What is this in Korean logo
Play GameGet Free Book

How to use 아/어 봤어요 in Korean

Pattern: -(아/어) 봤어요

-(아/어) 봤어요 (-(a, (a, eo)bwass-eo-yo, eo)bwasseoyo)

-(아/어) 봤어요 expresses experience. It's used to ask or talk about whether someone has tried something before.

Korean language grammar guide for -(아/어) 봤어요 usage

Usage guide

When and how native speakers actually use it.

-(아/어) 봤어요(-(a, (a, eo)bwass-eo-yo, eo)bwasseoyo)

An expression indicating past experience of doing something

When to use

Asking about experience, Making recommendations, Talking about past experiences

The nuance

Attach '-아 봤어요' or '-어 봤어요' to the verb stem to talk about or ask about past experience. Choose '-아' if the last vowel of the stem is 'ㅏ' or 'ㅗ', otherwise '-어'. For example, 가다 → 가 봤어요, 먹다 → 먹어 봤어요.

Real-world examples

  • 한국 음식을 먹어 봤어요?

    han-guk eum-sik-eul meok-eo bwass-eo-yo?, han guk eum sik eul meok eo bwass eo yo?

    Correctly attaches '-어 봤어요' to the verb stem '먹' to ask about past experience.

  • 서울에 가 봤어요.

    seo-ul-e ga bwass-eo-yo., seo ul e ga bwass eo yo.

    Correctly uses '-아 봤어요' with stem '가' to express past experience.

  • 영화를 봤어요?

    yeong-hwa-reul bwass-eo-yo?, yeong hwa reul bwass eo yo?

    This sentence uses simple past '봤어요' not the experiential '-어 봤어요' form, so it doesn't express experience.

  • 운동해 봤어요?

    un-dong-hae bwass-eo-yo?, un dong hae bwass eo yo?

    Correctly forms '-어 봤어요' after 하다 → 해 to ask about experience.

  • 이거 해 봤어요?

    i-geo hae bwass-eo-yo?, i geo hae bwass eo yo?

    Natural way to ask if someone has tried doing something.

  • 책을 읽어 봤어요?

    chaek-eul ik-eo bwass-eo-yo?, chaek eul ik eo bwass eo yo?

    Correctly uses '-어 봤어요' to ask about past experience.

  • 노래를 불러 봤어요?

    no-rae-reul bul-reo bwass-eo-yo?, no rae reul bul reo bwass eo yo?

    Correctly uses '-어 봤어요' with verb stem '불러'.

Quick quiz

  1. What does -(아/어) 봤어요 express?

    -(아/어) 봤어요가 나타내는 의미는 무엇인가요?(-(a, (a, eo)bwass-eo-yo-gana-ta-nae-neunui-mi-neunmu-eos-in-ga-yo?, eo)bwasseoyoganatanaeneunuimineunmueosingayo?)

  2. What is the correct form of -(아/어) 봤어요 with '가다'?

    동사 '가다'에 -(아/어) 봤어요를 붙이면?(dong-sa'ga-da'e-(a, dongsa'gada'e(a, eo)bwass-eo-yo-reulbut-i-myeon?, eo)bwasseoyoreulbutimyeon?)

  3. Which sentence incorrectly uses -(아/어) 봤어요?

    다음 중 -(아/어) 봤어요를 잘못 사용한 문장은?(da-eumjung-(a, daeumjung(a, eo)bwass-eo-yo-reuljal-mossa-yong-hanmun-jang-eun?, eo)bwasseoyoreuljalmossayonghanmunjangeun?)

More usage guides

View all usage guides →