Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "見ます", "みる", "拝見する", "見抜く"
All represent the core concept "see", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
見ます
みます (mimasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
みる
みる (miru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
拝見する
はいけんする (haiken suru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
見抜く
みぬく (minuku)
N2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "see" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "見ます", "みる", "拝見する", "見抜く" based on context.
- 見ます (みます (mimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to see, to watch, to look" and is used when Polite form of 見る.
- みる (みる (miru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to see, to watch, to look" and is used when Transitive verb. Used for watching TV, looking at something, seeing someone. The kanji is 見る..
- 拝見する (はいけんする (haiken suru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to see, to look at (humble form of 見る)" and is used when 謙譲語（けんじょうご）。「見る」の謙譲語です。相手が持っているものや、相手に関するものを見る際に、相手への敬意を示す言葉として使われます。Humble form of 見る.
- 見抜く (みぬく (minuku) - Level: N2): Maps to "to see through, to discern, to see into" and is used when Implies perceiving the truth, a person's true intentions, or a hidden fault, often despite attempts to conceal it, through insight or experience..
Context for "見ます"
昨日の夜、テレビで映画を見ました。
I watched a movie on TV last night.
Context for "みる"
テレビをみます。
I watch TV.
Context for "拝見する"
課長の資料を拝見しました。
I looked at the section chief's document.
Context for "見抜く"
彼の巧妙な嘘を、先生はすぐに見て抜いた。
The teacher immediately saw through his clever lie.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "昨日の夜、テレビで映画を見ました。" (Meaning: "I watched a movie on TV last night.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "見ます" is correct here because it represents "to see, to watch, to look" in the context: "I watched a movie on TV last night.".