Try Doing -아/어 보다 in Korean

Overview

The pattern -아/어 보다 expresses trying or experiencing something, a useful CEFR A2 structure. It combines the verb stem's -아/어 form with 보다 (to see/try). In present tense, it means "try doing"; in past tense (-아/어 봤다), it means "have tried/experienced." This is one of the most common patterns for recommendations and discussing life experiences.

This construction appears constantly in everyday Korean: at restaurants (한번 먹어 보세요 — please try eating it), in travel conversations (한국에 가 봤어요? — have you been to Korea?), and in general advice.

How It Works

Tense	Pattern	Meaning
Present/Imperative	stem + 아/어 보다	try doing
Past	stem + 아/어 봤다	have tried/experienced
Suggestion	stem + 아/어 보세요	please try

Examples in Context

Korean	Romanization	English	Note
한번 먹어 보세요.	han-beon meo-geo bo-se-yo	Please try eating it.	recommendation
한국에 가 봤어요?	han-gu-ge ga bwa-sseo-yo	Have you been to Korea?	experience question
이 옷 입어 봐도 돼요?	i ot i-beo bwa-do dwae-yo	May I try on these clothes?	permission
해 봤는데 안 됐어요.	hae bwan-neun-de an dwaesseo-yo	Tried but it didn't work.	past attempt
김치 먹어 봤어요?	gim-chi meo-geo bwa-sseo-yo	Have you tried kimchi?	experience
이 영화 봐 보세요.	i yeong-hwa bwa bo-se-yo	Try watching this movie.	recommendation
한번 해 볼게요.	han-beon hae bol-ge-yo	I'll give it a try.	willingness
생각해 볼게요.	saeng-ga-kae bol-ge-yo	I'll think about it.	consideration
아직 안 해 봤어요.	a-jik an hae bwa-sseo-yo	Haven't tried it yet.	negative experience

Common Mistakes

Confusing -아/어 보다 with 보다 (to see)

• Wrong: Translating 가 봤어요 as "went and saw"
• Right: 가 봤어요 means "have been (tried going)"
• Why: When 보다 follows -아/어, it functions as an auxiliary meaning "try/experience," not "see."

Using wrong vowel form

• Wrong: 먹아 보다
• Right: 먹어 보다
• Why: Same vowel harmony as polite ending: 먹 has ㅓ vowel, so -어 is used.

Not recognizing 한번 as "once/try"

• Wrong: Thinking 한번 해 보세요 literally means "do it one time and look"
• Right: 한번 means "give it a try" in this context
• Why: 한번 with -아/어 보다 is a set pattern meaning "try once / give it a shot."

Usage Notes

-아/어 보다 in past tense is the standard way to ask about life experiences in Korean, similar to English present perfect: 스카이다이빙 해 봤어요? (Have you ever been skydiving?). The expression 생각해 볼게요 (I'll think about it) is a polite way to defer a decision. In business contexts, 검토해 보겠습니다 (I'll review it) is common.

Practice Tips

• Ask and answer experience questions: ...해 봤어요? — 네, 해 봤어요 / 아니요, 안 해 봤어요.
• Use 한번 + verb + 아/어 보세요 to practice giving recommendations.
• List five things you have tried and five you have not, using this pattern.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Polite Ending -아/어요 — same conjugation base for the -아/어 form