見える

• Reading: みえる
• Romaji: mieru
• Kanji breakdown: 見 (ken/mi) — see, look, visible
• Pronunciation: /mi.e.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be visible; to be able to see. Also a polite form meaning 'to come' (honorific for 来る).

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb. Has two main uses: describing something being visible or in sight (intransitive — things can be seen naturally), and as an honorific replacement for 来る. Not to be confused with 見られる (potential form of 見る, meaning able to watch/look at intentionally).

Examples

1. この窓から富士山が見えます。 You can see Mt. Fuji from this window.
2. 暗くて何も見えません。 It's dark and I can't see anything.
3. 先生がお見えになりました。 The teacher has arrived.

Usage Guide

Context: scenery, perception, formal greetings

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Derived from 見 (see, look) with the auxiliary える indicating potential or spontaneous occurrence. Describes the natural state of something being visible rather than deliberate looking.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal