4 · Further patterns
No use even if: -아/어 봤자
a concession that expects nothing
-아/어 봤자 says that even if you do something, it will be no use, or the result will be small.
-아/어 봤자 is built like the polite present without its 요, followed by 봤자 after a space: 가다 → 가 봤자, 먹다 → 먹어 봤자, 하다 → 해 봤자. Irregular verbs change exactly as they do before -아요/어요: 서두르다 → 서둘러 봤자, 돕다 → 도와 봤자.
It is a concession with a fixed outlook: “even if you do it, it will make no difference”. 지금 가 봤자 기차는 벌써 떠났을 거예요, “even if we go now, the train will have left”. The second half is negative or dismissive — 소용없어요 (it's no use), 늦을 거예요, 달라지는 게 없어요, or a question that expects the answer “not much”.
With an adjective it means “however … it is, it is only”: 비싸 봤자 만 원이에요, “however expensive it is, it can't be more than ten thousand won”. The speaker sets an upper limit and finds it small.
Because the pattern announces that an action is pointless, it cannot be followed by a request or a suggestion. It also sounds blunt and casual: to an older person or in writing, -아/어도 소용없다 or a gentler sentence is safer. English speakers sometimes use it as a neutral “even if”; for that, Korean has -아도/어도.
The form
| after a or o | 가다 → 가 봤자 |
| after other vowels | 먹다 → 먹어 봤자 |
| 하다 verbs | 하다 → 해 봤자 |
| irregular verb | 서두르다 → 서둘러 봤자 |
| with an adjective | 비싸다 → 비싸 봤자 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
The verb takes the same form as before -아요/어요, then 봤자 after a space.
그 사람한테 말해 봤자 소용없어요.There's no point telling him.
The second half says the action is useless or changes nothing.
걱정해 봤자 달라지는 건 없어요.Worrying won't change anything.
With an adjective it sets a small upper limit: “however … it is”.
비싸 봤자 만 원쯤일 거예요.However expensive it is, it will only be about ten thousand won.
It is never followed by a request or a suggestion.
지금 서둘러 봤자 늦을 거예요.Even if we hurry now, we'll be late.
It belongs to casual speech; in writing use -아도/어도 소용없다.
후회해 봤자 이미 늦었어요.There's no use regretting it now — it's too late.
A closer look
Two kinds of “even if”
-아도/어도 concedes and leaves the outcome open: 비가 와도 가요, “even if it rains, I'll go”. -아/어 봤자 concedes and closes the outcome in advance: whatever happens, it will not be worth it. The literal meaning helps — “even having tried it” — and so does the tone: it is said with a shrug.
That tone is why the pattern needs care. Said to a colleague about their plan, 해 봤자 안 될 거예요 sounds like “don't bother”. Used about yourself or about circumstances, it is simply realistic: 지금 가 봤자 늦었어요.
How to spot it
- -아/어 봤자
- 소용없다
- 아무리
- 이미
- 벌써
Example sentences
지금 가 봤자 기차는 벌써 떠났을 거예요.Even if we go now, the train will already have left.
아무리 설명해 봤자 그 사람은 안 들을 거예요.However much you explain, he won't listen.
울어 봤자 문제가 해결되지 않아요.Crying won't solve the problem.
택시를 타 봤자 길이 막혀서 마찬가지예요.Even if we take a taxi, the roads are jammed, so it makes no difference.
화를 내 봤자 나만 피곤해요.Getting angry only wears me out.
그 가방이 커 봤자 얼마나 크겠어요?How big can that bag be, really?
8 more example sentences
시험 전날 밤새워 공부해 봤자 다 기억하기 어려워요.Even if you study all night before the exam, it's hard to remember it all.
주말에 늦게 일어나 봤자 아홉 시예요.Even when I sleep in at the weekend, it's nine o'clock at the latest.
전화해 봤자 안 받을 거예요.Even if you call, she won't answer.
지금 사과해 봤자 친구 마음이 쉽게 풀리지 않을 거예요.Even if you apologise now, your friend won't get over it easily.
돈을 더 내 봤자 서비스는 똑같아요.Even if you pay more, the service is the same.
지금 이야기해 봤자 그 사람은 이해 못 할 거예요.Even if we tell him now, he won't understand.
그 가게는 늦게까지 열어 봤자 열 시까지예요.Even when that shop stays open late, it's only until ten.
혼자 고민해 봤자 답이 안 나와요.Mulling it over on your own won't get you an answer.
Worth knowing (1)
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An upper limit that turns out small
With an adjective or a verb of quantity, 봤자 sets a ceiling and dismisses it: 멀어 봤자 십 분이에요, “however far it is, it's ten minutes at most”. A rhetorical question with 얼마나 …겠어요? often completes it.
멀어 봤자 걸어서 십 분이에요.However far it is, it's ten minutes on foot at most.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
봤자 announces that the effort is wasted, so the second half cannot be a success. For a neutral or hopeful “even if”, use -아도/어도: 지금 출발해도 제시간에 도착할 거예요, “even if we leave now, we'll be on time”.
Bwatja is a shrug: whatever you do, it will not help.
Your turn
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