# てごらん: try doing; please look

> Learn how to use てごらん, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning try doing; please look, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.

JLPT level: N3 · Updated: 2026-05-17 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n3-te-goran/

**てごらん** means **try doing; please look**. It is a **JLPT N3** grammar pattern used to **gently tell someone to try an action, often toward children or close people**.

This grammar point often appears in **casual** Japanese. If you want to **gently tell someone to try an action, often toward children or close people**, **てごらん** is a useful pattern to learn.

## What does てごらん mean?

Use **てごらん** when you want to **gently tell someone to try an action, often toward children or close people**.

Natural translations include:
- try doing; please look
- try doing
- try doing / please look

## How to form てごらん

Verbて-form + ごらん

Examples of the pattern:
- 食べてごらん
- 見てごらん
- 言ってごらん

## When is てごらん used?

Use **てごらん** in situations like:
- explaining grammar in context
- answering JLPT reading questions
- making natural Japanese sentences

Tone and register:
- casual
- Common in JLPT reading, grammar questions, and natural Japanese sentences

## てごらん example sentences

- このケーキを食べてごらん。 — Try eating this cake.
- 空を見てごらん。星がきれいだよ。 — Look at the sky. The stars are beautiful.
- もう一度言ってごらん。 — Try saying it one more time.
- 分からなければ、先生に聞いてごらん。 — If you do not understand, try asking the teacher.
- この漢字を書いてごらん。 — Try writing this kanji.

## Nuance of てごらん

The key nuance is **soft instruction or encouragement**.

This matters because **てごらん** does more than match a single English phrase. It shows how the speaker frames the condition, timing, example, role, intention, or contrast in the sentence.

For example:
- In context, it sounds natural when the surrounding sentence supports the nuance.
- Compared with **てみて**, it has a different focus and level of formality.

## てごらん vs てみて

Both **てごらん** and **てみて** can appear in related situations, but they are different.

**てごらん**:
- means **try doing; please look**
- fits the specific N3 pattern and nuance explained above

**てみて**:
- てみて is a neutral “try”; てごらん sounds softer, guiding, and often used by someone senior

Quick contrast examples:
- Target: このケーキを食べてごらん。 — Try eating this cake.
- Compare: Try replacing it with **てみて** and check whether the nuance still matches.

## Common mistakes with てごらん

Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using **てごらん** with the wrong form
- Confusing **てごらん** with **てみて**
- Translating it too literally instead of reading the whole sentence

## Is てごらん on the JLPT?

Yes. **てごらん** is commonly taught as **JLPT N3** grammar.

That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences

## Practice questions for てごらん

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Write one sentence using **てごらん**.
- Contrast **てごらん** with **てみて**.
- Make a JLPT-style sentence where the context makes the meaning clear.

## Learning path for てごらん

To learn **てごらん** efficiently, review the formation first, then compare it with the closest existing grammar point before writing your own sentence.

1. First, make sure you can form **てごらん** without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with [てばかりいる](/blog/n3-te-bakari-iru/), [てはじめて](/blog/n3-te-hajimete/). These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
3. Finally, write sentences where the grammar point’s nuance is necessary; then check whether replacing **てごらん** with [てからでないと](/blog/n3-te-kara-de-nai-to/) changes the meaning.

## Related grammar to review next

- [てばかりいる](/blog/n3-te-bakari-iru/) — because it appears in the same grammar family.
- [てはじめて](/blog/n3-te-hajimete/) — because it appears in the same grammar family.
- [てからでないと](/blog/n3-te-kara-de-nai-to/) — because it appears in the same grammar family.
- [てしょうがない・てしかたがない](/blog/n3-te-shou-ga-nai/) — because it appears in the same grammar family.

## Learn てごらん with Hane

If you want to review **てごらん** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:
- [All grammar lessons](/blog/)
- [JLPT N3 grammar lessons](/blog/n3/)