Softening a Statement with '보다' — Korean Grammar

The verb (po·dabo·dapo·dapo·ta) literally means to see. However, when it is attached to another verb using the connector (-a) or (-ŏ-eo-ŏ-e), it acts as an auxiliary verb meaning to try.

This structure changes the nuance of a sentence from a direct action to an attempt or an experience. It is frequently used to make commands sound like polite suggestions or to express an intention to attempt something without guaranteeing the result.

Softening Requests and Commands

In Korean, a direct imperative (command) can sometimes sound too harsh or demanding. By adding (po·dabo·dapo·dapo·ta) after the verb with (-a) or (-ŏ-eo-ŏ-e), you change the meaning from "Do this!" to "Try doing this." This effectively softens the command into a recommendation or a polite suggestion, similar to adding "please" or "why don't you" in English.

이 책을 읽어 보세요.
i chʰæg·ŭl ilg·ŏ bo·se·yo.i chaeg·eul ilg·eo bo·se·yo.i ch'aeg·ŭl ilg·ŏ bo·se·yo.i chayg·ul ilg·e po·sey·yo.
Please try reading this book.
여기 앉아 봐.
yŏ·gi anj·a bwa.yeo·gi anj·a bwa.yŏ·gi anj·a bwa.ye·ki anj·a pwa.
Try sitting here.
한번 먹어 봐요.
han·bŏn mŏg·ŏ bwa·yo.han·beon meog·eo bwa·yo.han·bŏn mŏg·ŏ bwa·yo.han·pen meg·e pwa·yo.
Try eating it once.

Softening Intentions

When talking about your own future actions, using (po·dabo·dapo·dapo·ta) - to try after the verb with (-a) or (-ŏ-eo-ŏ-e) indicates that you will make an effort to do something, rather than stating a definitive fact. It translates to "I will try to do X" or "I will give X a shot." This is often used with the future tense or volition endings like (-(ŭ)l·ge·yo-(eu)l·ge·yo-(ŭ)l·ge·yo-(u)l·key·yo).

제가 해 볼게요.
che·ga hæ bol·ge·yo.je·ga hae bol·ge·yo.che·ga hae bol·ge·yo.cey·ka hay pol·key·yo.
I will try doing it.
내일 일찍 일어나 볼게.
næ·il il·jjik ir·ŏ·na bol·ge.nae·il il·jjik ir·eo·na bol·ge.nae·il il·tchik ir·ŏ·na bol·ge.nay·il il·ccik ir·e·na pol·key.
I will try to wake up early tomorrow.
사장님을 만나 보겠습니다.
sa·jang·nim·ŭl man·na bo·ges·sŭm·ni·da.sa·jang·nim·eul man·na bo·ges·seum·ni·da.sa·jang·nim·ŭl man·na bo·ges·sŭm·ni·da.sa·cang·nim·ul man·na po·keys·sum·ni·ta.
I will try to meet the boss.

Trying Something Out (Experimentation)

The most literal usage of (po·dabo·dapo·dapo·ta) - to try (after the verb with (-a) or (-ŏ-eo-ŏ-e)) is when you perform an action to discover the outcome, such as testing a product or checking a fit.

이 신발을 신어 보세요.
i sin·bar·ŭl sin·ŏ bo·se·yo.i sin·bar·eul sin·eo bo·se·yo.i sin·bar·ŭl sin·ŏ bo·se·yo.i sin·par·ul sin·e po·sey·yo.
Try putting on these shoes.
그 번호로 전화해 봐.
kŭ bŏn·ho·ro jŏn·hwa·hæ bwa.geu beon·ho·ro jeon·hwa·hae bwa.kŭ bŏn·ho·ro jŏn·hwa·hae bwa.ku pen·ho·lo cen·hwa·hay pwa.
Try calling that number.

Expressing Past Experiences

When used in the past tense, verb + (-a) or (-ŏ-eo-ŏ-e) + (po·dabo·dapo·dapo·ta) indicates that you have "tried" or "experienced" something in the past. It is the standard way to say "I have done X before."

저는 한국에 가 봤어요.
chŏ·nŭn han·gug·e ga bwass·ŏ·yo.jeo·neun han·gug·e ga bwass·eo·yo.chŏ·nŭn han·gug·e ga bwass·ŏ·yo.ce·nun han·kug·ey ka pwass·e·yo.
I have been to Korea. (Lit: I tried going to Korea).
불고기를 먹어 봤어요?
pul·go·gi·rŭl mŏg·ŏ bwass·ŏ·yo?bul·go·gi·reul meog·eo bwass·eo·yo?pul·go·gi·rŭl mŏg·ŏ bwass·ŏ·yo?pul·ko·ki·lul meg·e pwass·e·yo?
Have you tried eating bulgogi?

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Korean course

8 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 8. A few of them, with the words “Softening a Statement with '보다'” is about in bold:

가서 부엌 한 번 봐 봐. 되게 작아.
ka·sŏ bu·ŏk han bŏn bwa bwa. twæ·ge jag·a.ga·seo bu·eok han beon bwa bwa. dwae·ge jag·a.ka·sŏ bu·ŏk han bŏn bwa bwa. twae·ge jag·a.ka·se pu·ek han pen pwa pwa. tway·key cag·a.
Go and check out the kitchen. It is so small. (cas.)
Lesson 322
다시 생각해 보니, 좋은 생각이 아닌 것 같아요.
ta·si sæng·ga·kʰæ bo ni, jo·ŭn sæng·gag·i a·nin gŏt gat·a·yo.da·si saeng·ga·kae bo ni, jo·eun saeng·gag·i a·nin geot gat·a·yo.ta·si saeng·ga·k'ae bo ni, jo·ŭn saeng·gag·i a·nin gŏt gat·a·yo.ta·si sayng·ka·khay po ni, co·un sayng·kag·i a·nin ket kat·a·yo.
On second thought, that is a bad idea.
Lesson 338

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