All JLPT grammar
N3

~てみる

A grammar structure used to express the action of trying or attempting something to see what happens.

At a glance

~てみる means "try doing something (to see what it is like or what happens)". You actually do the action, then find out the result.

Verb (て-form) + みる

この本ほんを読よんでみます。 I'll try reading this book.


How to form it

Change the verb to its て-form, then add みる:

Verb group Dictionary form ~てみる
う-verb 書かく 書かいてみる
う-verb 飲のむ 飲のんでみる
る-verb 食たべる 食たべてみる
する する してみる
来る 来くる 来きてみる

みる conjugates like a る-verb:

Form Polite Casual
Present 食たべてみます 食たべてみる
Negative 食たべてみません 食たべてみない
Past 食たべてみました 食たべてみた
Want to try 食たべてみたいです 食たべてみたい
Please try 食たべてみてください 食たべてみて
Let's try 食たべてみましょう 食たべてみよう

Examples

  • 彼かれは走はしってみたが、まだ膝ひざが痛いたいと感かんじた。

    He tried running, but he still felt pain in his knee.

  • Log in to see 3 more examplesSign up for free

The rest of the lesson

When to use it, common mistakes, nuances and a quick check, with spaced repetition to make it stick.

Read the full lesson for free