KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -아/어 봤자
Korean Grammar “-아/어 봤자”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 4)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 봐 봤자 | bwa bwatja |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽어 봤자 | ilgeo bwatja |
| 하다 | to do | 해 봤자 | hae bwatja |
| 열다 | to open | 열어 봤자 | yeoreo bwatja |
What changes
- -아/어 follows the last vowel of the stem: 아 after ㅏ or ㅗ, 어 after other vowels (읽 → 읽어, 열 → 열어). When the stem ends in a vowel, the two vowels merge (보 + 아 → 봐), and 하다 becomes 해.
Explanation
지금 후회해 봤자 소용없어요.
“-아/어 봤자” means “even if you do …, it’s no use”: the action will not change the result. It is often followed by 소용없다 or 별수 없다. The sentence means “Regretting it now is pointless.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 지금 후회해 봤자 소용없어요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [지금 후회해 봗짜 소용업써요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 지금 | ||
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | ji |
| 금 | ㄱ+ㅡ+ㅁ | geum |
| 후회해 | ||
| 후 | ㅎ+ㅜ | hu |
| 회 | ㅎ+ㅚ | hoe |
| 해 | ㅎ+ㅐ | hae |
| 봤자 | ||
| 봤 | ㅂ+ㅘ+ㅆ | [봗] bwat |
| 자 | ㅈ+ㅏ | [짜] ja |
| 소용없어요 | ||
| 소 | ㅅ+ㅗ | so |
| 용 | ㅇ+ㅛ+ㅇ | yong |
| 없 | ㅇ+ㅓ+ㅄ | [업] eop |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] seo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 봤자 → [봗짜]
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 없어 → [업써]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 지금 | noun | now | TOPIK level 1 |
| 보다 | verb | to see, to watch | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 지금 후회해 ____ 소용없어요.
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Answer: 지금 후회해 봤자 소용없어요.
Question 2 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -아/어 봤자?
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Answer: 읽어 봤자
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 하다 + -아/어 봤자?
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Answer: 해 봤자
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