How to say "stare" in Japanese

• 見つめるみつめるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe straightforward verb for staring: looking steadily and hard at a person or thing. Typical contexts include staring at someone's face, staring into the distance, or gazing intently at an object.
  いい加減かげんに現実げんじつをみつめろ。↗

  Open your eyes to reality.
• 凝視ぎょうしCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbStaring as a fixed, concentrated gaze — a sense of fixation, with the eyes locked on something. It suits describing intense, unbroken scrutiny rather than a casual look.
  彼女かのじょは大勢おおぜいの少年しょうねんたちに凝視ぎょうしされているのを意識いしきしていたと思おもう。↗

  I think she was conscious of being stared at by many boys.
• 見守るみまもるCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbSeldom the word you want for plain staring: it really means to watch over someone or watch to see what happens — an attentive, protective kind of watching rather than fixing your gaze on something.

Use 「見つめる」 for the ordinary act of staring at someone or something, 凝視 when the gaze is fixed and intense, and 「見守る」 not for staring itself but for watching over someone or waiting to see what happens.

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

• 見つめるみつめるto stare (at)
• 凝視ぎょうしstare
• ガンを飛ばすがんをとばすto stare (at)
• じっと見るじっとみるto watch steadily
• 瞳を凝らすひとみをこらすto strain one's eyes
• 視線を注ぐしせんをそそぐto watch intently
• めlook
• 見守るみまもるto watch intently