Japanese word

見つかる

Pronunciation

Romajimitsukaru

Meaning

  • verbbe found

Example

なくした本が見つかりました。na ku shi ta hon ga mi tsu ka ri ma shi ta

The book I lost was found.

Illustration for 見つかる (be found)

More examples

なくした消しゴムが見つかりました。na ku shi ta ke shi go mu ga mi tsu ka ri ma shi ta

My lost eraser was found.

鍵は机の下で見つかりました。kagi wa tsukue no shita de mi tsu ka ri ma shi ta

The key was found under the desk.

Core concept

Describes something becoming located or recognized after it was unknown, lost, or hidden.

Common phrases

  • 見つかるまでmi tsu ka ru ma de

    until it is found

  • 見つかるかどうかmi tsu ka ru ka dō ka

    whether it will be found

Similar words

見つけるmitsukeru: Describes someone finding a person or thing that was difficult to locate.
探し出すsagashidasu: Describes someone finding something after making a deliberate search.
発見するhakkensuru: Describes someone discovering something that was previously unknown or unnoticed.

Definition in Japanese

探していた物などの所在が明らかになる。saga shi te i ta mono na do no sho zai ga aki ra ka ni na ru

Word origin

見つかる (mitsukaru) is a native Japanese intransitive verb related to 見つける (mitsukeru), a verb family built from 見る (miru, "see") and 付く (tsuku, "be attached").

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 見つかる (mitsukaru) places the located thing in focus, so a lost book can be described as being found without naming the person who finds it.

Other meanings

  • be discoveredverb

Word lists with this word