Activities: How to use 〜てみる (te miru) in Japanese?

Complete each sentence using the 〜てみる structure along with the given verb. Don’t forget to change the verb form as needed!

• Verb: 聞く[kiku](to listen to; hear)

  昨夜、好きな歌手の新曲を。
  Yūbe, sukina kashu no shinkyoku o ___.
  Last night, I listened to the latest song by my favorite singer (to see how it sounds).

• Verb: 蒔く[maku](to plant (seeds))

  今年は庭にひまわりの種を。
  Kotoshi wa niwa ni himawari no tane o ___.
  This year I’m going to plant sunflower seeds in my garden (to see how they turn out).

• Verb: 参加する[sanka suru](to participate)

  先週、映画ファンのグループチャットに。
  Senshū, hajimete eiga fan no gurūpu chatto ni ___.
  Yesterday I participated in a group chat for movie fans (to see how it goes).

• Verb: 変える[kaeru](to change)

  春ですから、髪型をか。
  Haru desu kara, kamigata o ___ ka.
  It’s spring-time, so why don’t you change your hairstyle (to see how it brightens up your look)?

  You can use the negative form in an invitation sentence like this.

• Verb: 着る[kiru](to wear; put on (clothes))

  来年はお正月にぜひ着物を。
  Rainen wa oshōgatsu ni zehi kimono o ___.
  Next year I’d love to wear a kimono by all means on New Year’s Day.

Read each situation and complete the short dialogues by choosing one of the following expressions: 〜てみる, 〜てみせる, and 〜ようとする. Key verbs are given. Don’t forget to change the form if necessary!

• Situation: Your roommate wants to save money by not sending her handknit sweater to a dry cleaner, but she is not sure. Let’s give her some advice!

  Verb: 試す[tamesu](to try)

  • A:

    このセーター、家で洗えるかな？
    Kono sētā, uchi de araeru kana?
    Do you think I can wash this sweater at home?

  • B:

    さあ。手洗いならいいかも。ら？
    Sā, tearai nara ii kamo. ___ ra?
    Not sure. Maybe you can hand wash it. Why don’t you give it a try?

    You can use the conditional expression 〜たら to make a suggestion in casual conversation. It’s a short version of 〜たらどうですか[tara dō desu ka].

  Hint! You can use the conditional expression 〜たら to make a suggestion in casual conversation.

• Situation: You are a member of the school basketball team. Your team lost a game today. Your kind friend consoles you. Let’s express your determination to win the next game!

  Verb: 勝つ[katsu](to win)

  • A:

    今日は残念だったね。次の試合、がんばって。
    Kyō wa zan’nen datta ne. Tsugi no shiai, ganbatte.
    I’m sorry for today’s result. Good luck for the next game.

  • B:

    うん、今度はきっと!
    Un, kondo wa kitto ___!
    Yup, we’ll win next time for sure!

    The speaker’s determination can be expressed through 〜てみせる.

• Situation: You are late to your morning class…again. Your teacher is not happy about it. Let’s apologize to them and say you are at least attempting to get up early.

  Verb: 起きる[okiru](to get up)

  • A:

    今日も遅刻だね。
    Kyō mo chikoku da ne.
    You are late today too.

  • B:

    すみません。１５分早くんですが・・・
    Sumimasen. Jūgo fun hayaku ___ n desu ga...
    I’m sorry. I’m trying to get up fifteen minutes earlier, but…

    You are trying but not be able to get up early. So 〜ようとしている is the best choice.

  Hint! How do you describe an ongoing effort that has not yielded any result?

• Situation: You are a knitting master! Your friend is learning the art with a book, but needs your help from time to time. Let’s help them through a demonstration!

  Verb: 編む[amu](to knit; crochet)

  • A:

    ねえ、ここ、どうやって編むの？本を見ても、よくわからないよ。
    Nē, koko, dōyatte amu no? Hon o mite mo, yoku wakaranai yo.
    Say, how should I knit this section? The book doesn’t help much.

  • B:

    じゃあ、から、よく見てて。
    Jā, ___ kara, yoku mitete.
    Well then, I’ll show you how to do it by (actually) knitting (the section), so watch me carefully.

    For a demonstration to help others, use 〜てみせる.

• Situation: Do you remember that you are a member of the school basketball team? Apparently, your classmates have heard that one of your teammates is banned from the next game. They want to know why. Let’s explain to them!

  Verb: 来る[kuru](to come)

  • A:

    ねえ、どうして田中君が試合に出られないのか知ってる？
    Nē, dōshite Tanaka kun ga shiai ni derarenai no ka shitte ru?
    Hey, do you know why Tanaka can’t take part in the game?

  • B:

    ああ、きちんと練習にから、コーチが怒っちゃって。
    Ā, kichinto renshū ni ___ kara, kōchi ga okocchatte.
    Oh, our coach is angry because he doesn’t make any effort to come to our practice regularly.

    〜(よ)うとしない implies the speaker’s criticism and is mainly used for the second or third person.