How to say "see" in Japanese

• みるJLPT N5approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe general word for the physical act of seeing: to look at, watch, or view something — a film, a match, the scenery. This is the word you want for most everyday 'see' senses.
  １０ページの５行ぎょう目めをみなさい。↗

  Let's begin with the fifth line on page 10.
• あうJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'see' in the sense of meeting a person: 'I saw her yesterday' means you met her. It is about encounters between people, not about looking at things.
  前まえに彼かれにあったのを覚おぼえている。↗

  I remember seeing him before.
• 見受けるみうけるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbHere 'see' means to catch sight of something, or to suppose and assume from appearances — judging from how something looks. It is not the everyday word for simply seeing something.
  彼かれには容易よういに政治家せいじかとしての態度たいどが見みうけられる。↗

  You can easily see the politician in him.
• わかるJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'see' in the sense of understanding: 'I see' or 'I see what you mean' is わかる, usually written in kana alone. It is about grasping an idea, not visual perception.
  「博ひろし、君きみの気持きもちは分わかるよ」とマイクが言いいます。↗

  "I understand how you feel, Hiroshi," says Mike.
• 拝観はいかんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA special term for 'see' as in visiting a temple or similar site to view it — going to see and inspect the buildings and grounds. Not a general-purpose word for seeing things.
  この国宝こくほうは年ねん１回かいしか拝観はいかんを許ゆるされない。↗

  This national treasure can be seen by the public only once a year.

Use 「みる」 to see, look at, or watch something; 「あう」 to see a person (meet them); 「わかる」 when 'see' means understand; 「見受ける」 to catch sight of something or judge from appearances; 拝観 to visit a temple and view it.

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

• みるto see
• あうto meet
• 見受けるみうけるto catch sight of
• わかるto understand
• 拝観はいかんsee
• ご覧になるごらんになるto see
• 思い描くおもいえがくto imagine
• 見えるまみえるto have an audience
• 見てもらうみてもらうto see (a doctor, etc.)
• ご覧なさるごらんなさるto see
• 目にするめにするto see
• ほらねsee
• ご覧じるごろうじるto see
• 相まみえるあいまみえるto have an audience (with)
• 見かけるみかけるto (happen to) see
• 望むのぞむto see
• 拝むおがむto see (something or someone of high status)
• 読むよむto predict
• 接するせっするto receive (e.g. visitor)
• 拝するはいするto see
• ごらんなさいsee
• 拝すはいすto see
• 見られるみられるto see
• 読めるよめるto understand