観(み)る

みる
verb-ichidan
to watch; to view (a performance, show, or spectacle)
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present観(み)る観(み)ない
Present polite観(み)ます観(み)ません
Past観(み)た観(み)なかった
Past polite観(み)ました観(み)ませんでした
て form観(み)て観(み)なくて
ている present観(み)ている観(み)ていない
ている polite観(み)ています観(み)ていません
ている past観(み)ていた観(み)ていなかった
ている past polite観(み)ていました観(み)ていませんでした
Conditional ば観(み)れば観(み)なければ
Conditional たら観(み)たら観(み)なかったら
Volitional観(み)よう—
Volitional polite観(み)ましょう—
Potential観(み)られる観(み)られない
Passive観(み)られる観(み)られない
Causative観(み)させる観(み)させない
Imperative観(み)ろ観(み)るな
1. to watch; to view (a performance, film, show, or spectacle)
To watch something as a spectator, particularly performances, movies, plays, and other forms of entertainment.
映画(えいが)を観(み)に行(い)く。
To go watch a movie.
昨日(きのう)テレビでドラマを観(み)た。
I watched a drama on TV yesterday.
歌舞伎(かぶき)を観(み)るのは初(はじ)めてだったので、とても感動(かんどう)した。
It was my first time watching kabuki, so I was very moved.

The kanji 観(み)る specifically refers to watching as a spectator — viewing performances, shows, films, and spectacles. While 見(み)る is the general-purpose "to see/look at," 観(み)る implies appreciating or taking in something meant to be watched.

KANJI USAGE:

  • 見(み)る: general seeing, looking at anything
  • 観(み)る: watching performances, shows, movies, spectacles
  • 診(み)る: examining (medical)
  • 視(み)る: inspecting, observing (formal)

In casual writing, 見(み)る or hiragana みる is often used for all meanings. 観(み)る is preferred in more careful or literary writing when referring to entertainment.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 映画(えいが)を観(み)る: to watch a movie
  • 芝居(しばい)を観(み)る: to watch a play
  • 試合(しあい)を観(み)る: to watch a game
  • お花見(はなみ): flower viewing (uses the same 観(み) concept)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 見(み)る: to see, to look at — the general-purpose verb; covers all types of seeing
  • 鑑賞(かんしょう)する: to appreciate (art, music) — more formal; emphasizes aesthetic appreciation
  • 観覧(かんらん)する: to view, to watch — formal; used for exhibitions and public events
general
Added 2026.4.8 1:42
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