とみえる (primarily written only in hiragana) is a phrase that combines the 格助詞(かくじょし)
と, with the
る-Verb見(み)える ‘to appear’, or ‘to be visible’.
This use of the
と particle in Japanese is called 結果(けっか) ‘a result’, and marks when (A) is something that has come to a conclusion, or can be concluded. In this way
とみえる literally means ‘from the way it appears, one can conclude that it’s (A)’. However, this translates a bit more smoothly as ‘it can be deduced that (A)’, or ‘it seems that (A)’.
This expression is always used directly after the phrase that it is drawing as a conclusion. However, nouns and
な-Adjectives will require
だ before
とみえる.
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家(いえ)の窓(まど)が外(そと)から割(わ)られていた。泥棒(どろぼう)に入(はい)られたとみえる。
The windows of the house have been broken from the outside, so I can deduce that a burglar came in.
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彼(かれ)は上着(うわぎ)を脱(ぬ)いだ。彼(かれ)は暑(あつ)いとみえる。
He took off his jacket, so it seems that he is hot.
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彼(かれ)はサンドイッチを残(のこ)した。彼(かれ)はサンドイッチが嫌(きら)いだとみえる。
He left the sandwich, so I can conclude that he doesn't like sandwiches.
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トムは今日(きょう)は会社(かいしゃ)に来(こ)なかった。トムは昨日(きのう)風邪(かぜ)を引(ひ)いたから今日(きょう)は休(やす)みだとみえる。
Tom didn't come to work today. He caught a cold yesterday, so I can conclude that he is resting today.
While this phrase is conjecture (making a guess about something), it usually implies that the speaker has done some sort of research, or has some reason that led them to ‘draw (A) as a conclusion’. Due to this, it appears reasonably confident.
と always ‘sums up’ things. As 引用(いんよう) (quotation), it sums up the phrase before it as either something that was said, or thought. As 一緒(いっしょ) ‘being together’, it sums up groups of things that are existing/performing actions mutually. Lastly, as 結果(けっか) ‘a result’, it sums up causes, and then illustrates their effects.
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先生(せんせい)が生徒(せいと)に「廊下(ろうか)で走(はし)るな」と言(い)った。
The teacher said ‘don't run in the hallway’ to the students.
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母(はは)とレストランに行(い)った。
I went to the restaurant with my mother.
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昼寝(ひるね)をすると夜(よる)に寝(ね)れなくなる。
I can't fall asleep at night if I take a nap during the day.