Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "見せる", "見せびらかす", "見せ付ける", "衒う"
All represent the core concept "show", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
見せる
みせる (miseru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
見せびらかす
みせびらかす (misebirakasu)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
見せ付ける
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 "見せる", "見せびらかす", "見せ付ける", "衒う" based on context.
- 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..
- 見せびらかす (みせびらかす (misebirakasu) - Level: N2): Maps to "to show off, to display ostentatiously" and is used when Carries a negative connotation, implying that someone is deliberately displaying something.
- 見せ付ける (みせつける (misetsukeru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to show off; to display ostentatiously; to make a show of" and is used when Implies a deliberate act of showing something to others, often with the intention of boasting, intimidating, or causing envy..
- 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 "見せる"
パスポートを見せてください。
Please show me your passport.
Context for "見せびらかす"
彼は新しい高級車を近所の人に見せびらかしていた。
He was showing off his new luxury car to the neighbors.
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.
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: "見せる" is correct here because it represents "to show (something)" in the context: "Please show me your passport.".