てみる (te-miru) vs てみせる (te-miseru)
What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Use てみる to express trying something, and てみせる to show or demonstrate something by doing it. The key difference lies in the intention behind the action.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | てみる (te-miru) | てみせる (te-miseru) |
|---|---|---|
| JLPT | N4 | N4 |
| Formality | neutral | neutral |
| Intention | to try or attempt something | to show or demonstrate something |
| Focus | focus on the action itself | focus on the effect or result of the action |
| Recipient | no specific recipient | often implies someone is watching or benefiting from the action |
てみる (te-miru)
JLPT: N4 | Formality: neutral
- Intention: to try or attempt something
- Focus: focus on the action itself
- Recipient: no specific recipient
てみせる (te-miseru)
JLPT: N4 | Formality: neutral
- Intention: to show or demonstrate something
- Focus: focus on the effect or result of the action
- Recipient: often implies someone is watching or benefiting from the action
Example Sentences
てみる (te-miru)
料理してみる
ryoori shite miru
I'll try cooking
新しいスポーツをしてみる
atarashii supootsu o shite miru
I'll try this new sport
難しい問題を解いてみる
muzukashii mondai o toi te miru
I'll try to solve this difficult problem
てみせる (te-miseru)
料理してみせる
ryoori shite miseru
I'll show you my cooking skills
新しいダンスをしてみせる
atarashii dansu o shite miseru
I'll show you my new dance moves
すごい技をしてみせる
sugoi waza o shite miseru
I'll demonstrate my amazing skills
Common Mistakes
- ⚠ Using てみる when trying to show off a skill, which can come across as arrogant or boastful
- ⚠ Using てみせる when simply trying something without intending to demonstrate or show it to others
- ⚠ Not considering the recipient or audience when choosing between てみる and てみせる
Memory Tip
💡 Think of てみる as 'try' and てみせる as 'try to show', and you'll be more likely to use them correctly
Want all comparisons in one place?
Get the complete grammar comparison guide as a downloadable PDF.
Get the PDF Guide