Pattern: -(아/어) 보다
-(아/어) 보다 (-(a, (a, eo)bo-da, eo)boda)
-(아/어) 보다 means to try or experience doing something. It's common in daily Korean to express attempts or experiences.
When and how native speakers actually use it.
to try or experience doing something
When to use
trying new food, attempting problem-solving, sharing experience, making recommendations
The nuance
Attach '-아 보다' or '-어 보다' to the verb stem. Use '-아 보다' if the stem ends with ㅏ or ㅗ; otherwise, use '-어 보다'. This pattern expresses trying or experiencing something, usually at the end of a sentence.
이 음식을 먹어 봤어요?
i eum-sik-eul meok-eo bwass-eo-yo?, i eum sik eul meok eo bwass eo yo?
'먹다' ends with ㅓ, so '-어 보다' is correct as in '먹어 보다'.
한국어를 공부아 봤어요.
han-guk-eo-reul gong-bu-a bwass-eo-yo., han guk eo reul gong bu a bwass eo yo.
'공부하다' ends with ㅏ, so it must be '-아 보다'; '공부아' is incorrect.
새 영화를 한번 봐 봐요.
sae yeong-hwa-reul han-beon bwa bwa-yo., sae yeong hwa reul han beon bwa bwa yo.
'봐 봐요' repeats '-아 보다' unnecessarily, making it unnatural and incorrect.
문제를 해결해 봐야겠어요.
mun-je-reul hae-gyeol-hae bwa-ya-gess-eo-yo., mun je reul hae gyeol hae bwa ya gess eo yo.
'하다' takes '-어 보다' as '해 보다', which is correct here.
한 번 시도해 봐요.
han beon si-do-hae bwa-yo., han beon si do hae bwa yo.
'시도하다' ends with ㅏ, so '-아 보다' as in '시도해 보다' is correct.
저는 그 노래를 들어 봤어요.
jeo-neun geu no-rae-reul deul-eo bwass-eo-yo., jeo neun geu no rae reul deul eo bwass eo yo.
'듣다' is an irregular verb but takes '-어 보다' as '들어 보다' correctly.
Which sentence correctly uses '-(아/어) 보다'?
What is the meaning of '-(아/어) 보다'?
What verb does '해 보다' attach to?
