Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "見ます", "見る", "拝見する", "ご覧になる"
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
見る
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
ご覧になる
ごらんになる (goran ni naru)
N3 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "see" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "見ます", "見る", "拝見する", "ご覧になる" 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.
- 見る (みる (miru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to see, to watch, to look" and is used when Used for observing something. Polite form is 見ます.
- 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.
- ご覧になる (ごらんになる (goran ni naru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to see, to look (honorific)" and is used when Sonkeigo.
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 "見る"
テレビを見ます。
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 "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.
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.".