Structure
Noun + が + 見える
Details
Register
Standard
使用域
一般
About 見える
In the same way that 聞こえる is used to describe things that are 'audible', 見える can be used to describe things that are 'visible'. 見える itself is an intransitive verb, meaning that the object that is 'visible' will be marked with が.
- この部屋からは富士山が見えます。Mount Fuji can be seen from this room.
- 遠くに建物が見えるけどあれは何？I can see a building in the distance, but what is it?
- パンツが見えるくらいを下げて、先生に怒られた。My pants were sagging to the point where my underwear was visible, and I got scolded by my teacher.
- ここからだと小さく見えるけど、あのビルは130メートルもある。From here, the building looks small, but it is 130 meters tall.
- あの仕事は大変に見えるけど、簡単らしいよ。That job looks difficult, but I heard that it is easy.
Fun Fact
The primary difference between 見える, and 見られる (the potential form of 見る), is that 見える is used to identify things that do not require the active concentration of the spectator to be seen. In other words, seeing it is unavoidable (if looking in its direction of course). However, 見られる is used when the onlooker, is trying to concentrate on some specific object, and is referring to their 'ability' to see it.- 部屋を暗くして外を見たら、星が見えるよ。If you make your room dark and look outside, you will see the stars. (Even without trying, you will see them)
- 部屋を暗くして外を見たら、星が見られるよ。If you make your room dark and look outside, you will see the stars. (If you focus past the clouds, and give your eyes some time to adjust)
Fun Fact
見える is also sometimes used to describe the 'sense' of sight, and refers to whether anything is visible at all for the speaker.- 若い時に大きな怪我があったからなにも見えない。Because of a big injury when I was young, I cannot see.
Synonyms
Examples
「あの看板は大きいので、どこからでもよく見える。」
'Since that signboard is big, it can be seen from anywhere.'
「富士山はとても大きいから遠くからでもよく見える！」
'Mount Fuji is very big, so it can be clearly seen even from afar!'
雨がやんで、今でははっきりと見えるよ♪
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone♪
田舎は都会より明かりが少ないから星がよく見える。
There is less light in the countryside than in cities, so stars are clearly visible.
目が見えない人は聴覚が鋭い。
Blind people often have a sharp sense of hearing. (Literally - People who cannot see)
To make this sentence less direct and generally more polite, you can use 目が不自由(ふじゆう)な人は聴覚が鋭い instead.
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
Potential form
Tae Kim
Spontaneity
Imabi
History of 見える and its uses
BriefJapanese
Offline
Tae Kim Japanese Grammar Guide
page 126
Genki II 2nd Edition
page 83
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
page 243
TRY! N4
page 32
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
見える – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (8 in total)
Pushindawood
@pasi Thank you for your comment. I have rearranged the order of the sentences and review questions so that this particular example only appears after you have been reviewing the grammar point for some time. Cheers!
pasi
Sorry to trouble you once again, this is not strictly related to the grammar point but I was wondering why is “ハッキリ” written in katakana? I googled the meaning of the word and most examples seem to use hiragana and I couldn’t really find a reason for the katana…
Pushindawood
@pasi Hey! This post on Japanese StackExchange does an excellent job of answering your question. In this case, it is like making the text bold or italicizing text in English; it is used for emphasis. Cheers!
Got questions about 見える? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion