Meaning and Usage
The verb '물어보다' means 'to ask' or 'to inquire'. It is commonly used when you want to request information from someone. It is a polite and standard way to express asking questions in everyday conversation.
Common Collocations
- 물어보다 + 에게: to ask someone (e.g., 사람에게 물어보다)
- ~에 대해 물어보다: to ask about something (e.g., 시험에 대해 물어보다)
- 생각을 물어보다: to ask someone's opinion or thoughts
Usage Notes
'물어보다' is often used with people as the object of asking. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but the polite ending '-세요' or '-요' is added to make it polite. Avoid confusing '물어보다' with '묻다', which can also mean 'to ask' but is more formal or literary.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes omit the indirect object particle '에게' when saying 'ask someone'. Remember to say '사람에게 물어보다' rather than just '사람 물어보다' to be grammatically correct.