Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 1: 22/22

てご覧(らん)(Please) try to, (Please) look

Structure

Verb［て］+ ごらん
Verb［て］+ ごらんなさい

Details

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About てごらん

てご覧(らん) is an honorific language expression in Japanese that is used in a similar way to なさい. It is usually translated as 'please try to (A)', where (A) is the verb that ご覧(らん) is connected to, through the use of the conjunction particle て.

However, despite being translated as 'please try to (A)', the literal meaning of 覧(らん) is 'to look', or 'to peruse' (to look at one's own leisure, without needing to rush). Due to this, てごらん can be thought of as being quite similar to てみる 'to try', but with the added emphasis of 'try as you like, when it suits you'.

Caution

As ご覧(らん) is honorific language, it cannot be used to refer to your own actions, or things that you will 'try'. It will only ever be used to make suggestions to other people about what they should try.

Caution

Sometimes ごらん and なさい will be paired together. This slightly increases the strength of the suggestion, and may be perceived as a very light command. Because of this, ごらんなさい is primarily used by superiors/elders, when requesting that a subordinate/younger person try something.

Antonyms

Related

Examples

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    その景色(けしき)を見(み)てごらん。

    (Try to) take a look at that scenery.

    ニュースを見(み)てごらん。あなたが映(うつ)っているよ。

    (Try to) take a look at the news. You are on TV.

    あの蝶々(ちょうちょう)を捕(つか)まえてごらんなさい。

    Try to catch that butterfly.

    手(て)を貸(か)してごらん。手袋(てぶくろ)をはめてあげるから。

    (Try to) give me your hands. I will put your gloves on.

    もう一度(いちど)やってごらん。きっとうまくできるよ。

    Try it once more. I know you can do it.

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