Lesson 12
This particular sentence structure “verb stem + -아/어/여 보다” is used to:
- tell someone to try or attempt something;
- ask if someone has ever done or tried something;
- make a command sound less demanding.
The structure -아/어/여 보다 is composed of two parts: -아/어/여 and 보다. -아/어/여 is the basic suffix used after verb stems, and 보다 means “to see”. The literal translation of -아/어/여 보다 is “to do something and see (what happens)”.
Nevertheless, this structure really does not have a specific meaning and is used simply to make sentences more natural. However, the most common translation of -아/어/여 보다 is “to try doing something”.
Conjugation
Verb stem + -아/어/여 보다
Examples
(1)
쓰다 = to use
→ 쓰 + -어 보다 = 써 보다 = to try using (something)
이거 써 봤어요?
= Have you tried using this? / Have you used this before?
(2)
들어가다 = to enter, to go in
→ 들어가 + -아 보다 = 들어가 보다 = to try going in
들어가 볼까요?
= Shall we try going in (and see what it is like)? / Shall we attempt to go in?
(3)
하다 = to do
→ 하 + -여 보다 = 해 보다 = to try doing (something)
이거 해 보고 싶어요.
= I want to try doing this. / I want to give it a try.
Fixed expressions and verbs containing -아/어/여 보다
Since -아/어/여 보다 is a frequently used structure, some verb are more common in the -아/어/여 보다 structure than others, and other verbs are actually already in the form of -아/어/여 보다. For some structures, -아/어/여 보다 is already a part of some verbs, so the space between -아/어/여 and 보다 is not necessary.
- 물어보다 vs 물어 보다
- 물어보다 = to ask; to try asking
- 물어 보다 (x)
- 알아보다 vs 알아 보다
- 알아보다 = to look into something; to recognize
- 알아 보다 (x)
- 지켜보다 vs 지켜 보다
- 지켜보다 = to keep a watchful eye on someone/something
- 지켜 보다 (x)
Sample Sentences
이거 먹어 봐요.
= Try eating this. / Try some of this.
저도 거기 안 가 봤어요.
= I have not been there yet, either. / I have not tried going there, either.
제가 먼저 해 볼게요.
= I will try doing it first. / I will give it a try first.
누구한테 물어볼까요?
= Whom shall I ask?
제가 알아볼게요.
= I will look into it.