🟠Describing Past Experiences Using -아/어 봤어요 (Intermediate Level - TOPIK 3~4)

Have you ever tried kimchi? Or visited Korea? To talk about your past experiences in Korean, one essential pattern is -아/어 봤어요. It literally means “have tried doing something” and is super useful in daily conversation. Let’s dive into how to use it naturally! 🌊
📘 What Does -아/어 봤어요 Mean?
The pattern -아/어 봤어요 is used to express that you have experienced or tried something. It corresponds to “I have done ~ before” in English.
🔧 How to Form It
Attach -아/어 보다 to the verb stem, then conjugate 보다 in the past tense → 봤어요.
Verb | Conjugation | Romanization | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
먹다 (to eat) | 먹어 봤어요 | meogeo bwasseoyo | I’ve tried eating |
가다 (to go) | 가 봤어요 | ga bwasseoyo | I’ve been to / tried going |
하다 (to do) | 해 봤어요 | hae bwasseoyo | I’ve tried doing |
📝 Example Sentences
저는 한복을 입어 봤어요.
Jeoneun hanbogeul ibeobwasseoyo.
I’ve tried wearing hanbok.
그 영화를 세 번 봐 봤어요.
Geu yeonghwareul se beon bwa bwasseoyo.
I’ve watched that movie three times.
한국에 가 봤어요?
Hanguge ga bwasseoyo?
Have you ever been to Korea?
💬 Practice Dialogue
👩 A: 한국 음식을 많이 먹어 봤어요?
Hangugeumsigeul mani meogeo bwasseoyo?
Have you tried many Korean foods?
👨 B: 네, 김치찌개랑 불고기를 먹어 봤어요. 정말 맛있었어요.
Ne, kimchijjigaerang bulgogireul meogeo bwasseoyo. Jeongmal masisseosseoyo.
Yes, I’ve tried kimchi stew and bulgogi. It was really delicious.
👩 A: 전 아직 떡볶이를 안 먹어 봤어요. 맵나요?
Jeon ajik tteokbokkireul an meogeo bwasseoyo. Maemnayo?
I haven’t tried tteokbokki yet. Is it spicy?
👨 B: 조금 매운데, 아주 맛있어요! 꼭 먹어 봐요.
Jogeum maewunde, aju masisseoyo! Kkok meogeo bwayo.
It’s a little spicy, but very tasty! You should definitely try it.
👩 A: 좋아요! 다음 주에 친구랑 먹어 볼 거예요.
Joayo! Daeum jue chingurang meogeo bol geoyeyo.
Sounds good! I’ll try it with a friend next week.
💡 Did You Know?
In Korea, there’s a special “birthday soup” called 미역국 (miyeokguk) made with seaweed. It’s traditionally eaten on birthdays to celebrate life and health — and also by mothers after childbirth. 🎂 If you forget to eat it on your birthday in Korea, someone might jokingly ask, “Didn’t you eat miyeokguk today?”
💬 Practice Korean with Me on italki!
Want to share your Korean experiences or try out what you've learned? Practice naturally in my online lessons on italki. Let’s talk about your food, travel, or study adventures — all in Korean! 🌍
Using -아/어 봤어요 will help you sound more natural when sharing stories or experiences in Korean. Don’t just study—try using it in real conversations. Your Korean will grow faster that way! 😊
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