みる vs みえる

[JeanOfmArc]

I've seen two verbs used quite often for "to see", みる and みえる. Does anyone know the difference between the two? Generally, when would you use one but not the other, or are they somehow interchangeable (though I doubt that)?

[WalterWills]

みえる　means "to be visible".
I think it's like an adjective in how it's used...みる　is something you do- you watch/look at things. But if something is みえる, it means you can see it passively- it's in your field of vision for example.

E.g.
窓（まど）　から　山（やま）　を　みる。
I look at the mountain from my window.

窓　から　山　が　みえる。
I can see the mountain from my window.
(lit: from the window the mountain is visible)　


They're not interchangable.
You use みる　with things you want to do- e.g. watching films, watching the TV, looking at paintings, watching suspicious behaviour.

But みえる　is used simply with things that are visible..So at the moment, my hands, keyboard, monitor, phone, the wall in front of me, computer wires, etc etc, are all みえる, I can see all of them but that's not to say I'm LOOKING at them purposely (apart from the keyboard and screen).

That's my understanding of it at least.

[Javizy]

見える also has another meaning of 'to seem, to look, to appear'.

スリムに見えるね。
You're looking slim.
子供ぽっく見えるよ。
You look childish.
彼女は月光に差された顔が尚更美しく見えた。
Her face, bathed in the moonlight, appeared all the more beautiful.

[wccrawford]

見える also has another meaning of 'to seem, to look, to appear'.

スリムに見えるね。
You're looking slim.
子供ぽっく見えるよ。
You look childish.

I've noticed this a lot... You say 'has another meaning', but really, it's just another shade of the same meaning. Both are saying that something can be seen. The mountain can be seen, it can be seen that you are slim, etc.

Does it not help to try to find the common element behind the 'definitions' and remember the core meaning, rather than trying to define it out exactly?

[QuackingShoe]

I've noticed this a lot... You say 'has another meaning', but really, it's just another shade of the same meaning. Both are saying that something can be seen. The mountain can be seen, it can be seen that you are slim, etc.

Does it not help to try to find the common element behind the 'definitions' and remember the core meaning, rather than trying to define it out exactly?

Yeah, but you can't necessarily know the shades until they're pointed out. Once pointed out, though, it's best to consolidate.

[wccrawford]

Yeah, but you can't necessarily know the shades until they're pointed out. Once pointed out, though, it's best to consolidate.

Absolutely. And more example sentences are always better, as well. I wasn't trying to say anything negative.

[JeanOfmArc]

Thanks guys, that all helps to clarify things for me!!