JLPT N1Spoken and writtenA vow

てみせるI'll show you I can; show how

A vow to pull something off and be seen doing it: "I'll pass, you'll see". It is also simply doing something for someone to see: showing how, or that you can.

a vow

何なん度ど失しっ敗ぱいしても、最さい後ごまでやり抜ぬいてみせる。

However many times I fail, I'll stick this out to the end. You'll see.

showing how

コーチは新あたらしい投なげ方かたを選せん手しゅの前まえでやってみせた。

The coach did the new throw in front of the players to show them how.

How to form it

Verb in the て-form + みせる

勝かつ → 勝かってみせる. Polite てみせます, past てみせた.

Said about: The vow is nearly always your own. Someone else's comes as a quotation.
Often with: 必かならず, 絶ぜっ対たいに, 今こん度どこそ, いつか.
Where you'll meet it: Dramas, manga and anime, athletes' interviews, speeches. The showing use, anywhere.

The vow

Someone doubts you, or you have failed before, and you promise the result itself. About an everyday plan it sounds like a hero's speech.

A

その成せい績せきじゃ、第だい一いち志し望ぼうは無む理りだろう。

With grades like that, your first choice is out of reach.

B

見みててよ。絶ぜっ対たい受うかってみせるから。

Just watch. I'm going to get in.

to a boss or a client

必かならず期き限げんまでに試し作さく品ひんを完かん成せいさせてみせます。

I will have the prototype finished by the deadline. You'll see.

彼かの女じょは笑え顔がおで「一人ひとりでもやり遂とげてみせる」と言いった。

Smiling, she said, "I'll get it done, even on my own."

Doing it for someone to see

When it is already done, or nothing is at stake, there is no vow: you do it so that someone sees.

弟おとうとは「見みてて」と言いって、二に十じゅう五ごメートル泳およいでみせた。

"Watch me," my little brother said, and swam twenty-five meters to show us.

手て品じな師しは空からの箱はこから花はなを出だしてみせた。

The magician produced flowers from an empty box for everyone to see.

彼かの女じょは「大だい丈じょう夫ぶ」と笑わらってみせた。

"I'm fine," she said, and put on a smile.

Novels are full of these: a smile, a nod, a shrug, made for someone to see.

てみせる or てやる?

Both turn a plain 勝かつ into a vow. てみせる has someone to prove it to; てやる has someone or something to beat.

てみせるN1This page

Determined, not rough. As てみせます it can be said to a teacher or a boss.

絶ぜっ対たいに勝かってみせる。

I'll win. You'll see.

てやるN1

The same vow with a clenched fist: rough, defiant, and out of place in polite speech.

絶ぜっ対たいに勝かってやる。

I'll win if it's the last thing I do.

Close neighbours

てみるN4

みる, not みせる: you try something to find out for yourself. Nothing is promised, and nobody need be watching.

難むずかしそうですが、やってみます。

It looks hard, but I'll give it a go.

Check yourself

1What does this mean?

来らい年ねんこそ優ゆう勝しょうしてみせる。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which would you say at a job interview?

Choose an answer to see why.

3What did the teacher do?

先せん生せいは生せい徒との前まえで、ゆっくりひもを結むすんでみせた。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

今こん度どこそ、必かならずこの交こう渉しょうをまとめてみせる。

This time I will get these negotiations settled, whatever it takes.

料りょう理り人にんは客きゃくの前まえで魚さかなを鮮あざやかにさばいてみせた。

The chef filleted the fish with a flourish in front of the customers.

この折おり方かたなら、私わたしがゆっくり折おってみせましょう。

For this fold, let me do it slowly so you can see.