見(み)える

みえる

verb (ichidan)

to be visible, to appear

1. to be visible, to be seen

For something to be perceivable by sight. The spontaneous/potential form of seeing.

ここから富士山(ふじさん)が見(み)える。

You can see Mt. Fuji from here.

遠(とお)くに山(やま)が見(み)える。

I can see mountains in the distance.

小(ちい)さくて見(み)えないから、もっと大(おお)きく書(か)いてください。

I can't see it because it's too small, so please write it bigger.

見えない (negative) for 'can't see'

星(ほし)がよく見(み)える夜(よる)です。

It's a night when you can see the stars well.

霧(きり)で何(なに)も見(み)えない。

I can't see anything because of the fog.

2. to appear, to look, to seem

To give a certain impression or appearance.

彼女(かのじょ)は若(わか)く見(み)える。

She looks young.

'Appear' meaning

彼(かれ)は疲(つか)れているように見(み)える。

He looks tired.

簡単(かんたん)そうに見(み)えるけど、難(むずか)しい。

It looks easy, but it's difficult.

その服(ふく)を着(き)ると太(ふと)って見(み)える。

You look heavier when you wear those clothes.

幸(しあわ)せそうに見(み)えますね。

You look happy.

3. to come (honorific)

Polite form meaning 'to come' or 'to visit,' used for respected persons.

先生(せんせい)がお見(み)えになりました。

The teacher has arrived.

Honorific usage

社長(しゃちょう)がお見(み)えです。

The president has arrived.

お客様(きゃくさま)がお見(み)えになっています。

A customer has arrived.

先生(せんせい)は何時(なんじ)にお見(み)えになりますか。

What time will the teacher arrive?

部長(ぶちょう)がまもなくお見(み)えになると思(おも)います。

I think the department manager will arrive soon.

TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive). Pattern: Xが見(み)える (X is visible) / Xに見(み)える (appear as X, look like X).

ASPECT: ている indicates ongoing state. 見(み)えている = 'is visible.'

COMMON PATTERNS:

Xが見(み)える (X is visible)
若(わか)く見(み)える (look young)
〜に見(み)える (look like ~, appear to be ~)
お見(み)えになる (come—honorific)
見(み)えない (can't see, invisible)

CONTRAST WITH 見(み)る:

見(み)る: active seeing/looking (transitive)
見(み)える: spontaneous/potential visibility (intransitive)

PARALLEL: 聞(き)く → 聞(き)こえる follows the same pattern (hear → be audible).

見(み)える

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