 (even if you eat)
- 만들다 → 만들어 봤자 (even if you make) - 하다 verbs → 해 봤자
- 공부하다 → 공부해 봤자 (even if you study)
The key to using this pattern correctly is the second clause, which must express a negative or futile outcome. It highlights the uselessness of the action in the first clause.
While similar to -아/어도 or -더라도 (both meaning 'even if'), -아/어 봤자 carries a much stronger nuance of futility and disappointment. The other patterns are more neutral.
A secondary, less common meaning is 'at most' or 'no matter how much...'. This is often used with adjectives like 비싸다 (expensive) or 많다 (many). For example, '비싸 봤자' can mean 'no matter how expensive it is (it won't be beyond a certain limit)'.
Examples (4)
- 지금 출발해 봤자 기차를 놓칠 거예요.
Even if we leave now, we'll miss the train.
Word by Word: Now leave even if, train will miss.
- 매일 운동해 봤자 식단 조절을 안 하면 살이 안 빠져요.
Even if you exercise every day, if you don't control your diet, you won't lose weight.
Word by Word: Every day exercise even if, diet control don't do if, weight not lose.
- 그 사람한테 사과해 봤자 소용없어요. 이미 마음이 떠났어요.
There's no point in apologizing to him. He's already made up his mind.
Word by Word: To that person apologize even if, it's useless. Already heart has left.
- 아무리 비싸 봤자 10만 원은 안 넘을 거예요.
No matter how expensive it is, it won't be more than 100,000 won.
Word by Word: However expensive even if, 100,000 won will not exceed.
Here, -아/어 봤자 is used to mean 'at most' or 'it can't be more than...'. It sets an upper limit on a quality.
Common Mistakes
Using -아/어 봤자 when the outcome is positive or neutral.
Not Quite열심히 공부해 봤자 시험에 합격할 수 있어요.Better열심히 공부해 봤자 시험이 너무 어려워서 합격하기 힘들 거예요.The pattern -아/어 봤자 must be followed by a negative or futile result. The incorrect sentence illogically connects a pointless action ('공부해 봤자') with a positive outcome ('합격할 수 있어요'). The correct sentence shows the futility: even with studying, passing will be hard.
Learn This First
To express futility 'even if you do', you need the 'try' pattern and past tense.
Related Patterns
- -아/어도Even if, Regardless
Both mean 'even if', but -아/어도 is neutral about the outcome. -아/어 봤자 specifically implies the action is futile and the outcome will be negative or unchanged. -아/어 봤자 is much more pessimistic.
- -더라도Even if, Although
Similar to -아/어도, -더라도 means 'even if' but is often used for more hypothetical situations. It does not carry the strong negative, futile nuance that -아/어 봤자 does.
- -나 마나Whether or Not, Pointless
This pattern also expresses futility, meaning 'it's pointless whether one does it or not'. It's very similar to -아/어 봤자. For example, '가나 마나' (no point in going) is very close to '가 봤자' (even if you go, it's pointless).
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 텐데I Expect, It's Likely to
The clause following -아/어 봤자 often expresses a negative assumption or expectation about the future. -ㄹ 텐데 is a common way to express such expectations. Ex: '지금 가 봤자 이미 끝났을 텐데...' (Even if we go now, it will probably already be over...).