～てみる

The Japanese auxiliary verb ～てみる (te-miru) is a fundamental construction used to express the idea of doing something to see what happens, or trying something out for the sake of experience. Unlike the English word 'try,' which can imply effort or struggle (e.g., 'I tried to open the door but it was locked'), ～てみる specifically focuses on the exploratory nature of an action. It suggests that the speaker is performing an action to test a result, gain information, or sample an experience. In linguistic terms, this is often called the 'experimental' aspect. When you use this grammar, you are essentially saying, 'I will do [verb] and then see the outcome.' This is why it uses the verb miru (to see) as its auxiliary base. It is incredibly common in daily Japanese life, appearing in contexts ranging from trying on clothes at a department store to tasting a new dish at a restaurant, or even attempting a new hobby to see if it suits your personality.

Core Concept

The action is performed as a test or experiment to discover something unknown.

One of the most important nuances to understand is that ～てみる implies that the action itself is relatively easy to perform. You aren't necessarily 'trying hard' to do it; you are simply 'giving it a go.' For example, if you say tabete miru, you are saying you will eat it to see if it tastes good. There is no doubt that you can physically eat it; the 'try' refers to the evaluation of the experience. This distinguishes it from other forms of 'try' like ～ようとする (shiyou to suru), which focuses on the attempt to achieve a difficult goal. In social interactions, ～てみる often softens a statement, making it sound less like a firm commitment and more like a casual exploration, which aligns with Japanese cultural values of modesty and non-confrontation.

Usage Context

Commonly used with sensory verbs (tasting, looking, listening) and physical actions (going, wearing, using).

Furthermore, ～てみる is versatile in its conjugation. Because the auxiliary part is miru (a Ichidan/Ru-verb), it can be changed into the polite form (te-mimasu), the past form (te-mita), the negative form (te-minai), or even the volitional form (te-miyou). This flexibility allows speakers to express a wide range of intentions. For instance, te-miyou is a common way to suggest a joint experiment: 'Let's try [action] together!' It creates a sense of shared discovery. In professional settings, using the humble form te-mimasu shows a willingness to explore a client's suggestion or a new method without overpromising a perfect result, providing a polite 'buffer' in communication.

Social Nuance

It reduces the pressure of the action by framing it as a trial rather than a definitive act.

Finally, it is worth noting that while miru literally means 'to see,' in this auxiliary construction, it is almost always written in Hiragana as みる rather than using the Kanji 見る. This is a standard convention in Japanese grammar: when a verb is used as an auxiliary to add a specific grammatical meaning rather than its literal meaning, Hiragana is preferred. This helps readers distinguish between 'I looked at the food' (tabemono o mita) and 'I tried eating the food' (tabete mita). Understanding this distinction is a key step in moving from basic Japanese to intermediate proficiency, as it reflects a deeper grasp of how the language signals functional versus lexical meaning.

Using ～てみる requires a basic understanding of the Japanese 'Te-form' (conjunctive form). The structure is simple: you take the Te-form of any action verb and append miru. The resulting compound verb functions as a single unit and follows the conjugation rules of a Ru-verb (Ichidan verb). This means that regardless of whether the original verb was a U-verb, a Ru-verb, or an irregular verb, the 'try' part (miru) will always conjugate the same way. For example, kau (to buy) becomes katte miru, and taberu (to eat) becomes tabete miru. The focus of the sentence's tense and politeness is always carried by the miru ending.

Grammar Rule

[Verb in Te-form] + みる (miru). The 'miru' part conjugates like any Ru-verb.

When you want to ask someone to try something, you combine the Te-form of miru with kudasai, resulting in ～てみて（ください）. This is a very common way to offer advice or make a suggestion. For example, 'Try eating this' is kore o tabete mite kudasai. It sounds much softer and more encouraging than just saying 'Eat this' (tabete kudasai). By adding miru, you are framing the request as an invitation to experience something, which reduces the imperative force of the command. This is essential for polite conversation in Japanese, where directness is often avoided.

Conjugation Table

Present: ～てみる | Polite: ～てみます | Past: ～てみた | Negative: ～てみない | Request: ～てみて

Another powerful use of ～てみる is in the past tense ～てみた. This is used to report on an experiment you already conducted. It often sets the stage for a following observation or result. For example, 'I tried calling him, but he didn't answer' would be denwa shite mita ga, denai. Here, the 'tried' part emphasizes that the call was an attempt to reach him, and the second half of the sentence provides the outcome. In blog posts, YouTube titles, or social media, you will often see ～てみた used to describe 'challenge' videos or reviews, such as 'I tried eating the world's spiciest ramen' (sekaiichi karai ramen o tabete mita).

Past Tense Nuance

Used to describe a completed attempt and often leads into the result of that attempt.

Finally, consider the volitional form ～てみよう (let's try) or ～てみたい (want to try). These express a desire or intention to experiment in the future. ～てみたい is particularly useful for tourists or learners expressing interest in Japanese culture. 'I want to try wearing a kimono' is kimono o kite mitai. This sounds more natural than just saying 'I want to wear a kimono' because it acknowledges that wearing a kimono is a new, experimental experience for the speaker. It adds a layer of curiosity and openness to the statement, which is highly valued in Japanese conversation.

The phrase ～てみる is ubiquitous in Japanese society, appearing in almost every possible social setting. In the world of retail, specifically clothing stores, you will hear it constantly. Shop assistants will approach you and say, 'Shichaku shite mimasu ka?' (Would you like to try it on?). Here, the 'trying' is literally testing the fit of the clothes. Similarly, at food stalls or supermarkets with samples, you'll hear 'Tabete mite kudasai' (Please try a taste). In these contexts, te-miru is the standard polite way to invite someone to experience a product. It frames the action as a low-pressure trial, which is a key part of Japanese customer service etiquette.

Retail Context

Used by staff to offer samples or trials, and by customers to ask to test products.

In the digital age, ～てみる has found a massive home on the internet, particularly on platforms like YouTube and Nico Nico Douga. There is a whole genre of videos called 'Utattemita' (I tried singing) or 'Odottemita' (I tried dancing). In these videos, creators cover famous songs or perform choreographed dances. The use of te-mita (the past tense of te-miru) is a humble way of saying, 'I gave this a shot.' It suggests that the creator isn't necessarily claiming to be a professional, but is sharing their 'attempt' or 'experiment' with the audience. This culture of 'trying' is a cornerstone of Japanese fan content and social media interaction, emphasizing participation over perfection.

Online Culture

The 'Utattemita' (tried singing) genre is a major part of Japanese internet history.

In professional and academic environments, ～てみる is used to propose hypotheses or experimental steps. A researcher might say, 'Kono houhou de yatte mimashou' (Let's try doing it with this method). Here, it signals a scientific approach—trying a variable to see the result. In office meetings, if someone suggests an idea, a colleague might respond with 'Kentou shite mimasu' (I will try looking into it/considering it). This is a polite way to acknowledge a suggestion without committing to it fully yet. It implies, 'I will perform the action of considering this and see where it leads us.' This usage is vital for maintaining harmony (wa) in the workplace while still being productive.

Professional Use

Used to suggest tentative plans or to politely acknowledge suggestions without immediate commitment.

Finally, you'll hear it in heart-to-heart conversations or advice-giving. Friends might say to each other, 'Omoikitte kokuhaku shite mitara?' (Why don't you try taking the plunge and confessing your feelings?). In this context, the te-mitara (if you try) form is used to give gentle advice. It frames the scary action of confessing love as a 'trial'—something to do just to see what the response is. This reduces the weight of the potential rejection by focusing on the 'seeing the result' aspect rather than the 'succeeding' aspect. It's a psychological tool embedded in the language to help people navigate social risks.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is using ～てみる when they should be using ～ようとする (shiyou to suru). In English, the word 'try' covers both 'trying for experience' and 'trying to achieve something difficult.' In Japanese, these are strictly separated. If you say mado o akete mita, it means you opened the window to see what the air was like outside. If you say mado o ake-you to shita, it means you struggled to open the window (perhaps it was stuck) but were attempting to do so. Using te-miru for a difficult struggle sounds strange because it implies the action itself was easy and you were just testing the outcome.

Mistake 1: Confusion with Effort

Using 'te-miru' for difficult tasks where you might fail. Use 'shiyou to suru' for effort/struggle.

Another common error involves the literal interpretation of miru (to see). Some learners mistakenly think te-miru can only be used with actions that involve visual results. However, miru here is metaphorical, representing 'perception' or 'evaluation' in a broad sense. You can kiite miru (try listening/asking) or kangaete miru (try thinking). The 'seeing' is the mental realization of the result. Conversely, don't use the Kanji 見る when writing the auxiliary form. While it's not a 'spoken' mistake, writing 食べて見る instead of 食べてみる is a hallmark of a beginner and can make the sentence look like you are literally 'eating and then looking at something.'

Mistake 2: Kanji Usage

Writing the auxiliary 'miru' with the Kanji '見る'. Standard grammar dictates Hiragana.

A third mistake is using ～てみる for actions that are already habitual or where the outcome is already known. Since te-miru implies an experiment to find out something new, saying mainichi gohan o tabete miru (I try eating rice every day) sounds very strange unless you are actually testing the effect of rice on your body every single day. For habits, you should use ～ようにしている (making an effort to) or just the plain verb. Te-miru is for novel experiences or specific instances of testing. If you already know you like sushi, you wouldn't say sushi o tabete miru to mean 'I'm going to eat sushi'; you'd only say it if you're trying a *new* kind of sushi or a new restaurant.

Mistake 3: Habitual Actions

Using 'te-miru' for things you do all the time. It must involve a sense of 'testing' or 'newness'.

Finally, learners often forget that miru is a verb and needs to be conjugated correctly for the sentence's context. Sometimes students leave it in the dictionary form te-miru when they should use the polite te-mimasu or the past te-mita. Also, be careful with the 'request' form. Saying tabete mite is a suggestion ('Try eating this'), but if you want to say 'Please try to do your best,' ganbatte mite sounds a bit like you're asking them to 'test out' being hard-working, which can come across as slightly dismissive or casual. In serious situations, stick to ganbatte kudasai.

Japanese has several ways to express the concept of 'trying,' and choosing the right one is crucial for sounding natural. The most common alternative is 試す (tamesu). While te-miru is an auxiliary verb added to another action, tamesu is a standalone verb meaning 'to test' or 'to try out.' You use tamesu when the focus is on the testing process itself, often with a physical object. For example, atarashii kuruma o tamesu (to test a new car). Te-miru is more about the speaker's personal experience of the action. You could say atarashii kuruma ni notte miru (try riding in the new car), which focuses on the experience of riding.

te-miru vs. tamesu

'te-miru' focuses on the experience/outcome of an action. 'tamesu' focuses on the act of testing a thing or a method.

Another important comparison is with ～ようとする (shiyou to suru). As mentioned in the mistakes section, this form expresses an attempt or an effort to do something, often implying that the action might be difficult or was interrupted. If you say tabeyou to shita, it means you were about to eat or were trying to eat (perhaps you were sick and struggled to swallow). If you say tabete mita, it means you ate it to see how it tasted. One is about the *attempt* to perform the action, the other is about the *experience* of the action itself. Understanding this 'effort vs. experience' divide is the key to mastering Japanese 'try' expressions.

te-miru vs. shiyou to suru

'te-miru' = 'I'll do it and see.' | 'shiyou to suru' = 'I'm making an effort to do it (and might fail).'

For more formal or academic contexts, you might encounter 試みる (kokoromiru). This is a formal verb for 'to attempt' or 'to try.' It is rarely used in spoken conversation and is mostly found in literature, news reports, or scientific papers. For example, atarashii jikken o kokoromiru (to attempt a new experiment). It carries a weight of seriousness and deliberate effort that te-miru lacks. While te-miru is casual and exploratory, kokoromiru is planned and significant. As a learner, you should recognize kokoromiru in reading but stick to te-miru in your own speech for a more natural, conversational tone.

te-miru vs. kokoromiru

'te-miru' is conversational and light. 'kokoromiru' is formal, literary, and implies a significant attempt.

Lastly, there is the phrase やってみる (yatte miru). This is simply the verb yaru (to do) combined with te-miru. It is the most common way to say 'I'll give it a try' or 'I'll give it a shot' when the specific action is already understood from context. If someone asks if you can fix a computer, you might say 'Yatte mimasu' (I'll give it a try). It is more active and enthusiastic than just saying shite mimasu. In many ways, yatte miru is the idiomatic equivalent of the English 'I'll give it a go,' and it's a great phrase to have ready in your conversational toolkit.