〜てみせる: 'Show By Doing' / 'I'll Definitely…' (N3 Grammar)
What it means
〜てみせる literally combines a verb's て-form with みせる ("to show"). Out of that come two distinct uses.
Sense 1 — demonstrate / show how, by doing it. You perform the action so someone can see exactly how it's done:
先生は正しい発音をしてみせた。
せんせいは ただしい はつおんを して みせた。
The teacher demonstrated the correct pronunciation by saying it.
Did it himself so students could see/hear how.
モチはお手本に、漢字を書いてみせた。
モチは おてほんに、かんじを かいて みせた。
As an example, Mochi wrote the kanji to show how.
Sense 2 — strong determination / a vow ("I'll show them"). Here みせる is figurative: you'll prove it through action, often against doubt:
今度こそ合格してみせる。
こんどこそ ごうかく して みせる。
This time I will pass — just watch.
A firm vow, not literally 'show.'
ヤッタンは必ず日本語をマスターしてみせると言った。
ヤッタンは かならず にほんごを マスター して みせると いった。
Yattan said he would definitely master Japanese, no matter what.
How to form it
Take the て-form of any verb and attach みせる. みせる is a ru-verb (一段), so it conjugates normally:
| Verb (dictionary) | て-form | 〜てみせる |
|---|---|---|
| する (do) | して | してみせる |
| 書く (write) | 書いて | 書いてみせる |
| 合格する (pass) | 合格して | 合格してみせる |
| 成功する (succeed) | 成功して | 成功してみせる |
Because みせる is a regular ru-verb, all the usual endings work: みせた (past), みせます (polite), みせよう (volitional), みせるつもり, and so on.
| みせる form | Result | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| してみせた | demonstrated it | Sense 1 (past) |
| 合格してみせます | I will pass (polite vow) | Sense 2 |
| やってみせるぞ | I'll pull it off, watch! | Sense 2 (emphatic) |
More examples
弟が解けなかった問題を、ヤッタンが解いてみせた。
おとうとが とけなかった もんだいを、ヤッタンが といて みせた。
Yattan solved the problem his little brother couldn't — and showed him how.
Sense 1: demonstrating by doing.
今は無理でも、いつか必ず成功してみせる。
いまは むりでも、いつか かならず せいこう して みせる。
Even if it's impossible now, someday I will definitely succeed — you'll see.
Sense 2: determination.
先生は箸の正しい持ち方を持ってみせてくれた。
せんせいは はしの ただしい もちかたを もって みせて くれた。
The teacher held the chopsticks the right way to show us how.
Sense 1, with くれる added for 'did it for us.'
てみる vs てみせる — try vs prove
These look almost identical but mean different things. The contrast is worth memorizing:
- 〜てみる = try and see what happens. The outcome is unknown; you're testing: 食べてみる ("I'll try eating it [to see how it is]"). See 〜てみる.
- 〜てみせる = show / prove by doing, or vow to do it. Either you demonstrate (Sense 1) or you're determined (Sense 2): 食べてみせる ("I'll eat it [to show you / no matter what]").
Quick test: if you could swap in English "let me try…," it's てみる. If it's "let me show you…" or "just watch me…," it's てみせる.
Common mistakes
- Confusing てみせる with てみる. てみる = try (uncertain outcome); てみせる = demonstrate / resolve to (you'll prove it). 合格してみる ("I'll give the exam a shot") is much weaker than 合格してみせる ("I will pass").
- Treating みせる as a godan verb. It's a ru-verb: the past is みせた, not みせいた; the negative is みせない.
- Over-using the "vow" sense in calm, neutral statements. Sense 2 carries strong emotion or defiance. For an ordinary plan, just use the plain verb (合格する) or 〜ようとする.
- Forgetting it builds on the て-form. It attaches to the て-form, not the dictionary form: 書いてみせる (✓), 書く みせる (✗).
Quick recap
- 〜てみせる = て-form + みせる (a ru-verb).
- Sense 1: demonstrate by actually doing it (先生が発音してみせた).
- Sense 2: a strong vow — "I'll do it, just watch" (合格してみせる).
- Don't mix it up with 〜てみる ("try and see").
Your turn
Choose between てみる and てみせる, and identify which sense of てみせる fits.
Start the 5-question drill →Take the full N3 〜てみせる drill →
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between てみる and てみせる?
てみる means 'try and see' with an uncertain outcome (食べてみる = I'll try eating it). てみせる means 'show by doing' or 'I'll prove it / just watch' (食べてみせる). One tests; the other demonstrates or vows.
How many meanings does てみせる have?
Two. (1) Demonstrating something by actually doing it: 先生が書いてみせた ('the teacher wrote it to show how'). (2) Strong determination: 必ず成功してみせる ('I will definitely succeed, you'll see').
How does みせる conjugate?
みせる (見せる) is a regular ru-verb (一段): past みせた, negative みせない, polite みせます, volitional みせよう. So you can say してみせた, してみせます, やってみせよう, and so on.
Is the determination sense rude?
Not rude, but emotional and emphatic — it conveys defiance or strong resolve. For a neutral plan, use the plain verb or 〜ようとする instead.