Lesson 73 - Try a little sushi

You know that mimasu means to see, but when combined with other verbs, it can also mean to try. For example, if you wanted to say "Try a little sushi", you would say Chotto sushi o tabete mite kudasai. Please note that the mimasu always comes at the end of the sentence. This can be used in a variety of different ways, but be careful of the context, for you can just as easily say Soto ni itte sora o mimashita and it would be "I went outside and saw the sky". You have to learn to differentiate between when it means to see and when it means to try. Let's look at a conversation between Youko and Jirou to see how it can be used.

Youko: Kinou kaimono ni ikimashita.
Jirou: Sou desu ka? Nani o kaimashita ka?
Youko: Nani mo kaimashita. Demo, aoi BURAUSU o kite mimashita. Hen deshita.
Jirou: Atarashii kutsu o kaimasen deshita ka?
Youko: Iie. Kakkoii kutsu o haite mimashita ga takakatta desu! Motto okane ga irimashita.
Jirou: Daijoubu desu yo. Youko chan wa mou kutsu ga takusan arimasu.
Youko: Sou desu ne. Ano... ima nanji desu ka?
Jirou: Sanji goro desu. Naze desu ka?
Youko: Oneechan wa sugu kaette kimasu. Soto ni kite mite kudasai.
Jirou: Hai. Chotto matte. ....Oneesan ga imasen.
Youko: Wakarimashita. Ja, bangohan o hajimemasu.
Jirou: Ryouri o yoku shimasu ka?
Youko: Mada desu. Chotto tabete mite kudasai.
Jirou: Hai.... iya, mazui desu ne. Renshuu shite ne.
Youko: Wakarimashita. Motto renshuu shimasu!

Youko begins by saying she went shopping the day before. Jirou asks what she bought and she replies, "I bought nothing. But I tried on a blue blouse. It was strange." Jirou asks, "You didn't buy new shoes?" She replies, "No. I tried on cool shoes but they were expensive! I needed more money." Jirou remarks, "That's all right. You already have many." Youko agrees and then asks what time it is. Jirou says, "It's about 3 'o clock. Why?" She replied, "My older sister will come back soon. Please go outside and look for her." Jirou says, "OK. Wait a little ... your sister isn't there." Youko replies, "Alright. Then I'll begin dinner." 

Hajimemasu means to begin. You probably also heard Hajimete in Japanese drama's or anime, this means first or first time. Jirou asks if she cookes well and she replies, "Not yet. Please try a little of this." Jirou says, "OK. ... ew, this is horrible. Practice, alright?" She replies, "Alright. I'll practice more!"