見張る・見はる・瞠る|みはるmiharu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
見張る見張る is the most common written form and the recommended choice for learners. Use it as your usual form for this word.
見はる見はる is a less common written variant of 見張る. Learners should normally choose 見張る instead.
瞠る瞠る is a rarely used written form. You may encounter it, but 見張る is the practical choice for learners.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto stand watch; to stand guard; to look out
- godan verb, transitive verbto open (one's eyes) wide
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 見張る（みはる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 見張ります（みはります） |
| Negative (nai) | 見張らない（みはらない） |
| polite (masen) | 見張りません（みはりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 見張らず・見張らぬ（みはらず・みはらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 見張った（みはった） |
| polite (mashita) | 見張りました（みはりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 見張らなかった（みはらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 見張りませんでした（みはりませんでした） |
| Te form | 見張って（みはって） |
| Potential | 見張れる（みはれる） |
| Passive | 見張られる（みはられる） |
| Causative | 見張らせる（みはらせる） |
| Causative passive | 見張らせられる・見張らされる（みはらせられる・みはらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 見張れば（みはれば） |
| tara | 見張ったら（みはったら） |
| Volitional | 見張ろう（みはろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 見張りましょう（みはりましょう） |
| Imperative | 見張れ（みはれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related見守るみまもるNeutralWatching over with tender concern, as in 「子供の成長を見守る」; 「見張る」 is wary watching to head off trouble.
- Related監視かんしWrittenWritten/formal prose. Keeps a person or place under continuous watch, as in 「監視カメラ」.
- Related守るまもるNeutralNeutral. Protects and guards, and also covers keeping promises and rules; far broader in range than 「見張る」.
- Related警戒けいかいNeutralNeutral. Vigilance toward danger, as in 「警戒を強める」; the wary mindset rather than the act of watching.
- Related警備けいびWrittenWritten/formal prose for security work patrolling and guarding facilities, as in 「警備員」.
- Related警護けいごWrittenWritten/formal prose for close protection of important people, as in 「要人警護」; bodyguarding, not standing watch.
- RelatedガードCasualColloquial loanword for guarding or defending, as in 「要人をガードする」, also used in sports; 「見張る」 is just watching.
- Related防衛ぼうえいWrittenWritten/formal prose for defense at the national level against foreign enemies, as in 「防衛省」.
- Related守備しゅびWrittenWritten/formal prose for defense, used mostly in sports matches and military positions.
- Related防護ぼうごWrittenWritten/formal prose for protection against harm, as in 「防護服」.
- Related護衛ごえいWrittenWritten/formal prose for escorting and protecting someone by accompanying them.
- Related用心ようじんNeutralNeutral. Being careful and on one's guard, as in 「火の用心」; stresses the watchful mind, not the watching itself.
- Related守護しゅごWrittenWritten/formal prose for protecting or watching over; also the name of a Kamakura- and Muromachi-period office.
- Related注視ちゅうしWrittenWritten/formal prose for a fixed, concentrated gaze that follows how things develop.
- Related警固けいごWrittenWritten/formal prose for staying on alert and strengthening guards against an emergency.
- Related警衛けいえいWrittenWritten/formal prose for guarding and escorting, rarely used; 「見張る」 centers on watching and keeping an eye out.
- Related看視かんしWrittenWritten/formal prose for watching and guarding, but rare; modern writing normally uses 「監視」.
- RelatedウォッチCasualColloquial loanword for watching or following something, mostly in compounds like 「バードウォッチ」.
- Related防備ぼうびWrittenWritten/formal prose for preparations made to hold off outside enemies or disasters.
- AntonymつぶるNeutralNeutral. To close one's eyes — the opposite of 「瞠る」, opening the eyes wide.
Use 「見張る」 for watching warily so that nothing happens, as in 「見張りを立てる」; written 「目を瞠る」, it means eyes opening wide in shock. For warm, caring watching say 「見守る」, for continuous surveillance 「監視」, for security patrols 「警備」. 「守る」 is the broad everyday verb for protecting and obeying; 「警戒」 and 「用心」 are about staying alert; 「警護」 and 「ガード」 cover bodyguarding; 「防衛」「守備」「防護」「防備」 are defense terms; the antonym is 「瞑る」, closing the eyes.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
