Unlike
見(み)える ‘to be visible’, which focuses on whether something can be seen or not,
見(み)られる (the
potential form of 見(み)る) focuses on the viewer's physical ability to see something. Due to this
が見(み)られる is used to highlight things that require some form of ‘effort’ to see, like ‘changes’, ‘trends’, etc.
As a result of the ‘effort’ that is required,
が見(み)られる is often translated as ‘for (A) to be evident’, ‘it can be observed that (A)’, ‘it can be seen that (A)’, and other similar structures. To use
見(み)られる, simply add it after the noun that you would like to show as being ‘evident’.
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この部屋(へや)からは富士山(ふじさん)が見(み)られる。
Mount Fuji can be seen from this room. (If you look closely, and it is a clear day)
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奈良(なら)に行(い)くと、横断歩道(おうだんほどう)を渡(わた)るシカが見(み)られる。
If you go to Nara, you can observe deer crossing the crosswalk. (If you are lucky, and the timing is right)
As
られる is both the
potential and
passive form of 見(み)る, it may be interpreted either way. However, in the case of ラ抜(ぬ)き言葉(ことば) (ら removed verbs), only 可能(かのう) (possibility) may be expressed, not 受(う)け身(み) (passivity).
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最近(さいきん)はタッチパネルが付(つ)いている冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)が見(み)られる。
Recently, refrigerators with touch panels can be seen.
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最近(さいきん)はタッチパネルが付(つ)いている冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)が見(み)れる。
Recently, you can see refrigerators with touch panels.