Trying & Experiencing: -아/어 보다

-아/어 보다 is a common Korean grammar pattern that attaches to the end of a verb stem. It's an auxiliary predicate construction, meaning it adds a layer of meaning to the main verb.

It has two primary meanings:

To try doing something to see what it's like (시도).

To have the experience of having done something in the past (경험).

Conjugation Rule

The conjugation follows the same rules as the present tense -아요/어요 ending. You attach it to the verb stem.

Condition · Form · Example

Last vowel of the stem is ㅏ or ㅗ · -아 보다 · 가다 → 가 보다

Last vowel of the stem is anything else · -어 보다 · 먹다 → 먹어 보다

Verb is a 하다 verb · -해 보다 · 요리하다 → 요리해 보다

Usage 1: Trying Something Out (시도)

The first meaning of -아/어 보다 is to try an action, often to see how it turns out. This is useful for making suggestions, expressing your intention to try something, or asking if you should try something.

Common Forms for "Trying"

Suggestion: -아/어 보세요

This is a polite way to suggest someone try something. It's like saying, "Please try doing..."

이 케이크 한번 먹어 보세요. (Please try this cake.)

Asking/Suggesting: -아/어 볼까요?

Use this to ask "Shall we try...?" or "Should I try...?"

우리 이 영화를 봐 볼까요? (Shall we try watching this movie?)

Intention: -아/어 볼게요

This expresses your will or intention to try something.

제가 한번 해 볼게요. (I'll give it a try.)

Desire: -아/어 보고 싶어요

This combines -아/어 보다 with -고 싶다 (to want to) to mean "I want to try doing..."

한국에 가 보고 싶어요. (I want to try visiting Korea.)

Usage 2: Past Experience (경험)

The second meaning of -아/어 보다 is to talk about past experiences. In this case, it's almost always used in the past tense: -아/어 봤어요 .

This form is the natural way to ask "Have you ever...?" or to state "I have..." in Korean.

제주도에 가 봤어요? (Have you ever been to Jeju Island?)

김치를 먹어 봤어요. (I have tried kimchi before.)

Nuance: Simple Past vs. Experience

There's a key difference between the simple past and the experience form.

작년에 제주도에 갔어요 . (I went to Jeju Island last year.) - This states a simple fact about a past action.

제주도에 가 봤어요 . (I have been to Jeju Island before.) - This emphasizes that you have the experience of going there.

To further emphasize an experience, you can combine this pattern with -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다 (to have/not have the occasion of).

저는 말을 타 본 적이 없어요. (I have never had the experience of riding a horse.)

Quick review

Past tense: -아/어 봤어요

"Have you ever...?" nuance

Often with -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다