Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "みせる", "見せる", "見せつける", "衒う"
All represent the core concept "show", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
みせる
みせる (miseru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
見せる
みせる (miseru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
見せつける
みせつける (misetsukeru)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
衒う
衒う(てらう)
C2PLUS / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "show" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "みせる", "見せる", "見せつける", "衒う" based on context.
- みせる (みせる (miseru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to show" and is used when Transitive verb.
- 見せる (みせる (miseru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to show (something)" and is used when Transitive verb. To let someone see something, or to display..
- 見せつける (みせつける (misetsukeru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to show off, to flaunt, to display (to impress/intimidate)" and is used when Deliberately showing something to others, often with a sense of pride, boastfulness, or provocation. It's about making others notice..
- 衒う (衒う(てらう) - Level: C2PLUS): Maps to "to show off; to parade (one's knowledge); to be ostentatious" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C2PLUS vocabulary syllabus..
Context for "みせる"
パスポートを見せてください。
Please show me your passport.
Context for "見せる"
パスポートを見せてください。
Please show me your passport.
Context for "見せつける"
彼は新しい車を友人に自慢げに見せつけた。
He showed off his new car to his friends boastfully.
Context for "衒う"
毎日、日本語を練習するために衒う。
Every day, I show off; to parade (one's knowledge); to be ostentatious to practice Japanese.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
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" is correct here because it represents "to show" in the context: "Please show me your passport.".