眺める

• Reading: ながめる
• Romaji: nagameru
• Kanji breakdown: 眺 (chou/naga) — gaze, view from afar
• Pronunciation: /na.ɡa.me.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To gaze at; to view; to look out over. Leisurely watching something from a distance.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb conjugated by dropping る (眺めない, 眺めます). Implies a relaxed, sustained look rather than a quick glance — gazing at scenery (景色を眺める), watching from afar, or contemplating something visually. More passive and reflective than 見る (to look/see) or 見つめる (to stare intently).

Examples

1. 窓から夕焼けをぼんやり眺めていた。 I was gazing absent-mindedly at the sunset from the window.
2. 展望台から街の景色を眺めた。 I took in the view of the city from the observation deck.
3. 彼は写真を眺めながら昔のことを思い出した。 He reminisced about the past while looking at the photos.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, travel, reflection

Tone: contemplative

Origin & History

The kanji 眺 combines 目 (eye) and 兆 (omen/sign), suggesting gazing far into the distance to read signs — a contemplative, distant viewing.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal