Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "See" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "see", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
ご覧になる
ごらんになる (goran ni naru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
拝見
はいけん (haiken)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "see" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between ご覧になる and 拝見.
In Japanese, ご覧になる (ごらんになる (goran ni naru)) is typically associated with "to see, to look (honorific)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Sonkeigo.
On the other hand, 拝見 (はいけん (haiken)) maps to "to see, to look at (humble form of 見る)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents A humble verb used when the speaker sees or looks at something belonging to or presented by someone of higher status.. A literal translation of "see" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "ご覧になる"
社長、こちらの資料をどうぞご覧ください。
President, please take a look at these documents.
Bilingual Context for "拝見"
先生の作品を拝見しました。
I humbly saw/looked at the teacher's work.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "社長、こちらの資料をどうぞご覧ください。" (Meaning: "President, please take a look at these documents.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "ご覧になる" fits here because it means "to see, to look (honorific)" in the context of: "President, please take a look at these documents.". "拝見" represents "to see, to look at (humble form of 見る)".