보다 (bo-da, boda)
‘보다’ (boda) is a common Korean verb meaning ‘to see’ or ‘to look,’ also used for comparisons and experiences. Learn its key usages here.
When and how native speakers actually use it.
‘보다’ primarily means ‘to see’ or ‘to look,’ is used for comparisons with ‘~보다,’ and for experiences with ‘~아/어 보다.’
When to use
Observing, Comparing, Talking about experience
The nuance
1. The verb ‘보다’ means ‘to see’ or ‘to look.’ 2. For comparisons, use ‘A보다 B’ to say ‘B is more ~ than A.’ 3. For experiences, attach ‘아/어 보다’ to a verb stem to mean ‘have tried ~.’ 4. ‘보다’ is often used in the structure ‘보다 + noun’ meaning ‘to see something.’
영화를 보다.
yeong-hwa-reul bo-da., yeong hwa reul bo da.
‘보다’ correctly used as ‘to watch’.
사과보다 바나나가 더 맛있다.
sa-gwa-bo-da ba-na-na-ga deo mas-iss-da., sa gwa bo da ba na na ga deo mas iss da.
Correct use of comparison with ‘~보다.’
한국 음식을 먹어 보다.
han-guk eum-sik-eul meok-eo bo-da., han guk eum sik eul meok eo bo da.
Verb stem + ‘아/어 보다’ correctly forms experience expression.
나는 책을 보다.
na-neun chaek-eul bo-da., na neun chaek eul bo da.
‘보다’ used correctly as ‘to read/look at a book.’
보다 사과가 맛있다.
bo-da sa-gwa-ga mas-iss-da., bo da sa gwa ga mas iss da.
Missing comparison target, grammatically incorrect.
영화를 먹어 보다.
yeong-hwa-reul meok-eo bo-da., yeong hwa reul meok eo bo da.
‘먹어 보다’ is experience expression but ‘movie’ cannot be eaten.
나는 보다 영화를.
na-neun bo-da yeong-hwa-reul., na neun bo da yeong hwa reul.
Incorrect word order, unnatural sentence.
How do you express experience using ‘보다’ in Korean?
What is the role of ‘보다’ in ‘사과보다 바나나가 더 맛있다’?
What does ‘보다’ mean in ‘영화를 보다’?
What does it mean?
What does 보다 mean?