見物

• Reading: けんぶつ
• Romaji: kenbutsu
• Kanji breakdown: 見 (ken/mi) — see, look; 物 (butsu/mono) — thing, object
• Pronunciation: /keɴ.bɯ.t͡sɯ/

Meaning

Sightseeing; watching; viewing. The act of visiting places of interest or watching performances.

A noun that functions as a transitive suru-verb (見物する = to go sightseeing / to watch). Used for visiting tourist spots, watching festivals, or observing performances. The related word 見物人 (kenbutsunin) means spectator or onlooker. Less formal than 観光 (kankou), which refers to broader tourism.

Examples

1. 週末に浅草を見物しに行きました。 I went sightseeing in Asakusa over the weekend.
2. お祭りの花火を見物する人でいっぱいだった。 It was packed with people watching the festival fireworks.
3. 京都のお寺を見物するのが楽しみです。 I'm looking forward to sightseeing at the temples in Kyoto.

Usage Guide

Context: tourism, festivals, entertainment

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 見 (mi, to see/look) and 物 (mono, thing). Literally means seeing things — looking at noteworthy sights or attractions.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal