Structure
Noun + が + 見える
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Standard
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.
When using 見える, (A) will always be followed by が. However, the 'way that something looks' will be marked adverbially. This means that an い-Adjective will be changed to its く form, and な-Adjectives/nouns will be followed by に.
This usage of 見える will be covered more in our focused lesson on this particular grammar structure.
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)
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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.
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若い時に大きな怪我をしたからなにも見えない。Because of a big injury when I was young, I cannot see anything at all.
Synonyms
Examples
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「遠すぎるから書かれていることが見えないよ。」
'Because it is too far, I cannot see what is written there.'
「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.
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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
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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!
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