Posted inN4 Grammar

Try It Out! Mastering the ~てみる Grammar Pattern (JLPT N4)

Posted inN4 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To try doing something; to attempt something to see the result.

🎯 Primary Function

Expresses the action of attempting to do something, often to see what the outcome will be or whether it is possible/suitable.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb て-form + 見る (みる)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in formal situations, but the politeness level depends on the conjugation of 見る (みる). してみます (shite mimasu) is polite.

😊 Informal Situations

Very commonly used in informal conversation. してみる (shite miru) is casual.

✍️ Written Language

Used in both written and spoken language, but slightly more frequent in spoken Japanese.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very common in everyday conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Trying a new experience
Used when trying something for the first time or something new.
Example: 新しいレストランに行ってみましょう。 (Atarashii resutoran ni itte mimashou.) Let’s try going to the new restaurant.
Attempting a task
Used when trying to complete a task or solve a problem.
Example: この問題を解いてみます。 (Kono mondai wo toite mimasu.) I will try to solve this problem.
Trying something on (clothing)
Specifically used for trying on clothes.
Example: この服を着てみてもいいですか。 (Kono fuku wo kite mite mo ii desu ka?) May I try on these clothes?
📊
Frequency
Very common
🎚️
Difficulty
Easy-Medium (N4 level)
Example Sentences
この本を読んでみたいです。
I want to try reading this book.
難しいですが、やってみます。
It’s difficult, but I will try doing it.
一度、寿司を作ってみたことがありますか？
Have you ever tried making sushi?
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

The verb 見る (みる) here means “to try” or “to see (the result)”, not literally “to look”.
Although 見る typically means “to see” or “to look”, when used in the ~てみる structure, it takes on the meaning of attempting something to see the outcome.
Example: 食べてみます (tabete mimasu) means “I will try eating it (to see how it tastes/is)”. It does not mean “I will eat it and look”.
Can express a recommendation or suggestion
When used in volitional form (~てみましょう) or imperative (~てみなさい/~てみて), it can suggest or encourage someone else to try something.
Example: 食べてみてください。 (Tabete mite kudasai.) Please try eating it (imperative). 一緒に行ってみましょう。 (Issho ni itte mimashou.) Let’s try going together (suggestion).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Confusing it with simply doing the action
✅ Using ~てみる implies an experimental or tentative action, not just the action itself.
例えば、「本を読む」は単に読むことですが、「本を読んでみる」は「どんな本か試してみる」という意味合いになります。(Tatoeba, “hon wo yomu” wa tan ni yomu koto desu ga, “hon wo yonde miru” wa “donna hon ka tameshite miru” to iu imi ai ni narimasu.) For example, “本を読む” is simply reading a book, but “本を読んでみる” has the nuance of “trying to read the book (to see what kind of book it is)”.
❌ Using it with verbs that cannot be “tried” or don’t produce a result to “see”
✅ Only use with verbs that describe an action that can be attempted or results in an experience.
As mentioned before, verbs like 分かる (wakaru – to understand) or ある (aru – to exist) cannot typically be used with ~てみる.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: The politeness depends on the form of 見る (みる): 見ます (mimasu) is polite, 見る (miru) is casual, 見ましょう (mimashou) is polite volitional, 見なさい (minasai) is strong imperative, 見て (mite) is casual imperative.
Social Situations: Used widely in various social contexts when suggesting or undertaking a tentative action.
Regional Variations: The usage of ~てみる itself is standard across Japan, though specific imperative forms might vary slightly in regional dialects.

🔍 Subtle Differences

~てみる vs. ~てみるつもりだ
~てみる expresses trying an action; ~てみるつもりだ expresses the intention to try an action.
When to use: Use ~てみる when you are actually attempting the action or suggesting an attempt. Use ~てみるつもりだ when stating your plan or intention to try it in the future.
~てみる vs. ~ようとする
~てみる implies trying and seeing the result; ~ようとする implies making an effort to do something, often suggesting difficulty or failure.
When to use: Use ~てみる for experimental tries. Use ~ようとする when describing the effort put into an action, especially if it’s hard or unsuccessful.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

The verb before ~てみる must be in the て-form. 見る itself is a Group 2 (Ichidan) verb and conjugates like other Ichidan verbs (e.g., 見ます, 見ない, 見た, 見れば, 見よう).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The pronunciation is straightforward. Ensure correct pronunciation of the て-form of the preceding verb and of みる.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ~てみる as “(do something) and see” or “try (doing something)”. The 見る (miru) part can be mentally linked to “seeing” the result of the action.

Practice Exercises
新しい料理を＿＿＿＿＿＿たいです。
食べて
食べる
食べ
食べるの
このシャツ、ちょっと＿＿＿＿＿＿てもいいですか。
着る
着て
着るの
着たい
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