How to say "appear" in Japanese

• 現れるあらわれるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbThe basic choice for 'appear' in the sense of coming into sight or becoming visible: a person, object, or phenomenon shows up where it was not before. Use this for physical or concrete appearance.
  ２０人にんの警官けいかんが現場げんばに現あらわれた。↗

  Twenty police have arrived on the scene.
• 思われるおもわれるCommon
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'appear' in the sense of 'seem': something gives a certain impression, as in 'it appears that...'. This is about how things seem to the speaker, not about anything becoming visible.
  私には彼かれはそそっかしすぎるように思おもわれる。↗

  It seems to me that he is too careless.
• 見えるみえるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbUsed when something looks or appears a certain way to perception, or is visible. It overlaps with 'seem' ('it looks expensive') and with things coming into view, so context decides between the two readings.
  １１ページの地図ちずはとても奇妙きみょうに見みえる。逆さかさまにしてみると、見み慣なれた地図ちずになる。↗

  The map on page 11 looks very strange. Turn it upside down. Then it becomes a familiar map to you.
• 飛び出すとびだすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbOnly for appearing suddenly or bursting out, as when something or someone darts or jumps out unexpectedly. It is not a neutral way to say 'appear'; the sudden, energetic movement is essential to its meaning.
  どんな質問しつもんが飛び出とびだすか分わからないから、僕ぼくとしては当意即妙とういそくみょうで発表はっぴょうするしかないな。↗

  Since I don't know what questions I'll be asked, I'll have to wing it at my presentation.
• 訪れるおとずれるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbAppears in 'appear' only in the sense of a season, situation, or time arriving, as in 'autumn appeared'. For people or things becoming visible it is not the word you want; it really means 'to visit' or 'to come'.

For 'appear' meaning to become visible use 「現れる」 (or 「飛び出す」 for sudden emergence); for 'seem/appear' use 「思われる」 or 「見える」; 「訪れる」 is only for seasons or situations arriving.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 現れるあらわれるto appear
• 思われるおもわれるto seem
• ばむto show signs of
• 現れ出るあらわれでるto appear
• 現ずるげんずるto appear
• ぐむto appear
• 生すむすto grow (of moss, grass, etc.)
• 出てくるでてくるto come out
• 影が差すかげがさすto cast a shadow
• 姿を見せるすがたをみせるto show up
• できるto come into existence
• 見えるみえるto look
• 飛び出すとびだすto appear (suddenly)
• 訪れるおとずれるto arrive (of a season, situation, etc.)
• 浮かぶうかぶto rise to the surface
• 湧くわくto appear (esp. suddenly) (sweat, tears, etc.)
• 載るのるto appear (in print)
• 映り込むうつりこむto be caught (in a photograph)
• 世に出るよにでるto go out into the world
• 出るでるto appear
• 立つたつto develop (of a haze, waves, etc.)
• 吹くふくto appear (on the surface)
• 発するはっするto occur
• 臨むのぞむto attend (e.g. a function)