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
見通す
みとおす (mitoosu)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "see" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between ご覧になる and 見通す.
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, 見通す (みとおす (mitoosu)) maps to "to see through, to foresee, to have a clear view" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Can be used for literal sight. 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 "見通す"
彼はそのプロジェクトの成功を最初から見通していた。
He foresaw the success of that project from the beginning.
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.". "見通す" represents "to see through, to foresee, to have a clear view".