〜てみる is a simple but powerful grammar pattern. It means to try doing something and see what happens. Once you know it, you’ll use it all the time.
At a Glance
| Pattern | Meaning | Formation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| V-te + みる | Try doing (to see what it’s like) | て-form + みる | 食べてみる (try eating) |
How to Form 〜てみる
Simply take the て-form of any verb and add みる:
食べてみる — try eating
行ってみる — try going
やってみる — try doing / give it a try
In polite speech, みる conjugates normally: 食べてみます / 食べてみました
When to Use てみる
Use てみる when you want to try something to find out the result — like experimenting or tasting for the first time.
この料理、食べてみてください。 — Please try eating this dish!
日本語で話してみました。 — I tried speaking in Japanese (to see how it goes).
新しいアプリを使ってみたら、すごく便利だった。 — I tried using the new app and it was super convenient.
YukaIs てみる the same as ようとする? They both seem like “trying.”
ReiDifferent nuance! 〜ようとする means trying (and maybe failing): 起きようとしたが、起きられなかった (I tried to get up but couldn’t). てみる is more like giving something a go to see what happens — no implication of failure.
YukaSo てみる is more like experimenting?
ReiExactly. 食べてみる = I’ll give it a try (and see what I think). Very common when someone offers you food or suggests an activity!
5 Practice Sentences
| # | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | この映画、見てみて！ | Try watching this movie! |
| 2 | 日本語で書いてみました。 | I tried writing in Japanese. |
| 3 | 納豆を食べてみたけど、苦手だった。 | I tried natto but it wasn’t for me. |
| 4 | 彼に聞いてみます。 | I’ll try asking him. |
| 5 | 一度、東京に住んでみたい。 | I’d like to try living in Tokyo once. |
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Using てみる for things you do regularly | Just the plain verb | てみる implies a first attempt or experiment |
| 食べてみている (continuous trial) | 食べてみる (single attempt) | てみる is usually not combined with ている for ongoing |
Quick Quiz
Translate using てみる:
1. Try speaking Japanese! → 日本語を話してみて！
2. I tried calling her (to see if she’d answer). → 彼女に電話してみた。
3. Let’s try going there. → そこに行ってみよう。
Practice in the Comments!
Try writing your own sentence using today’s grammar in the comments! Leave your example and join the Top Commenters ranking!
Keep Learning: Grammar Hub | て-Form Complete Guide | ておく vs てしまう
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