How to say "try" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 試すためすgodan verb, transitive verbThe verb for trying something out to see how it works or whether it suits you; it carries the sense of testing. Use it for trying a new method, tool, or food.
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA loanword noun for taking on a challenge: the try is framed as something difficult and worth tackling. Choose it when you want to stress the difficulty or ambition of the goal.
- 試しためしnounThe noun for a trial or test: the act of trying something once to see the result. It is the noun side of 試す, used when speaking of giving something a try.
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verb, transitive verbThe direct loanword 'try': a neutral word for making an attempt, without the challenge framing of チャレンジ. It suits contexts where you simply speak of giving something a go or trying again.
- 試みるこころみるichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb for attempting something: you set out to do it knowing the outcome is uncertain. Unlike 試す, the focus is on the effort to accomplish something rather than on testing how it works.
Use 「試す」 to try something out and see if it works, 「試みる」 to attempt something with an uncertain outcome, 「試し」 for the trial itself, 「チャレンジ」 for taking on a challenge, and 「トライ」 for a plain attempt.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 試すためすto try (out)
- チャレンジtaking on (a challenge)
- 試しためしtrial
- トライtry
- 試みるこころみるto try
- 心がけるこころがけるto keep in mind
- 裁くさばくto judge
- 挑戦ちょうせんchallenge
- 験するけんするto try (out)
- 口をつけるくちをつけるto taste
- 味を見るあじをみるto have a taste (of something)
- アタックattack (on a difficult task)
- み(please) try (to)
- いくto do (in a particular way)
- 聞くきくto taste (alcohol)
- みそtry
- 効くきくto taste (alcohol)
- かますto pull (a joke)
- かませるto pull (a joke)
See also
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