-아/어 봤자
even if you try, it’s no use
Dismisses an action as pointless before it happens. Built on -아/어 보다 — try it and see, except the seeing is already decided.
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When to use it
The vowel follows the -아요/어요 rule: 가 봤자, 먹어 봤자, 해 봤자. The 봤 never changes — it does not mark past tense here.
The second clause states the futility: 지금 가 봤자 이미 늦었어요. That negative outcome is required; a useful result contradicts the construction.
A second use dismisses a quantity as small: 비싸 봤자 만 원이에요 — expensive at most ten thousand won, which is to say not expensive.
The register is casual and the tone is dismissive, so it does not suit formal contexts or conversations with anyone senior.
How to attach it
| Stem type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Last vowel ㅏ or ㅗ | -아 봤자 | 가다 → 가 봤자 |
| Any other vowel | -어 봤자 | 먹다 → 먹어 봤자 |
| 하다 verbs | 해 봤자 | 공부해 봤자 |
| Second clause | futile outcome | 이미 늦었어요 |
| Dismissing a quantity | -아/어 봤자 + amount | 비싸 봤자 만 원 |
| 봤 is fixed | not past tense | 가 봤자, not 갔 봤자 |
In use
지금 가 봤자 이미 늦었어요.
Even if you go now, it’s already too late.
말해 봤자 소용없어요.
There’s no point saying anything.
아무리 비싸 봤자 만 원이에요.
However pricey it is, it’s ten thousand won at most.
지금 공부해 봤자 시험을 잘 볼 수 없어요.
Studying now won’t get you through the exam.
직접 만들어 봤자 시간만 걸려요.
Making it yourself only takes up time.
서둘러 봤자 결과는 같아요.
Rushing won’t change the outcome.
Compared with
-아/어도
-아/어도 is neutral about the result; -아/어 봤자 insists it will be useless. Only the second carries the dismissal.
가도 늦어요. (even if you go, you’ll be late) / 가 봤자 늦어요. (no point going, you’ll be late)
-더라도
-더라도 supposes an extreme case and belongs to careful speech; -아/어 봤자 is casual and pessimistic.
아무리 힘들더라도 하세요. (however hard, do it) / 해 봤자 소용없어요. (no use doing it)
-아/어 보다
The source construction invites you to try; adding 봤자 pre-empts the attempt. Same shape, opposite spirit.
한번 해 보세요. (give it a go) / 해 봤자예요. (it’s pointless)
Watch out
지금 공부하어 봤자 소용없어요.
지금 공부해 봤자 소용없어요.
하다 becomes 해 before 봤자, as it does before 보다 and 놓다.
열심히 해 봤자 시험에 합격했어요.
열심히 해서 시험에 합격했어요.
-아/어 봤자 requires a futile outcome. For a successful result, use -아서.
부장님, 지금 가 봤자 늦으실 거예요.
부장님, 지금 가셔도 늦으실 것 같습니다.
The ending is casual and dismissive. With anyone senior, a neutral form is needed.
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