-아/어 보다
-아/어 보다 literally means 'do X and see' — attaching 보다 ('to see / try') to a verb's -아/어 form. The result covers both English 'try doing' (give it a shot) and 'have you ever done' (past experience). Two readings, one shape — the tense tells you which.
Form: take the -아/어 form, add 보다
Take the verb's -아/어요 form and replace -요 with 보다 (or its conjugated forms). 먹다 → 먹어요 → 먹어 보다. 가다 → 가요 → 가 보다. 하다 → 해요 → 해 보다. The space between the verb and 보다 is conventional but often dropped: 먹어보다 is also fine. 보다 itself then conjugates: 먹어 봐요 (try eating, present), 먹어 봤어요 (tried eating, past), 먹어 볼게요 (I'll try eating, future-promise).
Reading 1: 'try doing' (present / future)
In present or future, -아/어 보다 = 'give it a try' / 'attempt'. 이 음식 먹어 봐요! = 'Try this food!' 김치를 먹어 볼게요. = 'I'll try (eating) kimchi.' 한국에 가 보고 싶어요. = 'I want to try going to Korea.' Often paired with -고 싶다 (want, lesson 14) for 'I want to try X'. Also very natural in commands and suggestions: 한번 해 봐요. = 'Try it once.'
Reading 2: 'have you ever / I have' (past)
In past tense, -아/어 봤어요 typically means 'have experienced doing X' — same as English present perfect 'have you ever?'. 한국 음식 먹어 봤어요? = 'Have you (ever) tried Korean food?' 네, 먹어 봤어요. = 'Yes, I've tried (eating) it.' 아니요, 안 먹어 봤어요. = 'No, I haven't tried it.' Compare with plain past 먹었어요 = 'I ate (it)' (specific past event). 먹어 봤어요 = 'I have (in my life) tried eating it.'
Trial vs experience — same form, context decides
Both readings come from the same idea: 'do it and see how it is'. Present-future emphasizes the attempt; past emphasizes the experience left behind. 제주도에 가 봐요! = 'Try going to Jeju!' (suggestion). 제주도에 가 봤어요. = 'I've been to Jeju.' Same construction, different times, different feel. With many verbs the 'try' nuance fades and -아/어 봤어요 is the most natural way to say 'have done before'.
보다 itself = 'see' — be careful
When 보다 follows another verb's -아/어 form it's the auxiliary 'try'. By itself, 보다 still means 'see / look'. So 봤어요 = 'I saw (it)', but 먹어 봤어요 = 'I have tried eating'. Don't combine 보다 with itself: 봐 봤어요 is awkward — say 본 적 있어요 for 'have seen' (a different experience marker, comes later).
