보다

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 보다 (boda). [1] First attested in the Worin seokbo (月印釋譜 / 월인석보), 1459, as Middle Korean 보다 (boda). [2]

• IPA^(key)[po̞da̠]
• Phonetic Hangul[보다]

보다 • (boda) (infinitive 봐 or 보아, sequential 보니)

1. to see, look at
   

   그들은 여러가지 화초를 보고 있다.

   그들은 여러가지 화초를 보고 있다.

   Geudeureun yeoreogaji hwachoreul bogo itda.

   They are looking at various plants.

   서양인들은 보는 것을 매우 중요시해서 실명은 곧 죽음과 마찬가지인 것으로 생각했다고 한다.

   Seoyang-indeureun boneun geoseul mae-u jung-yosihaeseo silmyeong-eun got jugeumgwa machan-gajiin geoseuro saenggakhaetdago handa.

   Westerners are said to have placed great importance on seeing and thought that being blind was like death.

2. to look after (a baby, child, house, etc.)

   아이를 보다

   aireul boda

   to look after a child

3. to watch (a film, TV, etc.)

   영화를 보다

   yeonghwareul boda

   to watch a film

4. to read (a book, newspaper, etc.)
5. to examine (a document, patient, disorder, etc.)
6. to take (an examination)

   시험을 잘 보면 좋겠습니다.

   Siheomeul jal bomyeon joketseumnida.

   I hope to do well on the test. (literally: It will be good if I take the test well.)

7. to experience (a profit, loss, etc.)
8. to relieve oneself
9. to try something; requires a main verb with "-아/어" suffix or use attributively with "적".

   한번 생각해 볼게요.

   Hanbeon saenggakhae bolgeyo.

   I will consider it. (Literally, "I will try thinking about it.")

   한국에 가 본 적이 있어요?

   Han-guge ga bon jeogi isseoyo?

   Have you ever been to (South) Korea?

Note: it doesn't mean "to try hard" (e.g., "I tried to pass the exam."). For that, you can use "-려(고) 하다" or "-려고 노력하다". Compare Japanese 見る.

• 보이다 (boida, “to be seen, see”) (intransitive)
• 여보세요 (yeoboseyo, “hello”)

• 비치다 (bichida, “to shine; to be seen, shown”)
• 빛 (bit, “light”)

보다 • (boda)

1. more
   • 보다 열심히

     boda yeolsimhi

     more enthusiatically

2. rather

보다 • (boda)

1. than, rather than
   • 사실상 어느 곳보다 더

     sasilsang eoneu gotboda deo

     than practically anywhere else

   • 지리산보다 한라산이 더 높다.

     Jirisanboda hallasani deo nopda.

     Mount Halla is taller than Mount Jiri.

     • (file)

   • 어제보다 오늘이 손님이 더 많다.

     Eojeboda oneuri sonnimi deo manta.

     There are more customers today than yesterday.

     • (file)