물어보다 and 묻다 묻다 is simply "to ask", without any particular nuance. 물어 보다 is constructed as 묻다 + 어 + 보다, where 어 is a connective form and 보다 is an auxiliary verb. 보다 used in this way adds the sense of "try and ...", "try to ...", or "do it to see what happens". Such -아/어 보다 constructs make it sound more casual and light, and is widely used, especially in conversation. Compare these examples: - 저 사람에게 물어(Ask that person) - Sounds heavy, as if meaning to ask this particular person something important. - 저 사람에게 물어 봐(Ask if that person knows) - Sounds like a casual act, like one of many things one might do. - 쉬운지 어려운지 햐면 안다(You find out how easy or difficult it is by doing it). - 쉬운지 어려운지 해 보면 안다(You find out how easy or difficult by giving it a try) - sounds more natural. There are many such [Main V] + [Aux. V] constructs that change the main verb's meaning for the context. They include: -아/어 보다, -아/어 주다, -아/어 버리다, -아/어 놓다/두다, -고 싶다, -기 싫다, -기 쉽다, among others.