How to say "show" in Japanese

• 見せるみせるJLPT N5approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe basic verb for letting someone see something: show a photograph, show your ticket, show someone how something works. When 'show' means presenting something to a viewer, this is the word.
• ショーJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe loanword noun for a show as entertainment: a performance presented to an audience, like a stage show or a magic show. It is a noun only — it never translates the verb 'to show'.
  これから始はじまるショーをどうぞごゆっくり。↗

  We hope you will enjoy the show.
• 発揮はっきJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA noun for the show of power, ability or skill: putting one's capabilities on display, as when an athlete shows their real strength in a match. Not the verb for showing an object to someone.
  この作家さっかが本領ほんりょうを発揮はっきしているのは短編小説たんぺんしょうせつだ。↗

  This writer is at his best in his short stories.
• 興行こうぎょうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA noun for a show as a staged entertainment event, with a show-business ring: the performance as something produced and put on before an audience. It does not translate the verb 'to show'.
  それは大成功だいせいこうで長期ちょうき興行こうぎょうになった。↗

  It was a great success, ending in a long run.
• 映し出すうつしだすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb for showing an image: a screen shows a picture, a mirror or a lake shows a reflection. Use it when what appears is an image, not when you present an object to someone.
  月つきが湖みずうみに映し出うつしだされていた。↗

  The moon was reflected in the lake.

Use 「見せる」 for showing something to someone, 「ショー」 or 興行 for a show as an entertainment performance, 発揮 for the show of ability or power, and 「映し出す」 for images on a screen or reflections.

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

• 見せるみせるto show
• ショーshow
• 発揮はっきshow (of power, ability, etc.)
• 興行こうぎょうshow
• 映し出すうつしだすto project
• 指し示すさししめすto indicate
• 見栄みえshow
• 表するひょうするto express
• 見せ掛けみせかけseeming
• 虚飾きょしょくostentation
• むき出すむきだすto show
• おしるしshow (blood-stained mucus discharge that happens towards the end of pregnancy)
• ご覧に入れるごらんにいれるto show
• お目にかけるおめにかけるto show
• ちらつかせるto show
• お見せするおみせするto show
• 供覧きょうらんdisplay
• 現ずるげんずるto appear
• 表すひょうすto express
• 説き示すときしめすto explain
• 挙げるあげるto give (an example)
• 示すしめすto (take out and) show
• 出すだすto put out
• 教えるおしえるto tell
• 語るかたるto indicate
• 表すあらわすto reveal
• ステージperformance
• 物語るものがたるto tell of
• 見世物みせものshow
• 体裁ていさいappearances
• 舞台ぶたいstage performance
• 呈するていするto show
• 呈すていすto show
• ふりpretence
• やるto hold (a performance)
• 払うはらうto pay (e.g. attention)
• 看板かんばんappearance
• 出るでるto appear