Talking with Someone for the First Time

Use -봐요 [bwa-yo] to say you try an action.

Step 1: Drop the 요 [yo]. 먹어요 [meo-geo-yo] eat → 먹어 [meo-geo]

Step 2: Add 봐요 [bwa-yo]. 먹어 [meo-geo] → 먹어 봐요 [meo-geo bwa-yo] try eating

가 봐요. [ga bwa-yo]
Try going.

• Step 1: 가요 [ga-yo] go → 가 [ga]
• Step 2: 가 [ga] → 가 봐요 [ga bwa-yo]

해 봐요. [hae bwa-yo]
Try doing.

• Step 1: 해요 [hae-yo] do → 해 [hae]
• Step 2: 해 [hae] → 해 봐요 [hae bwa-yo]

한국어 공부해 봐요. [han-gu-geo gong-bu-hae bwa-yo]
Try learning Korean.

• 한국어 [han-gu-geo] means "Korean"
• 공부해 봐요 [gong-bu-hae bwa-yo] means "try studying"

김치를 먹어 봤어요? [gim-chi-reul meo-geo bwa-sseo-yo?]
Have you eaten kimchi?

• 김치 [gim-chi] means "Kimchi"
• 먹어 봤어요? [meo-geo bwa-sseo-yo?] means "have you tried eating it?"

제주도에 가 봤어요. [je-ju-do-e ga bwa-sseo-yo]
I've been to Jeju Island.

• 제주도 [je-ju-do] means "Jeju Island"
• 가 봤어요 [ga bwa-sseo-yo] means "I've been there."

• A: 어디에 여행을 가 봤어요?
  Where have you traveled?
• B: 영국에 여행을 가 봤어요. [yeong-gu-ge yeo-haeng-eul ga bwa-sseo-yo]
  I've traveled to UK.
• A: 무슨 언어를 배워 봤어요?
  Which language have you learned?
• B: 한국어를 배워 봤어요. [han-gu-geo-reul bae-wo bwa-sseo-yo]
  I've tried learning Korean.
• A: 무슨 악기를 배워 봤어요?
  Which instrument have you learned?
• B: 피아노를 배워 봤어요. [pi-a-no-reul bae-wo bwa-sseo-yo]
  I've tried learning piano.