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-아/어/여 보다: To Try Doing Something
2024-12-09
2025-02-26
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Example Sentences#

  1. 이번엔 좀 색다르게 놀아보자.1
    Let’s try to do something a bit different this time.

    • 놀다 means ‘to play’ or ‘to have fun’.
    • -아 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement, meaning ‘to try doing something’.
    • -자 is an informal sentence ending used to suggest, propose, or encourage an action, often translated as ‘let’s’.
  2. 앨리스: 앨리스는 이 말을 부정할 수 없다고 느껴서 다른 질문을 해 보았다.2
    Alice: Feeling that she couldn’t deny this, Alice asked another question.

    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
    • -여 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • is a plain narrative form used in writing to state facts or narrate events.
  3. 아니면 살짝 웃어볼까3
    Or should I give a soft smile?

    • 웃다 means ‘to smile’.
    • -어 보다 is a grammatical construction where 보다 (to see) is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • -ㄹ까 is a question ending indicating curiosity, wonder, or uncertainty, often reflecting deliberation or weighing options. It can suggest actions to do together (‘Shall we…?’), ask someone’s opinion or show curiosity about a situation (‘Do you think…?’), or express personal deliberation about one’s own actions (‘Shall I…?’).
  4. 더 멀리 가볼래, 한 번 더4
    I want to go farther, one more time

    • 가다 means ‘to go’.
    • -아 보다 is a grammatical construction where 보다 (to see) is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • -ㄹ래 is an informal ending used to express the speaker’s firm intention to undertake a future action, or to ask about the listener’s willingness, often framed as a suggestion or invitation.
  5. 네가 원하는 쪽으로 가 봐.2
    Go whichever way you want.

    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
    • -아 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • is the imperative ending used in informal speech.
  6. 조금만 더 내게 다가와 3
    Come a little closer to me

    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
    • -아 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • is the imperative ending used in informal speech.
  7. 너와 나, 웃으며 춤춰 3
    You and I, let’s smile and dance

    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
    • -어 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • is the imperative ending used in informal speech.
  8. 끝없는 하늘 아래 걸어볼래4
    I want to walk under the endless sky

    • 걷다 means ‘to walk’.
    • -어 보다 is a grammatical construction where 보다 (to see) is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • -ㄹ래 is an informal ending used to express the speaker’s firm intention to undertake a future action, or to ask about the listener’s willingness, often framed as a suggestion or invitation.

Footnotes#

  1. Sentence from A Fun Weekend Ahead.

  2. Sentence from Alice And The Cheshire Cat Story. 2

  3. Sentence from Blue Breeze Song. 2 3

  4. Sentence from Like A Paper Boat Song. 2

-아/어/여 보다: To Try Doing Something
https://koreanstorylab.com/posts/grammar/-아-어-여-보다-to-try-doing-something/
Author
Korean Story Lab
Published at
2024-12-09