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JLPT N4

〜てみる

Try doing something / do and see

Structure

Verb て-form + みる

Attaches to the て-form of a verb to express doing an action once to see what happens or find out the result, out of curiosity or as a light, exploratory attempt. It does not imply serious effort; it simply means 'try (it) and see'.

Examples

  • 新しい店で日本語を話してみます。

    あたらしいみせでにほんごをはなしてみます。

    I'll try speaking Japanese at the new shop.

  • このケーキ、食べてみる？

    このケーキ、たべてみる？

    Want to try this cake?

  • 先週、一人で料理を作ってみました。

    せんしゅう、ひとりでりょうりをつくってみました。

    Last week, I tried cooking by myself.

  • 昨日、あの新しいゲームをやってみた。

    きのう、あのあたらしいゲームをやってみた。

    Yesterday I tried playing that new game.

  • 食べてみなかったので、味が分かりません。

    たべてみなかったので、あじがわかりません。

    Since I didn't try eating it, I don't know the taste.

  • 高いから、あの店には行ってみません。

    たかいから、あのみせにはいってみません。

    Since it's expensive, I won't try going to that shop.

  • 新しいカフェに行ってみませんか。

    あたらしいカフェにいってみませんか。

    Would you like to try going to the new café?

  • もう一度考えてみない？

    もういちどかんがえてみない？

    Why don't you try thinking about it again?

Common mistakes

  • Writing the auxiliary with the kanji 見る instead of hiragana みる — when みる follows a て-form as this auxiliary meaning 'try', it is conventionally written in hiragana; using 見る visually suggests the literal meaning 'to see with your eyes' instead.
  • Using てみる to describe a serious, effortful attempt (like fighting hard to solve a difficult problem) — てみる carries a light, curious 'let's see what happens' nuance, not determined effort; for effortful attempts, use 頑張って〜 or 努力して〜 instead.
  • Attaching みる directly to the dictionary form instead of the て-form (writing 食べるみる instead of the correct 食べてみる).

How it's different from similar grammar

  • 〜（よ）うとする (try to / attempt to)

    （よ）うとする expresses making an effort or being on the verge of doing an action, often against difficulty, and the attempt can fail: ドアを開けようとしたが、開かなかった (I tried to open the door, but it wouldn't open). てみる expresses actually carrying out an action once to see what happens, and the action is completed: ドアを開けてみたら、開いた (I tried opening the door, and it opened) — the focus is on finding out the result, not on the struggle of attempting.

How this shows up on the JLPT

N4 grammar and reading sections often test てみる in polite invitations (〜てみませんか, 'would you like to try...?') and in short passages about trying a new experience; listening sections use casual suggestions like 〜してみたら？ ('why not try...?'), so recognizing the tentative, exploratory nuance quickly is key.

Quick check (3 questions)

  • 1. Choose the word that correctly fills the blank: このスープ、一度＿＿ください。

    このスープ、いちど＿＿ください。

  • 2. Which sentence best means 'I tried calling him, but he didn't answer'?

  • 3. Which of the following correctly uses てみる to make a polite invitation ('Would you like to try going to the new restaurant?')?

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