てみる | Grammar

Structure

[v1 stem] + てみる [v5 て-form] + みる [する → して] + みる [来る → きて] + みる

Description

The ～てみる form is used to express trying something out or doing something to see what happens. It combines the て-form of a verb with みる (to see), literally meaning "do and see." The nuance is that you perform an action to experience or test the result.

Trying something for the first time or out of curiosity

This is the most common usage – doing something to find out what it's like.

。

I tried eating Japanese food (to see what it was like).

。

Please try using the new app.

Attempting something to see the outcome

It can also express doing something experimentally to see if it works or what the result will be.

、。

I tried asking, but they didn't know.

。

You won't know unless you try.

Conjugation

Since みる is a る-verb, ～てみる conjugates like any other る-verb:

Polite: ～てみます
たべて食べてみます。
I will try eating it.
Past: ～てみた
つくって作ってみた。
I tried making it.
Negative: ～てみない
まだよんで読んでみていない。
I haven't tried reading it yet.
たい form: ～てみたい
いちど一度にっぽん日本にいって行ってみたい。
I want to try going to Japan someday.

～てみる vs. ～ようとする

Be careful not to confuse ～てみる with 〜～ようとする. While ～てみる means trying something to see what it's like, ～ようとする means attempting to do something (with effort, possibly failing). For example,

。

I tried opening the door (to see what was behind it).

vs.

。

I tried to open the door (but it might not have opened).

Examples

。

May I try on these shoes?

。

Let's give it a try.

、。

I tried eating natto, but it wasn't tasty.

。

I'll try asking the teacher.

。

I tried writing a letter in Japanese.

、きごう！。

Try this cake! It's really delicious.

。

I'd like to try a new method.

。

Have you ever tried making it yourself?

。

I haven't tried watching that movie yet.

。

I want to try traveling alone.

、。

I tried calling him, but he didn't answer.

、。

If you think about it, what he says is also correct.

References

てみるBunpro
TemiruTofugu