見 — Kanji Reference
見 (see, look): 7 strokes, JLPT N5. On: ケン. Kun: み-る、み-える.
見
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Meaning | see, look |
| Strokes | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
| On-reading (音読み) | ケン |
| Kun-reading (訓読み) | み-る、み-える |
| Radical | 見 (みる) - U+898B |
Stroke Order
The kanji 見 follows standard Japanese stroke order rules: top-to-bottom, left-to-right.
- Stroke 1: A short vertical line at the top left.
- Stroke 2: A horizontal line starting from the top, turning down to the right.
- Stroke 3: A horizontal line connecting to the right side of stroke 2.
- Stroke 4: A vertical line down the center.
- Stroke 5: A sweeping stroke to the left (the "leg").
- Stroke 6: A sweeping stroke to the right (the "leg").
- Stroke 7: A final sweeping stroke to the right, completing the base.
Radical Analysis
The radical for 見 is 見 itself (the "see" radical).
- Top part (目): Represents an "eye."
- Bottom part (儿): Represents "legs."
- Combined meaning: The kanji depicts a person with a large eye standing on legs, emphasizing the act of using one's eyes to observe the world.
Mnemonic
Imagine a giant eye (目) standing on two legs (儿). This person is walking around with their giant eye wide open, trying to see everything they possibly can!
On-readings (音読み) with Examples
ケン (Ken)
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 見学 | けんがく | kengaku | field trip / tour |
| 発見 | はっけん | hakken | discovery |
| 意見 | いけん | iken | opinion |
| 見解 | けんかい | kenkai | viewpoint / opinion |
Kun-readings (訓読み) with Examples
み-る (Mi-ru)
Used for the active verb "to see" or "to watch."
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 見る | みる | miru | to see / to watch |
| 花見 | はなみ | hanami | flower viewing |
み-える (Mi-eru)
Used for "to be visible" or "to look like."
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 見える | みえる | mieru | to be visible / can see |
| 見えにくい | みえにくい | mienikui | hard to see |
JLPT N5 Words Using 見
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 見る | みる | miru | to see | N5 |
| 見せる | みせる | miseru | to show | N5 |
| 見える | みえる | mieru | to be visible | N5 |
| 見学 | けんがく | kengaku | field trip | N4 |
| 発見 | はっけん | hakken | discovery | N4 |
| 意見 | いけん | iken | opinion | N4 |
| 見物 | けんぶつ | kenbutsu | sightseeing | N4 |
| 見方 | みかた | mikata | point of view | N4 |
| 見つける | みつける | mitsukeru | to find | N5 |
| 見る | みる | miru | to watch (TV/movie) | N5 |
Example Sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| テレビを見ます。 | テレビをみます。 | Terebi o mimasu. | I watch TV. |
| 山が見えます。 | やまがみえます。 | Yama ga miemasu. | The mountain is visible. |
| 意見を言います。 | いけんをいいます。 | Iken o iimasu. | I will state my opinion. |
| 新しい星を発見しました。 | あたらしいほしをはっけんしました。 | Atarashii hoshi o hakken shimashita. | I discovered a new star. |
| 写真を見せてください。 | しゃしんをみせてください。 | Shashin o misete kudasai. | Please show me the photo. |
| 桜を見に行きます。 | さくらをみにいきます。 | Sakura o mi ni ikimasu. | I am going to see the cherry blossoms. |
Common Confusion Pairs
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning | How to distinguish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 見 | ケン / み | see | Has "legs" (儿) at the bottom. |
| 貝 | バイ / かい | shellfish | Has a mouth (口) at the bottom instead of legs. |
Note: 見 is about vision (eye), while 貝 is about currency/shells.
Usage Frequency Note
見 is one of the most frequently used kanji in the Japanese language. It appears in daily newspapers, casual conversation, and formal business documents. Because it is a core verb, learners should prioritize mastering its various readings and compound forms early in their studies.