やってみろ
yatte miro
The English phrase "try me" can be translated into Japanese as やってみろ (yatte miro).
A challenge used to dare someone to do something they have threatened or claimed they could do.
Which one should you use?
While やってみろ functions as a dare or a challenge to 'try me', it is not used in the sense of 'test my skills' in a professional context, but rather in a confrontational one.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase やってみろ is considered informal/aggressive. The phrase uses the imperative form 'miro', making it sound aggressive, confrontational or like a direct challenge.
Is it said differently in some regions?
ワシにやってみいや！ is a regional variation often heard in Hiroshima. The word 'washi' means 'I' or 'me'.
How do you pronounce it?
yatte miro
Did you know?
- While やってみろ is aggressive, adding the particle な at the end can turn the phrase into a warning or a prohibition, effectively saying 'don't even try it'.
- Because it relies on the imperative, this phrase is common in 'action' manga and cinema to signal the start of a fight.
- The Hiroshima variation ワシにやってみいや! swaps the standard 'I' for ワシ, a pronoun often associated with elderly men or fictional characters in anime.
Examples in context
- できるものなら、やってみろ。Dekiru mono nara, yatte miro.Try me, if you think you can.
- そんなに自信があるなら、やってみろよ。Sonna ni jishin ga aru nara, yatte miro yo.If you're that confident, try me.
- 口先だけじゃないことを、やってみろ。Kuchisaki dake janai koto o, yatte miro.Don't just talk, try me.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are arguing about who can win a game.
- 蓮 Ren俺に勝てるわけないだろ。ore ni kateru wake nai daro.There's no way you can beat me.
- 美咲 Misakiいいえ、私が勝つわよ。ie, watashi ga katsu wa yo.No, I'm the one who will win.
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、やってみろ。jaa, yattemiro.Fine, try me then.
- 美咲 Misakiいいわ、今すぐ始めましょう。ii wa, ima sugu hajimemashou.Fine, let's start right now.
