てごらんgive it a try; try it and see
A gentle "give it a try" or "try it and see", from someone older or senior to someone younger. It is てみる turned into a soft instruction.
Try a little. I'm sure you'll like it.
How to form it
Verb in the て-form + ごらん
見る → 見てごらん. The full form, てごらんなさい, is a little more formal. Usually written in hiragana.
- Said by
- A parent, a teacher, a coach, an older relative, a senior at work.
- Said to
- A child, a student, someone younger or junior. Not to anyone above you.
- Tone
- Warm and encouraging: you expect them to find something out, or to manage it.
- Where you'll meet it
- Speech at home and in class, picture books, children's television.
In use
Look up at the sky. There's a rainbow.
It's all right. Have another go.
If you don't understand, try asking the teacher.
Read it once more, slowly.
A teacher, a little more formally.
Two things to know
It comes from above
ごらん is the ご覧 of ご覧ください, "please look", so it can pass for polite. It isn't. Said to a teacher or a boss, it treats them like a child. With a friend your own age it can sound as if you were the teacher.
Please try this.
Polite: the one for a teacher, a boss or a customer.
Said sharply, it is a dare
With an edge in the voice, the same words mean "go on, then".
If you've got a complaint, try doing it yourself.
Close neighbours
てみるN4
Plain "try it and see", mostly about yourself. てごらん is said to someone else.
Next time, I'll try this method.
ご覧くださいN4
Respectful "please look", from staff to customers, with no "try" in it.
Please have a look at this menu.
Check yourself
1You are talking to your manager. Which one fits?
部長、
Choose an answer to see why.
2Who is going to press the button?
その
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
With no verb in front, ごらん is "look".
Look, it's snowing.
More sentences
How do I solve this?
First, try drawing a diagram.
Try reading it aloud.
Close your eyes and listen carefully.
Try turning this key slowly.
Try explaining it again, slowly.