1.
to look down at
To look at something from a higher position, such as looking down from a mountain or tall building.
山から町を見下ろす。
To look down at the town from the mountain.
窓から下を見下ろした。
I looked down from the window.
橋の上から川を見下ろした。
I looked down at the river from on the bridge.
展望台から街を見下ろすと、車が小さく見えた。
Looking down at the city from the observation deck, the cars looked tiny.
飛行機の窓から見下ろすと、雲の下に田んぼが広がっていた。
Looking down from the airplane window, rice paddies spread out below the clouds.
2.
to command a view of, to overlook
To have a view of an area below from a high vantage point.
海を見下ろせる。
You can overlook the sea.
丘の上から街を見下ろせる。
You can command a view of the city from the top of the hill.
このホテルの部屋からは海が見下ろせる。
You can look down over the sea from this hotel room.
[Note: 見下ろせる is the potential form]
城は町全体を見下ろす位置に建っている。
The castle stands in a position that overlooks the entire town.
レストランの窓からは港が見下ろせて、景色がすばらしい。
You can overlook the harbor from the restaurant window, and the view is wonderful.
見下ろす is a transitive verb (他動詞) meaning to look down at something from above.
COMPOUND STRUCTURE:
- 見る (to see) + 下ろす (to lower) → to lower one's gaze
ASPECT (ている):
見下ろしている indicates an ongoing action of looking down.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 山から見下ろす (look down from a mountain)
- 窓から見下ろす (look down from a window)
- 町を見下ろす (look down at a town)
CAUTION:
Do not confuse with 見下す which means "to look down on" in a condescending sense.
[Register: Neutral]
Related Words
Antonym:
見上げる (opposite direction of gaze)