-아/어 보다 - Try doing

-아/어 보다 expresses trying, attempting, or experiencing something. It means "try doing," "give it a try," or "see what it's like."

Structure

Verb stem + -아/어 보다

Breakdown:

• -아/어: Connective ending (vowel harmony)
• 보다: To see/look

Literal meaning: "Do and see (what happens)"

Vowel Harmony Rules

Bright Vowels (ㅏ, ㅗ): -아 보다

Last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ:

• 가다 → 가 보다 (try going)
• 오다 → 와 보다 (try coming)
• 보다 → 봐 보다 (try looking)
• 앉다 → 앉아 보다 (try sitting)

Dark Vowels: -어 보다

Last vowel is NOT ㅏ or ㅗ:

• 먹다 → 먹어 보다 (try eating)
• 입다 → 입어 보다 (try wearing)
• 읽다 → 읽어 보다 (try reading)
• 쉬다 → 쉬어 보다 (try resting)

하다 Verbs: -해 보다

All 하다 verbs:

• 하다 → 해 보다 (try doing)
• 공부하다 → 공부해 보다 (try studying)
• 요리하다 → 요리해 보다 (try cooking)
• 운동하다 → 운동해 보다 (try exercising)

Politeness Levels

Formal (합니다체)

• 먹어 봅니다 (try eating)
• 해 봅니다 (try doing)
• 입어 봅니다 (try wearing)

Polite (해요체)

• 먹어 봐요 (try eating)
• 해 봐요 (try doing)
• 입어 봐요 (try wearing)

Casual (반말)

• 먹어 봐 (try eating)
• 해 봐 (try doing)
• 입어 봐 (try wearing)

Core Meanings

1. Trying/Attempting

Making an attempt:

• 한번 해 봐요 (Try doing it once)
• 먹어 봐요 (Try eating it)
• 입어 봐요 (Try wearing it)
• 읽어 봐요 (Try reading it)

2. Experiencing

Gaining experience:

• 한국 음식 먹어 봤어요 (I've tried Korean food)
• 한복 입어 봤어요 (I've tried wearing hanbok)
• 스키 타 봤어요 (I've tried skiing)

3. Testing/Checking

Testing something out:

• 이거 한번 봐 봐요 (Try looking at this)
• 맛 좀 봐 봐요 (Try tasting this)
• 신어 봐요 (Try it on [shoes])

Tense Conjugations

Present Tense: -아/어 봐요

Current attempt/suggestion:

• 먹어 봐요 (try eating)
• 가 봐요 (try going)
• 해 봐요 (try doing)

Past Tense: -아/어 봤어요

Have tried/experienced:

• 먹어 봤어요 (I've tried eating it)
• 가 봤어요 (I've tried going)
• 해 봤어요 (I've tried doing it)

Usage: Talking about past experiences

Future Tense: -아/어 볼 거예요

Will try:

• 먹어 볼 거예요 (I'll try eating it)
• 가 볼 거예요 (I'll try going)
• 해 볼 거예요 (I'll try doing it)

Common Usage Patterns

Making Suggestions

Encouraging someone to try:

• 한번 해 봐요 (Try it once)
• 이거 먹어 봐요 (Try eating this)
• 여기 가 봐요 (Try going here)
• 입어 봐요 (Try it on)

Asking About Experience

Have you tried...?:

• 김치 먹어 봤어요? (Have you tried kimchi?)
• 한국 가 봤어요? (Have you been to Korea?)
• 한국어 공부해 봤어요? (Have you tried studying Korean?)
• 이 영화 봐 봤어요? (Have you seen this movie?)

Offering to Try

Willingness to attempt:

• 제가 해 볼게요 (I'll try doing it)
• 한번 해 볼게요 (I'll give it a try)
• 찾아 볼게요 (I'll try to find it)
• 알아 볼게요 (I'll look into it)

With -세요 (Polite Suggestion)

-아/어 보세요

Polite suggestion to try:

• 먹어 보세요 (Please try eating)
• 입어 보세요 (Please try wearing)
• 앉아 보세요 (Please try sitting)
• 말해 보세요 (Please try saying)

Usage: Encouraging others politely

Common Expressions

At Restaurant/Cafe

• 맛 좀 봐 보세요 (Please try tasting this)
• 이거 먹어 봐요 (Try this)
• 주문해 봐요 (Try ordering)
• 김치 먹어 봤어요? (Have you tried kimchi?)

Shopping

• 입어 봐도 돼요? (May I try it on?)
• 신어 보세요 (Try them on [shoes])
• 한번 써 봐요 (Try using it once)
• 이 색깔 입어 봐요 (Try this color)

Daily Suggestions

• 한번 해 봐 (Try it once)
• 생각해 봐요 (Think about it / Try thinking)
• 찾아 봐요 (Try looking for it)
• 물어 봐요 (Try asking)

Work/Study

• 다시 해 봐요 (Try doing it again)
• 혼자 해 봐요 (Try doing it alone)
• 연습해 봐요 (Try practicing)
• 읽어 봐요 (Try reading it)

Negative Form

Haven't tried / Don't try

Pattern: 안 + -아/어 봤어요

Haven't tried:

• 안 먹어 봤어요 (I haven't tried eating it)
• 안 가 봤어요 (I haven't been there)
• 안 해 봤어요 (I haven't tried it)

Don't try (prohibition):

• 먹어 보지 마세요 (Don't try eating it)
• 하지 마세요 (Don't try doing it)

With -ㄹ/을 수 있다 (Can Try)

Combining Forms

Pattern: -아/어 볼 수 있다

Can try:

• 먹어 볼 수 있어요 (can try eating)
• 해 볼 수 있어요 (can try doing)
• 가 볼 수 있어요 (can try going)

Usage: Expressing ability to attempt

Contrast with Similar Forms

-아/어 보다 vs -(으)려고 하다

-아/어 보다: Try/attempt (experimental)

• 한번 해 봐요 (Try it once)
• → Testing, experiencing

-(으)려고 하다: Try to/intend (purposeful)

• 하려고 해요 (I'm trying to do it)
• → Deliberate effort, intention

-아/어 보다 vs 그냥 하다

-아/어 보다: Try (with uncertainty)

• 먹어 봐요 (Try eating)
• → Tentative, experimental

그냥 하다: Just do it

• 먹어요 (Eat)
• → Direct action without trying sense

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: 해 보아요

Old-fashioned form

✅ Correct: 해 봐요

Modern contraction

---

❌ Incorrect: 먹 봐요

Missing connective vowel

✅ Correct: 먹어 봐요

Complete form with -어

Example Dialogues

Dialogue 1: At Restaurant

A: 이거 맛있어요?
(Is this delicious?)

B: 한번 먹어 봐요. 정말 맛있어요.
(Try it once. It's really delicious.)

Dialogue 2: Shopping

A: 이 옷 어때요?
(How is this clothing?)

B: 입어 보세요. 잘 어울릴 것 같아요.
(Try it on. I think it will suit you.)

Dialogue 3: Asking Experience

A: 한국 가 봤어요?
(Have you been to Korea?)

B: 아니요, 아직 안 가 봤어요.
(No, I haven't been yet.)

Dialogue 4: Encouragement

A: 너무 어려워요.
(It's too difficult.)

B: 포기하지 말고 한번 더 해 봐요.
(Don't give up, try once more.)

With Question Words

한번 (Once)

Very common combination:

• 한번 해 봐요 (Try it once)
• 한번 먹어 봐요 (Try eating once)
• 한번 가 봐요 (Try going once)

Usage: Emphasizes giving something a try

다시 (Again)

Try again:

• 다시 해 봐요 (Try doing it again)
• 다시 한번 봐 봐요 (Try looking at it again)
• 다시 말해 봐요 (Try saying it again)

Summary Table

Verb	Present	Past	Future	Meaning
먹다	먹어 봐요	먹어 봤어요	먹어 볼 거예요	Try eating
가다	가 봐요	가 봤어요	가 볼 거예요	Try going
하다	해 봐요	해 봤어요	해 볼 거예요	Try doing
입다	입어 봐요	입어 봤어요	입어 볼 거예요	Try wearing

Key Takeaways

✅ Expresses trying/experiencing: "Try doing" / "Give it a try"
✅ Vowel harmony: -아/-어/-해 보다
✅ Past tense for experience: -아/어 봤어요 (have tried)
✅ Common with 한번: Try it once
✅ Different from -(으)려고 하다: Experimental vs Intentional effort
✅ Essential for suggestions: Very common in daily conversation

-아/어 보다 is one of the most useful and frequently used grammar patterns in Korean, perfect for encouraging people to try new things, asking about experiences, and expressing willingness to attempt something.