Translation guide
How to express doing something on a trial basis, experimentally, or to see what happens.
The speaker performs an action temporarily or experimentally to see the result.
Attach to the te-form of a verb. This is the most common way to say 'try doing something and see'.
ちょっと食べてみる。
I'll try eating it (to see if I like it).
このボタンを押してみてください。
Please try pressing this button.
An adverb meaning 'as a test' or 'on a trial basis'. Often used with 〜てみる.
The action itself is a test or experiment, often to gather data or prove a point.
Directly means 'as a test'. Natural in both casual and formal contexts.
テストとして一度だけ使ってみた。
I used it just once as a test.
The speaker does something out of curiosity, without a serious plan.
Same pattern as above, but the nuance is 'just to see' rather than a formal test.
面白そうだから、やってみよう。
It looks interesting, so let's try it (and see).
Used in a clause meaning 'to see how it is/feels'. Often combined with 〜てみる.
〜てみる means 'try doing something (and see the result)'. To express 'attempt to do something (effort)', use 〜ようとする or 〜てみる is not appropriate. For example, 'I tried to open the door (but it was locked)' is ドアを開けようとした, not ドアを開けてみた.
ドアを開けようとしたが、鍵がかかっていた。
I tried to open the door, but it was locked.
試しに新しい方法でやってみた。
I tried doing it the new way as a test.
Means 'on an experimental basis' or 'as a trial'. More formal than 試しに.
このシステムを試験的に導入します。
We will introduce this system on a trial basis.
Means 'as an experiment'. Suitable for scientific or systematic trials.
実験としてこの薬を投与した。
We administered this drug as an experiment.
どんな感じか試してみた。
I tried it to see what it's like.