見(み)くびる

みくびる
verb (godan, transitive)
to underestimate; to look down on; to make light of
他動詞 transitiveevaluationcommunication
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present見(み)くびる見(み)くびらない
Present polite見(み)くびります見(み)くびりません
Past見(み)くびった見(み)くびらなかった
Past polite見(み)くびりました見(み)くびりませんでした
て form見(み)くびって見(み)くびらなくて
ている present見(み)くびっている見(み)くびっていない
ている polite見(み)くびっています見(み)くびっていません
ている past見(み)くびっていた見(み)くびっていなかった
ている past polite見(み)くびっていました見(み)くびっていませんでした
Conditional ば見(み)くびれば見(み)くびらなければ
Conditional たら見(み)くびったら見(み)くびらなかったら
Volitional見(み)くびろう—
Volitional polite見(み)くびりましょう—
Potential見(み)くびれる見(み)くびれない
Passive見(み)くびられる見(み)くびられない
Causative見(み)くびらせる見(み)くびらせない
Imperative見(み)くびれ見(み)くびるな
1. to underestimate; to look down on; to make light of
to judge someone or something as less capable or important than they actually are
相手(あいて)を見(み)くびるな。
Don't underestimate your opponent.
彼(かれ)の実力(じつりょく)を見(み)くびっていた。
I had underestimated his ability.
この問題(もんだい)を見(み)くびると大変(たいへん)なことになる。
If you underestimate this problem, it will turn into a serious matter.
私(わたし)を見(み)くびらないでほしい。
I don't want you to look down on me.

A godan verb meaning to underestimate or belittle someone. Carries a stronger emotional charge than 甘(あま)く見(み)る, implying contempt or dismissiveness toward the other person's capabilities.

Common collocations

  • 相手(あいて)を見(み)くびる: to underestimate one's opponent
  • 実力(じつりょく)を見(み)くびる: to underestimate someone's ability
  • 見(み)くびってはいけない: must not underestimate
  • 見(み)くびられる: to be looked down on

Similar words

  • 甘(あま)く見(み)る: to take lightly or underestimate; less confrontational and more commonly used in everyday speech
  • 侮(あなど)る: to despise or hold in contempt; more literary and carries a stronger sense of scorn
  • 舐(な)める: (colloquial) to look down on or not take seriously; slangy and blunt

Etymology

From 見(み) (looking) + くびる (an archaic verb meaning to count or reckon low), literally meaning to regard as being of low value.

Related Words

Compare: 甘(あま)く見(み)る (to take lightly or underestimate)
Compare: 侮(あなど)る (to despise or hold in contempt)
Compare: 舐(な)める ((colloquial) to look down on or not…)
general
Added 2026.4.24 21:13 · Revised 2026.10.2 9:20
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