Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 見る | miru | [mʲiɾɯ̟] (narrow) | |
| 見てみる | mitemiru | ||
| ご覧になる | go-ran ni naru | [ɡo̞ɾa̠ɲ̟ ɲ̟i na̠ɾɯ̟] (narrow) | honorific |
| 拝見する | haiken surú | humble |
The verb 見る is used not just for physical sight, but also for 'watching' movies, 'checking' information or 'visiting' a place in certain contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
The form 見てみる is a combination of the te-form of 見る (to look) and 見る (to see/try), literally meaning 'to look and see' or 'to try looking'.
Which one should you use?
While 見る is the standard verb, ご覧になる is the honorific version used to show respect to the person who is doing the looking. Conversely, 拝見する is the humble version used when you are the one looking at something belonging to a superior, to lower your own status.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For polite requests, you can use 見てください (Mite kudasai) to ask someone to look at something. In informal settings, 見ろ (Miro) is a straightforward and direct way to say 'look,' while ちょっと見て (Chotto mite) is a casual request to 'take a look' or 'have a quick look.'
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plain past tense of 見る is 見た (mita), meaning 'looked' or 'saw'. To express the continuous action of 'looking' or 'watching' currently, use the form 見ている (mite iru).
How do you pronounce it?
miru
Did you know?
- When you use the humble form 拝見する (haiken suru), the prefix 拝 literally means 'to worship' or 'bow'.
- In highly emotional or aggressive contexts, the imperative form 見ろ (miro) is often associated with cinematic tropes of commanding someone to 'witness' a defeat.
- The verb 見る is a direct relative of the word for 'eye', which is 目 (me).
Examples in context
- 空を仰ぎ見る。You'll look up at the sky.This sentence shows how to use 見る to describe looking up at the sky.Tatoeba #179412 by KK_kaku_, translation #12603446 by urro
- そんな目で見るなよ。Don't look at me with those eyes.This sentence uses 見る to describe the manner in which someone is being looked at.Tatoeba #11583634 by small_snow, translation #11761007 by end
- 毎日、星占いは見るよ。I look at my horoscope every day.This sentence demonstrates the use of 見る for checking a daily horoscope.Tatoeba #10899440 by small_snow, translation #10899465 by CK
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “look” translations and entries 見る, ご覧になる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 見る, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
