Japanese word

見る

Pronunciation

Romajimiru

Meaning

  • verbsee

Example

何を見ますか？nan o mi ma su ka

What do you see?

Illustration for 見る (see)

More examples

窓から海を見ます。mado ka ra umi o mi ma su

I see the ocean from the window.

窓から外を見ました。mado ka ra soto o mi ma shi ta

I looked outside through the window.

Core concept

Centers on taking in something visually, whether it is noticed, examined, or followed as it unfolds.

Common phrases

  • テレビを見るte re bi o mi ru

    watch TV

  • 映画を見るei ga o mi ru

    watch a movie

  • 写真を見るsha shin o mi ru

    look at a photo

Similar words

観るmiru: To watch or view something with attention, especially a film, show, or game.
眺めるnagameru: To look at something for a while without closely examining it.
見つめるmitsumeru: To look steadily at something for a period of time.

Definition in Japanese

目で対象を捉え、その存在や様子を知覚する。me de tai shō o tora e so no son zai ya yō su o chi kaku su ru

Word origin

見る (miru, "to see") is a native Japanese verb inherited from Old Japanese, with the basic sense of taking in something through sight.

Usage tips

  • Japanese uses 見る (miru) for both watching a film and seeing a bird, so context often supplies the distinction that English expresses with "watch" and "see".

Other meanings

  • look atverb
  • watchverb

Related words

Word lists with this word