🦅 Project Eagle
Synonym Nuance VS

How to say "Look" in Japanese

Both words can translate to "look", but which should you choose?

Japanese Option A

調べる

しらべる (shiraberu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B

目を通す

めをとおす (me o tōsu)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus

Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference

When translating "look" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 調べる and 目を通す. In Japanese, 調べる (しらべる (shiraberu)) is typically associated with "to look up; to check; to investigate" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used for looking up information. On the other hand, 目を通す (めをとおす (me o tōsu)) maps to "to look over; to skim through; to glance over" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents An idiomatic expression meaning to read something quickly or briefly, often just to get the main points or check for obvious errors, without deep scrutiny. It's a transitive verb phrase.. A literal translation of "look" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "調べる"
辞書で言葉の意味を調べました。
I looked up the meaning of the word in the dictionary.
Bilingual Context for "目を通す"
会議の前に資料に目を通しておいてください。
Please glance over the materials before the meeting.

Nuance Mastery Quiz

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "辞書で言葉の意味を調べました。" (Meaning: "I looked up the meaning of the word in the dictionary.")
🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "調べる" fits here because it means "to look up; to check; to investigate" in the context of: "I looked up the meaning of the word in the dictionary.". "目を通す" represents "to look over; to skim through; to glance over".