他所見(よそみ)

よそみ
noun
looking away; looking aside
actioncognition
1. looking away; looking aside; being distracted
The act of looking away from what one should be paying attention to. Often used in the context of driving or when someone is not focusing on the task at hand.
他所見(よそみ)運転(うんてん)は危険(きけん)だ。
Distracted driving is dangerous.
他所見(よそみ)をしていて転(ころ)んだ。
I fell because I was looking away.
授業中(じゅぎょうちゅう)に他所見(よそみ)をしていたら先生(せんせい)に注意(ちゅうい)された。
I was scolded by the teacher for not paying attention during class.

The act of looking away from what one should be paying attention to — literally "looking elsewhere." Commonly associated with distracted driving.

Writing

Also written as 余所見(よそみ) or よそ見(み). The kanji 他所(よそ) means "elsewhere" and 見(み) means "looking."

Common collocations

  • 他所見(よそみ)運転(うんてん): distracted driving (a legal/safety term)
  • 他所見(よそみ)をする: to look away, to be distracted
  • 他所見(よそみ)せずに: without looking away, attentively

Usage

Often used when scolding someone for not paying attention — children in class, pedestrians, drivers, etc. Has a mildly reproachful nuance.

Related words

  • わき見(み): looking to the side (synonym, especially for driving)
  • 注意散漫(ちゅういさんまん): inattentive, absent-minded
general
Added 2026.3.14 10:36 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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