食べてみる

To use this, you take the 'te-form' of the verb 'to eat' (tabete) and add miru. You can change the ending of miru to match your situation. If you are talking to a friend, just say tabete miru. If you want to be polite to a waiter or a host, say tabete mimasu. If you want to tell someone else to try something, you say tabete mite. It’s very flexible. You can also use it in the past tense, tabete mita, to say 'I tried it.' It’s a great way to start a conversation about food.

Use this at a bustling night market in Osaka. Use it when your Japanese friend offers you a mysterious green snack. It’s perfect for when you see a limited-edition seasonal flavor at a convenience store. If you are at a restaurant and a new dish looks interesting, tell your partner you'll try it. It’s also great for social media. Posting a photo of a giant bowl of ramen? Caption it with tabete mita! It shows you are open-minded and adventurous with your palate.

Don't use this for your favorite meal that you eat every single day. If you love miso soup and eat it every morning, you don't 'try' it; you just 'eat' it. Using miru implies there is some uncertainty or novelty involved. Also, avoid using the casual tabete miru with your boss or someone much higher in rank. In those cases, stick to the polite tabete mimasu. Finally, don't use it if you are forced to eat something you hate. It usually carries a light, positive, or curious vibe.

Japan is a food-obsessed culture. There is a huge emphasis on 'shunkashuutou' (the four seasons). Every season brings new, limited-time flavors like cherry blossom lattes or chestnut sweets. Because of this, the concept of 'trying' new things is built into daily life. People love discussing 'shinsaku' (new products). Using 食べてみる makes you sound like you are participating in this national hobby of food discovery. It shows respect for the effort put into seasonal cooking.

• 食べてみたい (tabete mitai): I want to try eating it.
• 食べてみてください (tabete mite kudasai): Please try eating this (polite).
• 食べてみよう (tabete miyou): Let's try eating it!
• 食べてみた (tabete mita): I tried eating it (and here is my verdict).
• 食べてみれば？ (tabete mireba?): Why don't you try eating it? (a bit pushy but friendly).