Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 試す | tamesu | [ta̠me̞sɨ] (narrow) |
| 挑戦する | chōsen suru | |
| 努める | tsutomeru | [t͡sɨto̞me̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| やってみる | yatte miru |
Japanese uses different verbs to express 'try' depending on whether you are testing a product, striving for a goal or simply giving an action a go. Related words include the noun 試み, which refers to an act of tasting or sampling and the loanword トライ, which is used specifically for a score in rugby or in certain business and marketing contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase やってみる is a combination of the te-form of the verb 'do' (やって) and the auxiliary verb 'to see/try' (みる), literally meaning 'do and see'.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the intent of the attempt. 試す is used when testing the quality, function or effectiveness of something like a theory or a product. 挑戦する is used when 'trying' implies taking on a difficult task or a competitive challenge. 努める is used when 'trying' means making a continuous, serious effort or striving toward a goal. Finally, やってみる is the most common way to express 'giving something a try' in daily conversation, focusing on the experience of attempting an action.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
tamesu
When do people say it?
When someone expresses the intent to try something difficult, a common and supportive response is 頑張ってください！ (Ganbatte kudasai!), which means 'Good luck!'
Did you know?
- The response 頑張ってください is given when someone says they will 'try', but it literally tells the person to 'persist' or 'hang in there' rather than wishing them luck.
- While 挑戦する is translated as 'try', it literally means 'to challenge', implying the attempt is a battle or a conquest against a difficult goal.
- The distinction between 試す and やってみる is so sharp that using the former for a hobby would sound like you are conducting a scientific experiment.
Examples in context
- やってみる。I try.This sentence is useful for expressing a simple attempt with やってみる.Tatoeba #1503523 by bunbuku, translation #20776 by CK
- やってみるよ。I'll give it a try.This sentence is useful for expressing the intent to give something a try with やってみる.Tatoeba #12440004 by small_snow, translation #1140115 by CK
- やってみるつもりだ。I'm going to try.This sentence is useful for expressing a plan to try something with やってみる.Tatoeba #2095097 by bunbuku, translation #1890995 by CK
- 商品を試してみてください。Please try the product.
- 新しいスキルに挑戦してみましょう。Let's try to challenge ourselves with a new skill.
- 習った理論を実践してみてください。Try putting the learned theory into practice.
- そのアクティビティをやってみようよ！Let's try that activity!
- この新しいレシピを試してみよう。Let's try this new recipe.
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “try” translations and entries 試す, 努める, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
