What is the difference between "verb＋て＋みる" and "verb＋(よ)う+とする"?


In Japanese there are words which mean "to try something or attempt at doing
something", e.g. 試す, 試みる and つとめる.

However, at the same time we also have two grammatical constructions
"verb＋て＋みる" and "verb＋(よ)う＋とする".

In English we just say "try (to do) something" or "attempt (to do) something",
but in Japanese it is not that simple. So what is the difference between all
these different expressions? Precisely when is each used?




There is a fairly big difference in meaning between 「～～てみる」 and 「～～ようとする」 that
makes them virtually noninterchangeable for the better speakers/writers.

> 「～～てみる」 means " **to try something out (usually for the first time)** (to
> find out how it is, how you like it, etc.)".

whereas

> 「～～ようとする」 means " **to attempt to ~~ to achieve some kind of goal** (however
> insignificant it may be)". It is **_highly volitional_** in meaning.

The difference would become even clearer if one used actual words in front and
turned the phrases in question into their past tense forms.

> 「フグを[食]{た}べてみた。」 vs. 「フグを食べようとした。」 フグ = a poisonous blow fish

If you say 「フグを食べてみた。」, **_you actually ate it_**. If you say, however,
「フグを食べようとした。」, **_we do not know if you actually ate it_**. This should
already be a huge enough difference.

「フグを食べてみた。」 means that you tried it out because, for instance, you had heard
so much about how yummy fugu was and you had been very curious to find out how
it tasted.  
Thus, this sentence would often be followed by a sentence explaining your
impression of the experience such as 「とてもおいしかった」、「あまりおいしくなかった」, etc.

「フグを食べようとした。」 means that you actually intended to eat it but with this
sentence alone, we do not know if you actually ate it. You probably went to a
fugu restaurant with all your good intentions of trying the fish but you may
have backed off at the last minute fearing you might not return home alive.
Thus, this sentence would often be followed by a sentence telling whether you
actually ate it or not such as 「でも、こわくて食べられなかった。」、「 **食べてみた。** おいしかった。」, etc.

Finally, to group all the verb phrases mentioned in your question for meaning:

Group A: ～～てみる、[試]{ため}す、[試]{こころ}みる

Group B: ～～ようとする、つとめる

