〜たい vs 〜てみたい: The Simple Trick to Understanding Japanese Grammar

Do you know the difference between 〜たい and 〜てみたい in Japanese? 🤔

Both expressions are used to talk about what you want to do, but there’s a small difference in meaning. Let’s learn how to use them with simple examples!

1. 〜たい — I Want to Do Something

We use 〜たい to express a desire to do something.

It means “I want to…”

How to form it

Verb stem + たい

Verb	〜たい	English
食（た）べる	食（た）べたい	I want to eat
行（い）く	行（い）きたい	I want to go
見（み）る	見（み）たい	I want to see / watch
勉強（べんきょう）する	勉強（べんきょう）したい	I want to study

Examples

日本にほんに行いきたいです。

I want to go to Japan.

ラーメンを食たべたいです。

I want to eat ramen.

映画えいがを見みたいです。

I want to watch a movie.

👉 Use 〜たい when you want to express a desire to do something. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve done it before or not.

2. 〜てみたい — I Want to Try Doing Something

We use 〜てみたい when we want to try an action or experience something.

It means “I want to try…”

How to form it

Verb て-form + みたい

Verb	〜てみたい	English
食（た）べる	食（た）べてみたい	I want to try eating
行（い）く	行（い）ってみたい	I want to try going
作（つく）る	作（つく）ってみたい	I want to try making
着（き）る	着（き）てみたい	I want to try wearing

Examples

納豆なっとうを食たべてみたいです。

I want to try eating natto.

着物きものを着きてみたいです。

I want to try wearing a kimono.

日本にほんの温泉おんせんに入はいってみたいです。

I want to try going into a Japanese hot spring.

👉 Use 〜てみたい when you want to try something or experience an action.

3. What’s the Difference?

Let’s compare the two!

🍣 食たべたい vs 食たべてみたい

寿司すしを食たべたいです。

I want to eat sushi.

→ You want to eat sushi.

寿司すしを食たべてみたいです。

I want to try eating sushi.

→ You want to try the experience of eating sushi.

💡 Remember: 〜てみたい doesn’t always mean it’s your first time. You can use it when you want to try something again or in a new way.

For example:

もう一度いちど、京都きょうとに行いってみたいです。

I’d like to visit Kyoto again.

4. Quick Summary

Expression	Meaning
〜たい	I want to do something
〜てみたい	I want to try doing something

〜たい = Want to do

〜てみたい = Want to try doing

Both are useful expressions for talking about your wishes in Japanese!

💬 Your Turn!

What do you want to do or try in Japan?

Try making a sentence with 〜たい or 〜てみたい!

Example:

日本にほんの祭まつりに行いってみたいです！

I want to try going to a Japanese festival!

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