Lesson 40 of 126
The lesson
3.14 ～てみる — Try Doing
Overview
Learn how to express "try doing something" in Japanese using ～てみる. This pattern is used constantly when attempting things, sampling food, or experimenting.
Formation
Verb て-form + みる
みる here is not "to see" but an auxiliary meaning "to try."
| Politeness | Form |
|---|---|
| Plain | ～てみる |
| Polite | ～てみます |
| Past (plain) | ～てみた |
| Past (polite) | ～てみました |
Meaning
～てみる expresses that you are doing something as an attempt or to see what happens. It implies curiosity, experimentation, or trying something for the first time.
～てみる vs just doing something
Without てみる, you simply do the action. With てみる, there is an element of "let's see what happens" or "just to try."
Common uses
- Tasting food for the first time
- Testing something out
- Giving advice: ～てみてください (please try doing ~)
- Encouraging someone: ～てみたら？ (why not try ~?)
Dialogue
あAきごう：このおみせお店のていしょく定食、たべて食べてみましたか。 bBきごう：まだです。きょう今日たべて食べてみます。
あAきごう：にほんご日本語でめえるメール、かけます書けますか。 bBきごう：かいて書いてみます。むずかしい難しいかもしれませんが。
A: Have you tried the set meal at this restaurant? B: Not yet. I'll try it today.
A: Can you write an email in Japanese? B: I'll try. It might be difficult, though.
A: I have a headache. B: Please try taking this medicine.
New words
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Lingaku