TL;DR π¦
- π‘ νλ² ν΄ λ³΄μΈμ [han-beon hae bo-se-yo] β "Try it once"
- π μ΄κ±° λ¨Ήμ΄ λ³΄μΈμ [i-geo meo-geo bo-se-yo] β "Try eating this"
- π₯ λ³μμ κ° λ³΄μΈμ [byeong-wo-ne ga bo-se-yo] β "Try going to the hospital"
- π€ μ΄λ κ² ν΄ λ³΄λ κ² μ΄λμ? [i-reo-ke hae bo-neun ge eo-ttae-yo?] β "How about trying it this way?"
- β¨ νλ² ν΄ λ΄€μ΄μ [han-beon hae bwa-sseo-yo] β "I tried it once"
π§ Iru Helper Note: Hear every phrase in this lesson spoken aloud and practice your pronunciation with the Iru Helper Widgets.
Β
π The Big Picture
To gently suggest someone "try" doing something, Korean uses -μ/μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ [-a/eo bo-se-yo], built from λ³΄λ€ ("to see/try"). Literally it means "do [verb] and see" β a soft, encouraging way to give advice without sounding bossy.
- κ°λ€ β κ° λ³΄μΈμ β "Try going (there)"
- λ¨Ήλ€ β λ¨Ήμ΄ λ³΄μΈμ β "Try eating (it)"
- μ λ€ β μ μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ β "Try wearing (it)"
Add νλ² [han-beon] ("once / one time") before the verb to soften it even further β νλ² λ¨Ήμ΄ λ³΄μΈμ ("Just try eating it once") feels warm and low-pressure, like a friendly nudge rather than a command.
π Talking About Things You've Tried
The same -μ/μ΄ λ³΄λ€ pattern, when put into past tense (-μ/μ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ), means "I've tried..." or "I have experience doing...":
- κΉμΉ λ¨Ήμ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ β "I've tried kimchi (before)"
- νκ΅μ κ° λ³Έ μ μμ΄μ β "I have the experience of having gone to Korea"
This is different from simply saying λ¨Ήμμ΄μ ("I ate it") β λ¨Ήμ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ carries the nuance of "I gave it a try" or "I have that experience," which is great for talking about new experiences, foods, or activities.
π§³ Essential Phrase Kit
- ...μ/μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ [a/eo bo-se-yo] β "Try ...-ing"
- νλ² ν΄ λ³΄μΈμ [han-beon hae bo-se-yo] β "Try it once"
- μ΄κ±° λ¨Ήμ΄ λ³΄μΈμ [i-geo meo-geo bo-se-yo] β "Try this (food)"
- μ΄λ κ² ν΄ λ³΄λ κ² μ΄λμ? [i-reo-ke hae bo-neun ge eo-ttae-yo?] β "How about trying it this way?"
- λ³μμ κ° λ³΄μΈμ [byeong-wo-ne ga bo-se-yo] β "Try going to the hospital"
- ...μ/μ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ [a/eo bwa-sseo-yo] β "I've tried..."
- κ° λ³Έ μ μμ΄μ [ga bon jeok i-sseo-yo] β "I've been there before"
- νλ² μ μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ [han-beon i-beo bo-se-yo] β "Try it on (clothes)"
- λ€μ΄ 보μΈμ [deu-reo bo-se-yo] β "Try listening / Listen to this"
- λ€μ νλ² ν΄ λ³΄μΈμ [da-si han-beon hae bo-se-yo] β "Try it one more time"
π οΈ Putting Together
A: μμ¦ κ³μ λ¨Έλ¦¬κ° μνμ.
B: κ·Έλμ? λ³μμ νλ² κ° λ³΄μΈμ. μ½λ§ λ¨Ήμ§ λ§κ³ κ²μ¬λ λ°μ 보μΈμ.
A: "My head keeps hurting these days." B: "Really? Try going to the hospital. Don't just take medicine β try getting checked out too."
π¦ Grammar note: κ²μ¬λ λ°μ 보μΈμ β 보μΈμ can attach to almost any action verb to soften the suggestion.
A: μ΄ μλΉ μ²μ μ λ΄€λλ° λκ° λ§μμ΄μ?
B: κΉμΉμ°κ° νλ² λ¨Ήμ΄ λ³΄μΈμ. μ¬κΈ°μ μ μΌ μ λͺ
ν λ©λ΄μμ.
A: "I've never been to this restaurant before β what's good?" B: "Try the kimchi stew once. It's the most famous menu item here."
π¦ Grammar note: μ λ΄€λλ° ("I've come/tried coming, but...") sets up the question using the "tried" meaning of -μ/μ΄ λ³΄λ€.
A: λ°ν μ€λΉκ° μ μ λΌμ. λ무 κΈ΄μ₯λΌμ.
B: μΉκ΅¬λ€ μμμ λ¨Όμ μ°μ΅ν΄ 보λ κ² μ΄λμ? λμμ΄ λ κ±°μμ.
A: "My presentation prep isn't going well. I'm too nervous." B: "How about trying to practice in front of your friends first? It'll help."
π¦ Grammar note: -μ/μ΄ λ³΄λ κ² μ΄λμ? combines "try" with "how about" for an even gentler suggestion.
π£οΈ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue
λ―Όμ: μ§μ μ¨, μμ¦ λ무 νΌκ³€ν΄ 보μ¬μ. λ¬΄μ¨ μΌ μμ΄μ?
[ji-eun ssi, yo-jeum neo-mu pi-go-nae bo-yeo-yo. mu-seun il i-sseo-yo?]
"Jieun, you look really tired these days. Is something going on?"
μ§μ: λ€... μμ¦ μ μ μ λͺ» μμ. μ€νΈλ μ€ λλ¬ΈμΈ κ² κ°μμ.
[ne... yo-jeum ja-meul jal mot ja-yo. seu-teu-re-seu ddae-mu-nin geot ga-ta-yo]
"Yeah... I haven't been sleeping well lately. I think it's because of stress."
λ―Όμ: κ·Έλ¬λ©΄ μκΈ° μ μ λ°λ»ν μ°¨ νλ² λ§μ
보μΈμ. λμμ΄ λ κ±°μμ.
[geu-reo-myeon ja-gi jeo-ne dda-tteu-tan cha han-beon ma-syeo bo-se-yo. do-u-mi doel kkeo-ye-yo]
"In that case, try drinking some warm tea before bed. It'll help."
μ§μ: μ’μ μκ°μ΄λ€μ. μ¬μ€ μ΄λλ ν΄ λ³Έ μ μ΄ μλλ°, μ΄λλ ν΄ λ³ΌκΉμ?
[jo-eun saeng-ga-ki-ne-yo. sa-sil un-dong-do hae bon jeo-gi eom-neun-de, un-dong-do hae bol-kka-yo?]
"That's a good idea. Actually, I've never tried exercising either β should I try that too?"
λ―Όμ: λ€! κ°λ²Όμ΄ μ°μ±
λΆν° ν΄ λ³΄μΈμ. λ무 무리νμ§ μλ κ² μ’μμ.
[ne! ga-byeo-un san-chaek-bu-teo hae bo-se-yo. neo-mu mu-ri-ha-ji a-neun ge jo-a-yo]
"Yes! Try starting with a light walk. It's better not to overdo it."
μ§μ: μκ² μ΄μ. μ€λλΆν° νλ² ν΄ λ³Όκ²μ. μ‘°μΈ κ³ λ§μμ!
[al-ge-sseo-yo. o-neul-bu-teo han-beon hae bol-ge-yo. jo-eon go-ma-wo-yo!]
"Got it. I'll give it a try starting today. Thanks for the advice!"
π§ Speaking Tip
-μ/μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ is one of the friendliest ways to give advice in Korean β much softer than a direct command. Combine it with νλ² ("once") to make it even gentler, and pair it with -λ κ² μ΄λμ? ("how about...?") when you want to offer a suggestion rather than tell someone what to do. When responding to advice, νλ² ν΄ λ³Όκ²μ ("I'll give it a try") is the perfect way to show you're open to it.
β οΈ Pitfalls to Dodge
- β Using -μ/μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ for things that aren't really "trying" something new β it implies an experiment or new experience, not routine actions.
- β Forgetting that -μ/μ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ (past) means "I've tried/experienced," which is different from simple past tense (-μ/μμ΄μ).
- β Saying λ¨Ήμ΄ λ³΄μΈμ when you mean a firm command β this phrase is inherently soft and suggestive, not an order.
- β Skipping νλ² β adding it makes your advice sound more casual and friendly, especially with friends.
Now go give some great advice β νλ² ν΄ λ³΄μΈμ! π‘β¨
Β
Try this exercise
Instructions: For each prompt, write your response in Korean using the patterns from this lesson. Then check the toggle below for a sample answer.
1. Say "Try this food" (μ΄κ±° λ¨Ήλ€).
Answer
μ΄κ±° λ¨Ήμ΄ λ³΄μΈμ. (Try this food.)
2. Say "Try going to the hospital" (λ³μμ κ°λ€).
Answer
λ³μμ κ° λ³΄μΈμ. (Try going to the hospital.)
3. Say "Try it on" (μ
λ€).
Answer
νλ² μ
μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ. (Try it on.)
4. Say "I've tried kimchi before" (κΉμΉ λ¨Ήλ€).
Answer
κΉμΉ λ¨Ήμ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ. (I've tried kimchi before.)
5. Say "Try it one more time" (λ€μ νλ€).
Answer
λ€μ νλ² ν΄ λ³΄μΈμ. (Try it one more time.)
6. Say "I've been to Korea before" (νκ΅μ κ°λ€, experience).
Answer
νκ΅μ κ° λ³Έ μ μμ΄μ. (I've been to Korea before.)
7. Say "Listen to this" (λ£λ€).
Answer
λ€μ΄ 보μΈμ. (Listen to this.)
8. Say "How about trying it this way?" (μ΄λ κ² νλ€).
Answer
μ΄λ κ² ν΄ λ³΄λ κ² μ΄λμ? (How about trying it this way?)
9. Say "I'll give it a try" (responding to advice).
Answer
νλ² ν΄ λ³Όκ²μ. (I'll give it a try.)
10. Say "Try drinking warm tea" (λ°λ»ν μ°¨ λ§μλ€).
Answer
λ°λ»ν μ°¨ νλ² λ§μ
보μΈμ. (Try drinking warm tea.)
Vocabulary Box
- νλ² β once, one time
- μ λ€ β to wear, try on
- λ€λ€ β to listen
- ...μ μμ΄μ β have the experience of...
- κ²μ¬ λ°λ€ β to get checked/examined
- μ°μ± β a walk, stroll
- κ°λ³λ€ β to be light
- 무리νλ€ β to overdo it
- μ‘°μΈ β advice
- λμμ΄ λλ€ β to be helpful
Pitfalls π‘
- -μ/μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ = soft suggestion, not a command.
- -μ/μ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ = "I've tried/experienced," not simple past.
- νλ² makes advice sound friendlier and lower-pressure.
Want more reps? Head to the Practice Hub below for three full exercise sets!
Β
π― Practice Hub β Giving Advice: 'You should try...'
Work through these three exercises to lock in -μ/μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ and -μ/μ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ. Try answering out loud before checking each answer β and use the Iru Helper Widgets above if you want to hear the pronunciation again.
Exercise 1 β Giving Gentle Suggestions π‘
A. Say "Try calling her" (μ ννλ€).
Answer
μ νν΄ λ³΄μΈμ. [jeon-hwa-hae bo-se-yo]
B. Say "Try asking the teacher" (μ μλκ» λ¬Όμ΄λ³΄λ€).
Answer
μ μλκ» λ¬Όμ΄λ³΄μΈμ. [seon-saeng-nim-kke mu-reo-bo-se-yo]
C. Say "Try writing it down" (μ λ€).
Answer
νλ² μ μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ. [han-beon jeo-geo bo-se-yo]
D. Say "Try this dress on" (μ΄ μ· μ
λ€).
Answer
μ΄ μ· νλ² μ
μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ. [i ot han-beon i-beo bo-se-yo]
E. Say "Try resting a bit" (μ’ μ¬λ€).
Answer
μ’ μ¬μ΄ 보μΈμ. [jom swi-eo bo-se-yo]
F. Say "Try reading this book" (μ΄ μ±
μ½λ€).
Answer
μ΄ μ±
μ½μ΄ 보μΈμ. [i chaek il-geo bo-se-yo]
G. Say "Try going there once" (κ±°κΈ° κ°λ€).
Answer
κ±°κΈ° νλ² κ° λ³΄μΈμ. [geo-gi han-beon ga bo-se-yo]
H. Say "Try making it yourself" (μ§μ λ§λ€λ€).
Answer
μ§μ λ§λ€μ΄ 보μΈμ. [jik-jeop man-deu-reo bo-se-yo]
I. Say "Try wearing these shoes" (μ΄ μ λ° μ λ€).
Answer
μ΄ μ λ° νλ² μ μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ. [i sin-bal han-beon si-neo bo-se-yo]
J. Say "Try asking him directly" (μ§μ λ¬Όμ΄λ³΄λ€).
Answer
μ§μ λ¬Όμ΄λ³΄μΈμ. [jik-jeop mu-reo-bo-se-yo]
Quick Reference
- -μ/μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ β try doing...
- μ λ€ β to write down
- μ λ° β shoes
- μ λ€ β to wear (shoes)
- μ§μ β directly, in person
- λ§λ€λ€ β to make
- λ¬Όμ΄λ³΄λ€ β to ask
Exercise 2 β Talking About Things You've Tried β¨
A. Say "I've tried Korean food before" (νκ΅ μμ λ¨Ήλ€).
Answer
νκ΅ μμ λ¨Ήμ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ. [han-guk eum-sik meo-geo bwa-sseo-yo]
B. Say "I've never been to Busan" (λΆμ°μ κ°λ€).
Answer
λΆμ°μ κ° λ³Έ μ μ΄ μμ΄μ. [bu-sa-ne ga bon jeo-gi eop-seo-yo]
C. Say "Have you ever tried surfing?" (μννλ€).
Answer
μνν΄ λ³Έ μ μμ΄μ? [seo-ping-hae bon jeo-gi i-sseo-yo?]
D. Say "I've worn hanbok before" (ν볡 μ
λ€).
Answer
ν볡 μ
μ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ. [han-bok i-beo bwa-sseo-yo]
E. Say "I've never tried this before" (μ΄κ±° ν΄ λ³΄λ€).
Answer
μ΄κ±° ν λ²λ μ ν΄ λ΄€μ΄μ. [i-geo han beon-do an hae bwa-sseo-yo]
F. Say "I tried learning Korean for a year" (νκ΅μ΄ λ°°μ°λ€).
Answer
νκ΅μ΄λ₯Ό 1λ
λμ λ°°μ λ΄€μ΄μ. [han-gu-geo-reul il-nyeon dong-an bae-wo bwa-sseo-yo]
G. Say "Have you ever lived abroad?" (ν΄μΈμμ μ΄λ€).
Answer
ν΄μΈμμ μ΄μ λ³Έ μ μμ΄μ? [hae-we-e-seo sa-ra bon jeo-gi i-sseo-yo?]
H. Say "I've tried that restaurant before" (κ·Έ μλΉ κ°λ€).
Answer
κ·Έ μλΉ κ° λ΄€μ΄μ. [geu sik-dang ga bwa-sseo-yo]
I. Say "I've never driven before" (μ΄μ νλ€).
Answer
μ΄μ ν΄ λ³Έ μ μ΄ μμ΄μ. [un-jeon-hae bon jeo-gi eop-seo-yo]
J. Say "I've tried making kimchi" (κΉμΉ λ§λ€λ€).
Answer
κΉμΉ λ§λ€μ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ. [gim-chi man-deu-reo bwa-sseo-yo]
Quick Reference
- -μ/μ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ β have tried / have the experience of
- -μ/μ΄ λ³Έ μ μμ΄μ/μμ΄μ β have/haven't ever done
- ν볡 β traditional Korean dress
- μννλ€ β to surf
- ν΄μΈ β abroad, overseas
- 1λ λμ β for one year
Exercise 3 β Full Advice Conversations π¬
A. "μμ¦ λ무 νΌκ³€ν΄ 보μ¬μ" β What does this mean?
Answer
"You look really tired these days."
B. Respond: "I haven't been sleeping well lately."
Answer
μμ¦ μ μ μ λͺ» μμ.
C. Say "Try drinking warm tea before bed."
Answer
μκΈ° μ μ λ°λ»ν μ°¨ νλ² λ§μ
보μΈμ.
D. Say "I've never tried exercising."
Answer
μ΄λλ ν΄ λ³Έ μ μ΄ μμ΄μ.
E. Say "Try starting with a light walk."
Answer
κ°λ²Όμ΄ μ°μ±
λΆν° ν΄ λ³΄μΈμ.
F. Say "It's better not to overdo it."
Answer
λ무 무리νμ§ μλ κ² μ’μμ.
G. Say "I'll give it a try starting today."
Answer
μ€λλΆν° νλ² ν΄ λ³Όκ²μ.
H. Say "Thanks for the advice!"
Answer
μ‘°μΈ κ³ λ§μμ!
I. Say "Try the kimchi stew β it's the most famous menu here."
Answer
κΉμΉμ°κ° νλ² λ¨Ήμ΄ λ³΄μΈμ. μ¬κΈ°μ μ μΌ μ λͺ
ν λ©λ΄μμ.
J. Say "How about practicing in front of friends first?"
Answer
μΉκ΅¬λ€ μμμ λ¨Όμ μ°μ΅ν΄ 보λ κ² μ΄λμ?
Cheat Sheet
- -μ/μ΄ λ³΄μΈμ β try doing...
- -μ/μ΄ λ΄€μ΄μ β have tried...
- νλ² β once (softens advice)
- -λ κ² μ΄λμ? β how about...?
- 무리νλ€ β to overdo it
- μ‘°μΈ β advice
- μκΈ° μ μ β before going to bed
π μνμ΄μ! You can now give friendly advice and talk about your experiences in Korean!