JLPT N4 grammar
～てみる — Meaning & Examples
"Try doing." Attempting something to experience it or see the result. て-form + みる. たべてみる (tabete miru) = try eating (to see what it's like).
～てみる — "Try Doing"
～てみる expresses "try doing" — attempting something to see what happens.
Form: て-form + みる
たべてみる (tabete miru) = try eating (to see if I like it)
いってみる (itte miru) = try going (to see what it's like)
アニメを見てみよう (anime o mite miyō) = let's try watching the anime
Examples:
このケーキをたべてみてください。(kono kēki o tabete mite kudasai.)
= Please try this cake.
新しいレストランに行ってみました。(atarashii resutoran ni itte mimashita.)
= I tried going to a new restaurant.
日本語で話してみたけど、むずかしかった。(nihongo de hanashite mita kedo, muzukashikatta.)
= I tried speaking in Japanese, but it was difficult.
Note: Not just "attempt" — it specifically means doing something to experience or learn from it.
Practice questions
Try this question on ～てみる. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. "たべてみる" means?
- Try eating (to see)
- Eat habitually
- Want to eat
- Have eaten
Show answer
Answer: Try eating (to see)
～てみる = try doing (to experience/see). たべてみる = try eating.
Practise ～てみる in the free app
This point is part of the “Trying, Doing for Practice, and Just Did” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
Free on iPhone and Android · No ads
Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: Trying, Doing for Practice, and Just Did
Frequently asked questions
What does ～てみる mean?
"Try doing." Attempting something to experience it or see the result. て-form + みる. たべてみる (tabete miru) = try eating (to see what it's like).
Is ～てみる on the JLPT N4 test?
～てみる is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Trying, Doing for Practice, and Just Did”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise ～てみる?
Open the “Trying, Doing for Practice, and Just Did” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.