Advanced Estimated read: 3 mins

-아/어 봐야

Very similar to '-아/어 봤자', but more commonly used when describing a hypothetical future situation or a prediction about a useless outcome.

Summary

Equivalent

Even if you try..., No matter what you do...

Also: -아/어 봤자 · -(으)ㄴ 들

Example

Even if we leave now, we'll be late, so let's just take our time.

지금 출발해 봐야 약속 시간에 늦을 텐데 천천히 가요.

Grammar rules

  • It implies 'Even if you were to do [X], it wouldn't work.' It feels slightly more hypothetical or predictive than '-아/어 봤자'.
  • Also commonly used with '아무리'.

Patterns

1

V/A (Verbs/Adjectives)

현재 (Present) · -아/어 봐야

Example sentences

V/A (Verbs/Adjectives) · 현재 (Present) · -아/어 봐야

Even if we leave now, we'll be late, so let's just take our time.

지금 출발해 봐야 약속 시간에 늦을 텐데 천천히 가요.

V/A (Verbs/Adjectives) · 현재 (Present) · -아/어 봐야

Even if you ask them, they won't do it, so don't even bring it up.

그 사람에게 부탁해 봐야주지 않을 테니 예 말을 하지 마세요.

V/A (Verbs/Adjectives) · 현재 (Present) · -아/어 봐야

Even if you fix this clothing, I don't think it will look pretty.

이 옷은 수선해 봐야 예쁘지 않을 것 같요.

Conversation

A: Should we do more warm-up exercises?

준비 운동을 좀 더 해야 할까요?

B: No matter how hard we practice, I think it'll be tough to win this competition.

무리 열심히 연습해 봐야 이번 대회에서 이기기는 힘들 것 같요.

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct 'even if trying/doing...' phrase.

Medicine isn't working.

Leaving now is too late.