見返る
みかえる
verb-ichidan
to look back; to turn around and look; to get back at someone by proving oneself
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 見返る | 見返ない |
| Present polite | 見返ます | 見返ません |
| Past | 見返た | 見返なかった |
| Past polite | 見返ました | 見返ませんでした |
| て form | 見返て | 見返なくて |
| ている present | 見返ている | 見返ていない |
| ている polite | 見返ています | 見返ていません |
| ている past | 見返ていた | 見返ていなかった |
| ている past polite | 見返ていました | 見返ていませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 見返れば | 見返なければ |
| Conditional たら | 見返たら | 見返なかったら |
| Volitional | 見返よう | — |
| Volitional polite | 見返ましょう | — |
| Potential | 見返られる | 見返られない |
| Passive | 見返られる | 見返られない |
| Causative | 見返させる | 見返させない |
| Imperative | 見返ろ | 見返るな |
1.
to look back; to turn around and look
To turn one's head or body to look at something behind or beside oneself.
声をかけられて見返った。
Someone called out to me, and I turned around to look.
彼女はちらっと見返って微笑んだ。
She glanced back and smiled.
振り返って見返ると、誰もいなかった。
When I turned around to look, no one was there.
2.
to get back at; to prove oneself; to show them
To succeed or achieve something impressive in order to prove wrong those who doubted, looked down on, or criticized you.
バカにした人たちを見返してやる。
I'll show those people who made fun of me.
努力して周りを見返したい。
I want to work hard and prove everyone wrong.
失敗を笑った人たちを見返すために、必死に頑張った。
I worked desperately to prove wrong those who laughed at my failure.
An ichidan verb with two distinct meanings. Sense 1 is a simple physical action. Sense 2 carries strong emotional motivation — the desire to vindicate oneself and prove doubters wrong.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ～を見返してやる: I'll show them! / I'll prove them wrong!
- 周りを見返す: to prove everyone around you wrong
- バカにした人を見返す: to get back at people who looked down on you
SIMILAR WORDS (sense 1):
- 振り返る: to turn around; to look back — more common for this physical meaning
- 振り向く: to turn to face someone — implies facing toward
SIMILAR WORDS (sense 2):
- 見返す: to look back at — can also mean to get revenge/prove oneself (similar)
- 仕返しする: to get revenge — more direct retaliation