In Japanese, there are verbs with the sound 「みる」(“miru”), and the meaning changes depending on the kanji used for it. Even Japanese elementary school students often make mistakes in using these kanji properly. This article introduces the four most commonly used kanji for the verb “miru”.
Table of Contents
見る : to see; to look; to watch
Meaning:
– to see (to use your vision to look at something or someone)
Example:
「テレビで見た服を買った。」
（てれびでみたふくをかった。）
(Terebi de mita fuku o katta)
“I bought clothes I saw on TV.”
「この建物は高いので、遠くの方まで見える。」
（このたてものはたかいので、とおくのほうまでみえる。）
(Kono tatemono wa takai-node, tōku no hō made mieru.)
“This building is tall, so you can see very far in the distance.”
Basically, the verb 「みる」(“miru”) is written with this kanji. You can also use this kanji to express the meaning of the other kanji that will be introduced later. This is because the kanji to be introduced later are written in different ways to emphasize the meaning. If you are not sure which kanji to use, use this one.
観る : to see; to look; to watch
Meaning:
– to watch movies, sports, and theatrical performances
– to look closely and carefully at an object
Example:
「久しぶりに映画を映画館で観た。」
（ひさしぶりにえいがをえいがかんでみた。）
(Hisashiburi ni eiga o eigakan de mita.)
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a movie in a theater.”
「決勝戦はスタジアムで観たいなぁ。」
（けっしょうせんはすたじあむでみたいなぁ。）
(Kesshōsen wa sutajiamu de mitai-naa.)
“I want to see the final game at the stadium…”
When “movie,” “sports,” or ” theatrical performance” is the objective, this kanji is used. This kanji has a more intense meaning of watching carefully and closely than the kanji of 「見る」.
診る : to diagnose; to examine (medically)
Meaning:
– To examine and determine medical conditions and health status
Example:
「お医者さんに診てもらう。」
（おいしゃさんにみてもらう。）
(Oisha-san ni mite-morau.)
“I’m going to see a doctor. (=I’m having a doctor examine me.)”
「あれは、看護師さんが脈を診る時に使う道具です。」
（あれは、かんごしさんがみゃくをみるときにつかうどうぐです。）
(Are wa, kangoshi-san ga myaku o miru toki ni tsukau dōgu-desu.)
“That’s a tool used by nurses to check the pulse.”
This kanji is used when doctors examine their patients. Basically, you don’t use this kanji for topics that are not related to medical care.
看る : to look after (medically); take care of someone
Meaning:
– to look after and take care of someone with care
Example:
「風邪を引いた子供を看ているので、今日は出かけられません。」
（かぜをひいたこどもをみているので、きょうはでかけられません。）
(Kaze o hīta kodomo o miteiru-node, kyō wa dekakeraremasen.)
“I am taking care of my child who caught a cold, so I can’t go out today.”
「手術後は容体の変化をよく看ておかなければいけない。」
（しゅじゅつごはようだいのへんかをよくみておかなければならない。）
(Shujutsu-go wa yōdai no henka o yoku mite-okanakerebanaranai.)
“After the surgery, you have to keep a close eye on the changes in his condition.”
This kanji is mainly used when you take care of people or animals, caring for their health conditions. Therefore, the objects of the kanji are often sick or elderly people.
Let’s differentiate the four kanji
This is what it looks like when you use the four different kanji in a single sentence.
「サッカーを観ている途中で、弟を見てみると、具合が悪そうなので、お医者さんに診てもらい、その日は家で彼を看ていた。」
（さっかーをみているとちゅうで、おとうとをみてみるとぐあいがわるそうなので、おいしゃさんにみてもらい、そのひはいえでかれをみていた。）
“While we were watching the soccer game, I took a look at my brother and found that he was sick, so I took him to see a doctor and stayed home that day to take care of him.”
I used these kanji for 「観る」 because I was watching soccer (sports); 「見る」 because I simply took a look at my younger brother; 「診る」 because a doctor examined a patient; and 「看る」 because I took care of a sick person.