The Difference Between 見る (miru) vs 観る (miru) vs 見える (mieru) vs 見られる (mirareru)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)

(Joy seeing Mt. Fuji [Mieru] vs. Joy watching a movie [Miru/Kan])

“I see a bird.” (Mieru)
“I watch a movie.” (Miru)
“I can see (have a chance to see) the panda.” (Mirareru)
Japanese has 4 ways to say “See/Watch”! Using the wrong one changes the meaning completely. Let’s master the nuances with Joy and Ken.

🗣 Conversation Scene

Joy and Ken are hiking on a mountain.

Joy

わあ！富士山（ふじさん）が見（み）えます！
ケンさん、見（み）てください！
(Wow! Mt. Fuji is “visible”! Ken, please “look”!)

Ken

すごいですね。ここでは、珍（めずら）しい鳥（とり）も見（み）られますよ。
後（あと）で、撮（と）ったビデオを観（み）ましょう。
(Amazing. Here, rare birds “can also be seen (opportunity)”. Later, let’s “watch” the video we took.)

💡 Explanation

Distinguish between “Action,” “Visibility,” and “Opportunity.”

1. 見る (Miru) vs. 観る (Miru)

Same pronunciation, different Kanji.

見る (General): To look, to see. Used for everything.
Ex: 時計を見る (Look at the clock).
観る (Watch): To watch intentionally (Entertainment). Used for movies, sports, plays.
Ex: 映画を観る (Watch a movie).

2. 見える (Mieru) vs. 見られる (Mirareru)

Both translate to “Can see,” but the logic is different.

見える (Natural Visibility): The object enters your eyes naturally. It is visible.
Ex: 眼鏡（めがね）がないと、見えません。(Without glasses, I can’t see [it’s blurry].)
Ex: 富士山が見えます。(Mt. Fuji is visible.)
見られる (Opportunity/Ability): You have the chance, time, or means to watch it.
Ex: 忙しくて映画が見られません。(I’m too busy, so I can’t watch the movie [No time].)
Ex: 日本でパンダが見られます。(You can see pandas in Japan [Opportunity].)

📊 Comparison Table

Word	Nuance	Key Condition
見る (Miru)	Look / See	General Action
観る (Miru)	Watch / Enjoy	Entertainment (Movies/Sports)
見える (Mieru)	Visible	Eyesight, No obstruction
見られる (Mirareru)	Opportunity	Time, Ticket, Location

🚧 Joy’s Mistake

(Joy has no TV, so she cannot watch the show)

❌ Wrong: テレビがないから、番組（ばんぐみ）が 見えません。
(This sounds like: “I am blind” or “There is a wall in front of the TV.”)

✅ Right: テレビがないから、番組が 見られません。
(I don’t have the *means/opportunity* to watch it. Use “Mirareru”.)

🔥 Practice Quiz

Tap to check the answer!

Q1. From here, the ocean is visible.
(Koko kara umi ga ______.)

Answer: Miemasu (見えます)
Natural scenery/visibility.

Q2. I want to watch a soccer match.
(Sakkaa no shiai o ______ tai.)

Answer: Mitai (観たい / 見たい)
Active watching. “観たい” adds the nuance of enjoying a sport/show.

Q3. You can see (have a chance to see) famous paintings at this museum.
(Kono bijutsukan de yuumei na e ga ______.)

Answer: Miraremasu (見られます)
It is an opportunity/possibility provided by the museum.

Keep practicing with JPLT!