見せる|みせるmiseru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N5approx.Common
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto show; to display
  2. ichidan verb, transitive verbto make (something or someone) look ...; to present an appearance of ...
    彼女かのじょは背せを高たかく見みせるためにハイヒールをはいている。↗
    She wears high heels to make herself look taller.
  3. ichidan verb, transitive verbto make (something) worth watching; to be entertaining
  4. ichidan verb, transitive verbto have (something) looked at (by a specialist); to have (an antique, etc.) appraised
  5. ichidan verb, transitive verbto have (an injury, person, etc.) looked at (by a doctor); to take (someone) to a doctoralso written as 診せる
  6. auxiliary verb, ichidan verbto make a show of (doing); to do in a conspicuous manner; to do in view of othersafter the -te form of a verb
    She smiled to smooth things over.
  7. auxiliary verb, ichidan verbto resolve to do; to do at any cost; to show others that one will ...after the -te form of a verb
    どんな手てを使つかってでも勝かちとってみせる。↗
    I'll win no matter what it takes.
Conjugation
Dictionary form見せる(みせる)
Polite (masu)見せます(みせます)
Negative (nai)見せない(みせない)
polite (masen)見せません(みせません)
classical zu / nu見せず・見せぬ(みせず・みせぬ)
Past (ta)見せた(みせた)
polite (mashita)見せました(みせました)
Past negative (nakatta)見せなかった(みせなかった)
polite (masen deshita)見せませんでした(みせませんでした)
Te form見せて(みせて)
Potential見せられる(みせられる)
Passive見せられる(みせられる)
Causative見せさせる(みせさせる)
Causative passive見せさせられる(みせさせられる)
Conditional (ba)見せれば(みせれば)
tara見せたら(みせたら)
Volitional見せよう(みせよう)
polite (mashou)見せましょう(みせましょう)
Imperative見せろ(みせろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym表すあらわすWrittenWritten. For expressing abstract meanings or feelings, as in 「感謝を表す」; 「見せる」 is about letting someone actually see.
  • Synonym示すしめすNeutralNeutral. To show, point out or indicate, as in 「証拠を示す」「関心を示す」; more formal than 「見せる」.
  • Synonym晒すさらすWrittenWritten. Also written 「曝す」; to expose to sun, weather or public view, as in 「日に晒す」「人前に恥を晒す」.
  • Synonym展示てんじWrittenWritten. Putting works or materials on public display, as in 「展示会」; used for exhibitions and museums.
  • Synonym提示ていじWrittenWritten. Presenting ID or documents, or putting forward a plan, as in 「身分証を提示する」.
  • Synonym陳列ちんれつWrittenWritten. Laying out goods or items for people to see, as in 「商品を陳列する」.
  • Synonym展観てんかんWrittenWritten. Putting things on exhibition; very rare — say 「展示」 in everyday use.
  • Synonym展覧てんらんWrittenWritten. Displaying works for viewing; mostly seen in 「展覧会」, seldom used alone.
  • SynonymディスプレイNeutralNeutral loanword. Merchandise displays or a computer monitor, as in 「店頭ディスプレイ」.
  • Synonym供覧きょうらんFormalFormal. Official-document wording for putting something on view for a crowd; not used in daily life.
  • Synonym呈するていするFormalFormal. To present a certain appearance or to offer something up, as in 「活況を呈する」.
  • Synonym呈すていすWrittenWritten. Another form of 「呈する」 with the same meaning; rare even in writing.
  • Related晒すさらすWrittenWritten. Also written 「曝す」; to expose to sun, weather or public view, as in 「日に晒す」「人前に恥を晒す」.
  • Related発揮はっきWrittenWritten. To bring out one's abilities or strength and put them to work, as in 「実力を発揮する」; its object is ability.
  • Related露出ろしゅつWrittenWritten. Baring or exposure, also media exposure, as in 「肌の露出」「メディア露出」.
  • Related見せつけるみせつけるCasualColloquial. Deliberately showing something to people, as in 「仲の良さを見せつける」; with a flaunting tone.
  • Related露呈ろていWrittenWritten. For problems or shortcomings coming to light, as in 「弱点が露呈する」; mostly negative.
  • Related開示かいじFormalFormal. Disclosing information that is not normally public, as in 「情報開示」; legal and business use.
  • Related出展しゅってんWrittenWritten. Exhibiting one's works or products at a fair, as in 「見本市に出展する」.
  • Related見せびらかすみせびらかすCasualColloquial. Showing something off proudly, as in 「新車を見せびらかす」; derogatory.
  • Relatedさらけ出すさらけだすCasualColloquial. Laying everything bare with no reserve, as in 「弱さをさらけ出す」; stresses total openness.
  • Relatedむき出すむきだすCasualColloquial. Baring what was covered, as in 「歯をむき出す」; sometimes carries hostility.
  • RelatedひけらかすCasualColloquial. Showing off one's learning or knowledge, as in 「知識をひけらかす」; derogatory.
  • Antonym隠すかくすNeutralNeutral antonym. The opposite of 「見せる」: to hide things or keep facts from others.
  • Antonym隠蔽するWrittenWritten antonym. To cover up or conceal the truth; written register, usually negative.

Default to 「見せる」 when showing something to someone. Use 「提示」 for presenting ID or documents, 「示す」 for showing an attitude, 「展示」 for exhibition displays, 「見せびらかす」 for showing off, 「発揮」 for putting ability to use, and 「露呈」 for problems coming to light. The rest are narrower: written or formal terms like 「呈する」「開示」「陳列」, show-off verbs like 「ひけらかす」「見せつける」, and the antonyms 「隠す」「隠蔽する」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 人ひとに見みえるようにする。提示ていじする。
  2. 表面ひょうめん上じょう見みえるようにする。みせかける。
  3. 感情かんじょうや意欲いよくなどを態度たいどにしめす。
  4. 鑑定かんていや診察しんさつなどをしてもらう。みてもらう。診察しんさつについては「診みせる」とも表記ひょうきする。
  5. 芸げい技わざなどで人ひとを引ひきつける。「魅みせる」とも。
  6. (他動詞たどうし) (無生物むせいぶつを主語しゅごに、動作どうさ性せいの名詞めいしを目的語もくてきごに取とって「~が(は)、…を見みせる」の形かたちで)多おおくの人ひとたちや関係者かんけいしゃ以外いがいの人ひとたちにも分わかるぐらい、~が…する。~に…が起おきる。
  7. (補助ほじょ動詞どうし) 行為こういを人ひとに示しめす。
  8. (補助ほじょ動詞どうし) 話者わしゃの強つよい決心けっしんを示しめす。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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

Say it right, write it right

Core lookup works fully offline, with cloud pronunciation and one-tap save & review. Free, no sign-up.

Free downloadWindowsFree downloadmacOSDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
MobileiOS / Android

Android

QR code for the Google Play pageGet it on Google Play

Scan it with your Android phone to install, or search for “Tomoshi” on Google Play.

iOS

QR code for the App Store pageDownload on the App Store

Scan it with your iPhone camera to install, or search for “Tomoshi” in the App Store.

Install the browser extensionLook words up on any web page · Chrome / Edge / Safari

Screenshot of a Tomoshi lookup resultScreenshot of Tomoshi lookup results on a phone

Windows macOS Chrome / Edge / Safari extension iOS / Android