Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Grammar a Day - Level 1 [ みせる (miseru) ]

みせる (miseru) - am determined to


--- Examples ---
今年こそは修士論文を書き上げてみせる。
This very year or never, I'm going to finish my MA thesis, if you will.

読んでみせる
I'm going to read it, if you will.

どんな手を使ってでも勝ちとってみせる。
I win by all means.

私はどんな困難にも耐えてみせる。
I'm sure I can overcome any difficulty.

石にかじりついても成功してみせる。
I will succeed at any cost.

--- Comments ---
the will read ex is more a usage example - note the in boxes. i decided to
skip a big coding exercise and use the existing structure to include basic
grammar usage too. (contributor: dc)

This is an (or however you're going to categorize 'verb-te aux-verb'
(contributor: Amatuka)

not to be confused with 見せかける, to pretend/feign or have outward
appearance (usually used for things though) (contributor: dc)

...してみせる is a very difficult concept to convey. I am not sure
that there is an English equivalent. (contributor: bamboo4)

After thinking about it at length, I scrap verything I said and decided
that the best Japanese equivlant is 'if you will.'
That's not exactly the concept behind みせる but I think it is what I
would say if I am speaking in English. (contributor: bamboo4)

what about simply 'i'll show you! '? (contributor: rasmusjp)

'i'll show you! '? sounds like a really easy way to remember this. i wonder
if its accurate translation of the mood... (contributor: dc)

in many movies and comics that i translate(d), みせる is usually said by
annoyed youths, so the mood might as well be the same :) (contributor:
Kaens)

This is a tricky one. I think that the translation into 'I'll show you' is
good - except that you wouldn't really say that in English.
It is a form used when you have something to prove, or the desire to show
someone that you can/will do (whatever).
That said, in English there is no set phrase commonly uttered aloud to
express that feeling.
(Other than 'I'll show you/him/her/them!', but that is more often said to
one's self, rather than to another.
Compare
りんごを食べる! 
- I will eat an apple

りんごを食べてみせる!
- I will eat an apple (*while thinking* ...and show you! You said I
couldn't, so this will show you how wrong you are!) (contributor: skottt)

There are plenty of good translations in English.

The phrases 'Just you wait!' and 'You'll see!' pop immediately to mind, in
terms of phrases you can use when you've got something to prove.

The only difference? It's not in vogue in America to directly convey that
you have something to prove -- has a bit of the air of a children's
cartoon.

As a result, both of the phrases above, while a good translation, are
mostly only used in a silly or archaic fashion in English.

For instance, when I make fun of my girlfriend, she always replies
defiantly, 'One day I'll show you, you big lout!'

You could translate that to 'Itsuka Utte miseru!' (The 'utsu' verb for
exacting revenge, I forget the kanji)

It's archaic language used to convey a silly effect, not because the words
are 'old fashioned' but because the *feeling behind them* isn't one that
English speakers like to directly express. (contributor: Televangelist)

can it be thought of in contrast with ~てみる ? if so would the
translation of ~てもせる be ? (contributor: gandal)

how about this for a simpler explanation. the verb 見せる means to show.
so してみせる could best be translated as I will see (because I will
show you).

Ex

今年、僕は大学を卒業してみせる。
You will see, This year I will graduate.
(contributor: tigert)

How about 'too' as in, I will too eat the apple! (contributor: db)

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