Japanese word

見上げる

Pronunciation

Romajimiageru

Meaning

  • verblook up at

Example

子どもは空を見上げます。ko do mo wa sora o mi a ge ma su

The child looks up at the sky.

Illustration for 見上げる (look up at)

More examples

高い塔を見上げて、その大きさに驚きました。taka i tō o mi a ge te so no ō ki sa ni odoro ki ma shi ta

I looked up at the tall tower and was surprised by its size.

Core concept

Expresses the action of lifting the eyes or face to see something higher than oneself.

Common phrases

  • 空を見上げるsora o mi a ge ru

    look up at the sky

  • 顔を見上げるkao o mi a ge ru

    look up at someone's face

  • 月を見上げるtsuki o mi a ge ru

    look up at the moon

Definition in Japanese

目や顔を上方に向けて、そこにあるものに視線を向ける。me ya kao o kami gata ni mu ke te so ko ni a ru mo no ni shi sen o mu ke ru

Word origin

The Japanese compound 見上げる (miageru) is formed from 見る (miru, "see") and 上げる (ageru, "lift"), literally linking seeing with lifting.

Usage tips

  • In English, look up can also mean search for information, but 見上げる (miageru) is used when the eyes turn toward something above.

Other meanings

  • raise one's eyesverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word