Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Show" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "show", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
みせる
みせる (miseru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
見せ付ける
みせつける (misetsukeru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "show" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between みせる and 見せ付ける.
In Japanese, みせる (みせる (miseru)) is typically associated with "to show" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Transitive verb.
On the other hand, 見せ付ける (みせつける (misetsukeru)) maps to "to show off; to display ostentatiously; to make a show of" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Implies a deliberate act of showing something to others, often with the intention of boasting, intimidating, or causing envy.. A literal translation of "show" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "みせる"
パスポートを見せてください。
Please show me your passport.
Bilingual Context for "見せ付ける"
彼は新しい車を友人たちに見せ付けた。
He showed off his new car to his friends.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "パスポートを見せてください。" (Meaning: "Please show me your passport.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "みせる" fits here because it means "to show" in the context of: "Please show me your passport.". "見せ付ける" represents "to show off; to display ostentatiously; to make a show of".