Learning how to use -아/어 보세요 in Korean is essential for beginners who want to make polite requests or give gentle suggestions. This grammar pattern appears frequently in everyday conversations and helps learners sound both natural and considerate. Mastering -아/어 보세요 allows you to communicate politely in various situations, from casual chats to more formal settings.
Contents
1. Definition
The grammar pattern -아/어 보세요 is a polite form used to suggest or encourage someone to try an action. In English, it can be translated as “Please try to…” or “Why don’t you…?” This structure makes requests sound friendly rather than commanding, helping speakers communicate politely in both casual and formal contexts.
2. Form (Structure)
Conjugation Rules
The grammar pattern -아/어 보세요 is used only with verbs, not with adjectives or nouns. It attaches to the verb stem to make polite requests or suggestions.
1. Verb Stem Ending in ㅏ or ㅗ
- Add -아 + 보세요.
- Use this for verbs where the final vowel of the stem is ㅏ or ㅗ.
Examples:
- 가다 (to go) → 가 보세요 (Try going)
- 보다 (to see/watch) → 봐 보세요 (Try seeing/watching)
- 오다 (to come) → 와 보세요 (Try coming)
2. Verb Stem Ending in Other Vowels
- Add -어 + 보세요.
- Applies to most other verbs not ending in ㅏ or ㅗ.
Examples:
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹어 보세요 (Try eating)
- 읽다 (to read) → 읽어 보세요 (Try reading)
- 배우다 (to learn) → 배워 보세요 (Try learning)
3. 하다 Verbs
- Replace 하다 with 해, then add 보세요.
- 공부하다 (to study) → 공부해 보세요 (Try studying)
- 운동하다 (to exercise) → 운동해 보세요 (Try exercising)
- 청소하다 (to clean) → 청소해 보세요 (Try cleaning)
Common Irregular Verbs with -아/어 보세요
1. ㅂ Irregular (ㅂ → 우)
Some verbs ending in ㅂ change the ㅂ to 우 before adding -어 보세요.
- 돕다 (to help) → 도와 보세요 (Try helping)
2. ㄷ Irregular (ㄷ → ㄹ)
Verbs with a stem ending in ㄷ change to ㄹ before a vowel.
- 듣다 (to listen) → 들어 보세요 (Try listening)
- 걷다 (to walk) → 걸어 보세요 (Try walking)
- 묻다 (to ask) → 물어 보세요 (Try asking)
3. 르 Irregular (르 → ㄹㄹ)
Verbs ending in 르 add an extra ㄹ before conjugation.
- 부르다 (to call) → 불러 보세요 (Try calling)
- 고르다 (to choose) → 골라 보세요 (Try choosing)
- 누르다 (to press) → 눌러 보세요 (Try pressing)
Here’s a table to help you understand the structure better:
| Verb Type | Original Verb | -아/어 보세요 Form | Example |
| Verbs ending in ㅏ, ㅗ | 가다 (to go) | 가 + 아 보세요 → 가 보세요 | 학교에 가 보세요. (Try going to school.) |
| Verbs ending in other vowels | 먹다 (to eat) | 먹 + 어 보세요 → 먹어 보세요 | 김치를 먹어 보세요. (Try eating kimchi.) |
| 하다 Verbs | 운동하다 (to exercise) | 운동해 보세요 | 매일 운동해 보세요. (Try exercising daily.) |
3. Meaning & Usage
1. Encouraging Someone to Try an Action
Use -아/어 보세요 to invite someone to attempt something without pressure. It implies gentle curiosity about the outcome.
- 이 새로운 음식을 먹어 보세요. (Try this new food.)
- 한국어로 말해 보세요. (Try speaking Korean.)
- 다르게 해 보세요. (Try doing it differently.)
- 내일 일찍 일어나 보세요. (Try waking up early tomorrow.)
- 이 방법으로 요리해 보세요. (Try cooking using this method.)
2. Giving Gentle Recommendations
Instead of direct commands, -아/어 보세요 can be used to suggest actions politely, showing consideration for the listener.
- 명상을 해 보세요. (Try meditating.)
- 운동을 시작해 보세요. (Try starting to exercise.)
- 일찍 자 보세요. (Try going to bed early.)
- 친구에게 전화해 보세요. (Try calling your friend.)
- 새로운 앱을 사용해 보세요. (Try using this new app.)
3. Encouraging New Experiences
Use -아/어 보세요 to motivate someone to try something unfamiliar or explore new things.
- 새로운 취미를 가져 보세요. (Try picking up a new hobby.)
- 해외여행을 가 보세요. (Try going on an overseas trip.)
- 다른 문화를 경험해 보세요. (Try experiencing a different culture.)
- 새로운 레스토랑에 가 보세요. (Try going to a new restaurant.)
- 한국 드라마를 보세요. (Try watching Korean dramas.)
📍 Note for 보다
For 보다 (to see/watch), the natural polite request form is 보세요, not 봐 보세요. Koreans omit the contraction to sound simpler and more natural in everyday speech.
4. Key Points to Remember
- Attach only to verbs – do not use with adjectives.
- Make polite suggestions or requests – softer and friendlier than direct commands.
- Use -아 or -어 depending on the final vowel of the verb stem.
- Some verbs are irregular – remember common ones like 듣다 → 들어 보세요, 부르다 → 불러 보세요, 돕다 → 도와 보세요.
- 보다 is special – always use 보세요, not 봐 보세요, for natural speech.
5. Practice Exercises
Translate the following sentences into Korean using -아/어 보세요:
- Please try drinking this tea.
→ - Why don’t you listen to this song?
→ - Try speaking Korean every day.
→ - Please try writing a letter to your friend.
→ - Why don’t you visit the museum this weekend?
→ - Try making Korean food at home.
→ - Please try explaining your idea one more time.
→ - Why don’t you consider studying abroad next year?
→ - Try implementing this new strategy at work.
→ - Please try to understand the situation from their perspective.
→
6. Answers
- 이 차를 마셔 보세요.
- 이 노래를 들어 보세요.
- 매일 한국어로 말해 보세요.
- 친구에게 편지를 써 보세요.
- 이번 주말에 박물관에 가 보세요.
- 집에서 한국 음식을 만들어 보세요.
- 당신의 아이디어를 한 번 더 설명해 보세요.
- 내년에 유학을 고려해 보세요.
- 직장에서 이 새로운 전략을 실행해 보세요.
- 그들의 관점에서 상황을 이해해 보세요.
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using the wrong form for 보다
Incorrect: 한국 드라마를 봐 보세요 ❌
Correct: 한국 드라마를 보세요 ✅
💡 Tip: For 보다 (to see/watch), always use 보세요 for natural speech.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Attaching -아/어 보세요 to adjectives
Incorrect: 덥아 보세요 ❌ (오타: ‘덥다’에서 ‘덥아’는 틀림)
Correct: 운동을 해 보세요 ✅
💡 Tip: This grammar pattern only works with verbs, not adjectives.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Ignoring irregular verbs
Incorrect: 듣아 보세요 ❌ (오타: ‘듣다’의 잘못된 활용)
Correct: 들어 보세요 ✅
💡 Tip: Remember common irregular verbs like 듣다 → 들어 보세요, 부르다 → 불러 보세요, 돕다 → 도와 보세요.
The -아/어 보세요 form is a simple and polite way to make suggestions or encourage actions. Mastering it will help you sound natural and considerate in everyday Korean conversations. Keep practicing with different verbs and situations to gain confidence and fluency.