見える【みえる】

みえる見える (mieru) is an intransitive verb that expresses **natural visibility** or **appearance**. It has two main uses: describing that something **can be seen** (is visible), and describing how something **looks or appears**.

Something is visible / can be seen

When something is naturally within one's sight or can be perceived, みえる見える is used. The thing that is visible is marked with が, not を.

This is different from the potential form みられる見られる, which implies having the opportunity or permission to see something (e.g., being able to watch a movie). みえる見える describes something that is naturally visible without deliberate effort.

*(They are naturally visible.)*

Compare: えいが映画がみられる見られる。 (I can watch the movie – I have the opportunity.)

Something looks / appears / seems

みえる見える is also used to describe how something or someone **appears** to an observer. In this usage, it often pairs with adjectives or nouns using **に** or **く**.

• Adj-i → く + 見える

  かのじょ彼女はわかくみえる若く見える。

  She looks young.

• Adj-na / Noun + に + 見える

  かれ彼はげんき元気にみえる見える。

  He looks healthy.
  このたてもの建物はがっこう学校にみえる見える。

  This building looks like a school.

• ～ように見える (looks as if)

  かれ彼はおこっている怒っているようにみえる見える。

  He looks like he is angry.

Eyesight ability

みえる見える can also describe a person's **ability to see** in general – whether their eyes function.