N4-G-019
Verbて＋みます (To try doing something)
Core / Experience & Experiment
👀 Layer A: Visual Guide
📝 Quick Summary
This grammar point means “to try doing something to see what it is like.” It is used for experiences and experiments, such as tasting new food, trying on clothes, or visiting a new place. It is NOT used for “making a difficult effort.”
Structure: [Verb て-form] + みます。
Example: この おかしを たべて みます (I will try eating this snack).
🔗 Connected Grammar:
🔍 Layer B: Deepening
💡 Raya’s Hack
The Ultimate Travel Combo: 〜て みたいです
If you want to sound incredibly natural when talking about your dreams or travel plans, combine “te-mimasu” with “tai desu” (want to).
– 富士山に のぼりたいです (I want to climb Mt. Fuji – Basic N5).
– 富士山に のぼって みたいです (I want to try climbing Mt. Fuji – Natural N4).
Adding “mitai desu” softens the statement and highlights your curiosity about the experience. Use this when talking about trying new foods, watching new anime, or traveling!
🚧 Joy’s Mistake
Scene: Joy is struggling with a very heavy box.
Joy: 「がんばって はこんで みます！」
(Ganbatte hakonde mimasu!)
❌ Wrong kind of “Try”!
Why?
In English, you can say “I will try to lift this box.” But in Japanese, “te-mimasu” means “to do it to see what it’s like.” Lifting a box isn’t an experiment; it’s a physical effort. If you are making an effort or struggling to do a task, you cannot use “te-mimasu”. Just use the normal verb: 「がんばって はこびます！」 (I will do my best to carry it!).
🔥 Layer C: Practice Loop
Master the “Try It” form! (Answers in Hiragana and English)
Level 1: Conjugation
Q1. To try eating (たべる)
Q2. To try going (いく)
Q3. To try drinking (のむ)
Q4. To try wearing clothes (きる)
Q5. To try doing (する)
Level 2: Full Sentences (Including ~てみたいです)
Q6. I will try eating this cake.
Q7. I want to try going to Japan.
Q8. I will try listening to that song. (うた / きく)
Q9. I want to try wearing a kimono.
Q10. I will try reading this book. (よむ)
