Japanese word

見舞う

Pronunciation

Romajimimau

Meaning

  • verbcheck on ___

Example

病気の友達を見舞います。byō ki no tomo dachi o mi ma i ma su

I will check on my sick friend.

Illustration for 見舞う (check on ___)

More examples

病気の先生を見舞い、元気づけました。byō ki no sen sei o mi ma i gen ki zu ke ma shi ta

I visited my sick teacher and encouraged them.

Core concept

Means making a caring visit to someone who is ill or facing trouble, with attention to the person's condition rather than the visit itself.

Common phrases

  • 病気の人を見舞うbyō ki no hito o mi ma u

    visit a sick person

  • けが人を見舞うke ga nin o mi ma u

    visit an injured person

Similar words

訪ねるtazuneru: To visit a person or place without necessarily responding to illness or hardship.
訪問するhōmonsuru: To visit a person or place as a planned or formal act.

Definition in Japanese

病気や災難にあった人のもとを訪れ、安否を確かめて慰める。byō ki ya sai nan ni a tta hito no mo to o otozu re an pi o tashi ka me te nagusa me ru

Word origin

The verb 見舞う (mimau) is usually explained as a shortened form related to 見回る (mimawaru, "to look around"), which developed into the sense of visiting and checking on someone in difficulty.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a routine social visit, 見舞う (mimau) focuses on the person's condition and the visitor's concern, which gives the verb a more caring use than ordinary visits.

Other meanings

  • visitverb
  • comfortverb

Related words

Word lists with this word