一見(いっけん)

一見(いっけん) is used to describe surface-level impressions, typically followed by a contrasting reality introduced by が, けれど, or 実(じつ)は.

Common patterns

• 一見(いっけん)〜そうに見(み)える (looks ~ at first glance)
• 一見(いっけん)〜だが、実(じつ)は… (appears ~, but actually…)
• 一見(いっけん)すると (at a glance, looking at it briefly)
• 一見(いっけん)の価値(かち)がある (worth seeing, worth a look)

Usage

• Often implies a gap between appearance and reality
• Can be used as a noun meaning "a brief look": 一見(いっけん)の価値(かち)あり (worth seeing)
• Not to be confused with 一件(いっけん) (one matter/case), which is a homophone