-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.
ਇਹ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ
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).
ਉਦਾਹਰਣਾਂ (4)
- 이 김치를 한번 먹어 보세요.
Please try this kimchi once.
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ: 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?
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ: 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).
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ: 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.
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ: New computer game-object do-tried but really was fun.
This sentence describes the experience of trying something and the result.
ਆਮ ਗਲਤੀਆਂ
Confusing -아/어 보다 (try doing) with the comparative particle -보다 (more than).
ਵੱਖਰਾ ਮਤਲਬ사과보다 바나나를 먹어 봐요.사과보다 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.
ਇਹ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਜੁੜਦਾ ਹੈ
ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਇਹ ਸਿੱਖੋ
ਸੰਬੰਧਿਤ ਪੈਟਰਨ
- -아/어 보세요한번 해 보세요
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.
ਪੱਧਰ 1 - -(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?').
ਪੱਧਰ 2 - -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.
ਪੱਧਰ 1 - -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.
ਪੱਧਰ 1 - -아/어 보다 / -아/어 보이다Try vs Seem
Learn the difference between 'try doing' and 'seem/appear'.
ਪੱਧਰ 3
ਅੱਗੇ ਸਿੱਖੋ
ਉਹ ਪੈਟਰਨ ਜੋ ਇਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਬਣਦੇ ਹਨ।