よそ見・余所見|よそみyosomi[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Which spelling to use
よそ見よそ見 is the most common spelling and combines kanji with kana. Beginners should use it by default.
余所見余所見 is a less common variant written entirely in kanji. Beginners should normally use よそ見 instead.
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verblooking away; looking aside
  2. nounoutsider's perspective; observer's view
Conjugation
Dictionary formよそ見する(よそみする)
Polite (masu)よそ見します(よそみします)
Negative (nai)よそ見しない(よそみしない)
polite (masen)よそ見しません(よそみしません)
classical zu / nuよそ見せず・よそ見せぬ(よそみせず・よそみせぬ)
Past (ta)よそ見した(よそみした)
polite (mashita)よそ見しました(よそみしました)
Past negative (nakatta)よそ見しなかった(よそみしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)よそ見しませんでした(よそみしませんでした)
Te formよそ見して(よそみして)
Potentialよそ見できる(よそみできる)
Passiveよそ見される(よそみされる)
Causativeよそ見させる(よそみさせる)
Causative passiveよそ見させられる(よそみさせられる)
Conditional (ba)よそ見すれば(よそみすれば)
taraよそ見したら(よそみしたら)
Volitionalよそ見しよう(よそみしよう)
polite (mashou)よそ見しましょう(よそみしましょう)
Imperativeよそ見しろ(よそみしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym脇見わきみNeutralLooking off to the side, as in 「脇見運転」; typical in driving and safety contexts, while 「よそ見」 is the more conversational everyday word.
  • Related他所見NeutralA kanji spelling of 「よそ見」 with the same meaning (「他所見」), but used far less often.
  • Antonym注視ちゅうしNeutralGazing steadily or watching closely, as in 「画面を注視する」; the opposite of 「よそ見」, which is looking away from where you should be looking.
  • Antonym凝視ぎょうしNeutralStaring fixedly at one point, as in 「一点を凝視する」; the opposite of 「よそ見」.

Use 「よそ見」 for looking elsewhere when you should be looking ahead (「よそ見をするな」「授業中によそ見する」); for distracted driving say 「脇見」. The opposites are 「注視」 and 「凝視」, for looking intently.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 本来ほんらい見みる方向ほうこうではない方向ほうこうを見みること。
  2. 見みないふりをすること。
  3. 傍目はため。人目ひとめ。他人たにんの目め。よそめ。
Kanji in this word

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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