보다
boda[po̞da̠]
The Korean verb for 'to look' is 보다 (boda).
보다 is used to express the action of trying to see something. Depending on the context, it can also be used to mean 'to look after' something, such as a child. Relatedly, if you want someone to let you see something, you would typically use 보여줘 to say 'show me' rather than simply asking them to look.
Meaning: to try to see (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 보다 is the standard verb, you can use 봐봐 or 확인해 봐 colloquially when you want someone to 'look' or 'check' something. To request that someone actually presents something to your sight, use 보여줘 ('show me').
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a polite command, such as telling someone 'look', use 보세요. In casual situations with people of equal or lower status, you can use the colloquial form 봐봐 to say 'look' or 'check this out'. To say 'look' or 'check' casually, you can also use 확인해 봐.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of the verb is 봤다. For polite imperatives, the form is 보세요.
How do you pronounce it?
boda
Did you know?
- The verb 보다 is used to describe the act of watching a movie, viewing an exhibition and even taking an exam, which is called 시험 보다.
- While 보다 is the verb for 'to look', the identical sounding particle 보다 is used to create comparisons, acting like the English word 'than'.
- The word 보다 was attested as early as 1447 in the Yongbi eocheon'ga, one of the first works written in the Korean alphabet.
Examples in context
- 아이를 보다To look after a childThis sentence shows how 보다 can be used to mean looking after a child.
- 이거 좀 봐봐.Have a look at this.This sentence uses the form 봐봐 to suggest looking at something.
- 문을 보세요.Please look at the door.
- 전화번호를 확인해 보세요.Please check the phone number.
- 우리 다음 주말에 만나서 일정 확인해 봐.Let's meet next weekend and check our schedules.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “look” translations and entries 보다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 보다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
