見る
みる·miru
Meaning
to see; to look at; to watch; to view
Nuance & Usage
見る is one of the most versatile verbs in Japanese — it covers "see," "look at," "watch," and "view." As a subsidiary verb (~てみる), it means "to try doing" something: 食べてみる (try eating). This auxiliary usage is extremely common and essential. Related: 見える (mieru — can be seen, visible), 見せる (miseru — to show). The honorific form is ご覧になる (goran ni naru).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 見る (miru — to see/watch), 見える (mieru — to be visible, involuntary), and 見せる (miseru — to show). 見る requires intentional action; 見える describes something that is naturally visible. Also, ~てみる (try doing) is a grammar point, not just "to see" — 日本料理を作ってみました means "I tried making Japanese food," not "I saw making Japanese food."
Example Sentences (3)
テレビを見ながら晩ごはんを食べます。
てれびをみながらばんごはんをたべます。
I eat dinner while watching TV.
一度日本に行ってみたいです。
いちどにほんにいってみたいです。
I'd like to try going to Japan someday.
この写真を見てください。
このしゃしんをみてください。
Please look at this photo.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
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