Introduction
In Japanese, you can express the idea of “trying something” or “doing something to see what happens” by using the te-form of a verb followed by the helping verb みる (miru). This structure allows you to convey that you are uncertain about the outcome, but you are willing to give it a try.
What It Means
The structure -てみる (-temiru) is used when you want to try something out, often because you are curious about the result. It’s like saying “I’ll try to…” or “Let me see if…” in English.
When You Use It
Use -てみる when you want to express that you are going to try something for the first time, or when you are unsure of the result but want to give it a shot.
Examples
Here are some examples to help you understand how to use -てみる:
漢字がわからなかったので、友だちに聞いてみました。(Kanji ga wakaranakatta node, tomodachi ni kiite mimashita.)
I did not know the kanji, so I tried asking my friend.
この映画、おもしろかったですよ。(Kono eiga, omoshirokatta desu yo.)
This movie was interesting.
じゃあ、見てみます。(Jaa, mite mimasu.)
Okay, I will watch it.
Note
The verb みる (miru) comes from the main verb 見る, which means “to see” or “to look.” However, when used as -てみる, it is always written in hiragana and conjugates like a regular ru-verb.
For example:
- 見てみます (mite mimasu) – I will try to watch.
- 食べてみる (tabete miru) – I will try to eat.
Conclusion
Mastering -てみる (-temiru) allows you to express the idea of trying something or doing something with uncertainty. It’s a useful way to communicate your willingness to experiment or explore new things in Japanese.
