Miru is the Japanese verb for ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’

What does “miru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “miru” to mean ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’ in Japanese. Probably, many Japanese learners know this verb as it is quite often used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “miru” properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “miru”
  • Example #1: how to say “watch” in Japanese
• Minai: the nai form of “miru”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t watch” in Japanese
• Miyou: the volitional form of “miru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s watch” in Japanese
• Mimasu: the masu form of “miru”
  • Example #4: how to say “see” politely in Japanese
• Mita: the ta form of “miru”
  • Example #5: how to say “watched” in Japanese
• Mite: the te form of “miru”
  • Example #6: how to say “watch and” in Japanese
• Mireba: the ba form of “miru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if watch” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “miru”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “miru”.

• miru – 見る/観る (みる) : a verb meaning ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’ in Japanese.

It has two different kanji expressions. The first one is more widely used, so basically we can focus on it.

The definition and meanings are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “watch” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
• mainichi – 毎日 (まいにち) : an adverb meaning ‘every day’ in Japanese.
• eiga – 映画 (えいが) : a noun meaning ‘movie’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “eiga” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “miru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to watch’ in Japanese, this verb is a very good option.

In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain major conjugations of “miru”. The first one is “minai”.

Minai: the nai form of “miru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “minai”.

• minai – 見ない/観ない (みない) : the nai form of “miru”, which means ‘not to see’, ‘not to watch’, or ‘not to look’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “minai” consists of the following two parts:

• mi – 見/観 (み) : one conjugation of “miru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “minai” is literally the nai form of “miru” and means ‘not to see’, ‘not to watch’, or ‘not to look’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t watch” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its plural form, “watashi tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
• ie – 家 (いえ) : a noun meaning ‘home’ or ‘house’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• de – で : a case particle used to say where someone does something. In the example, this is used after “ie” to say where the speakers don’t watch TV.
• terebi – テレビ (てれび) : a noun meaning ‘TV’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “minai”. When we want to mean ‘not to watch’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Miyou: the volitional form of “miru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “miyou”.

• miyou – 見よう/観よう (みよう) : the volitional form of “miru”, which expresses volition to see, to watch, or to look.

Grammatically, “miyou” consists of the following two parts:

• mi – 見/観 (み) : one conjugation of “miru”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
• you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “miyou” is literally the volitional form of “miru” and expresses volition to see, to watch, or to look. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s watch” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb at the beginning of the sentence to say “today” in Japanese.
• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “eiga” to say “this movie” in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “miyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s watch” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Mimasu: the masu form of “miru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “mimasu”.

• mimasu – 見ます/観ます (みます) : the masu form of “miru”, which means ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “mimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• mi – 見/観 (み) : one conjugation of “miru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “mimasu” is literally the masu form of “miru” and means ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’ politely in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “see” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• gakkou – 学校 (がっこう) : a noun meaning ‘school’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “mimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “see” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.

Mita: the ta form of “miru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “mita”.

• mita – 見た/観た (みた) : the ta form of “miru”, which means ‘saw’, ‘watched’, or ‘looked’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “mita” consists of the following two parts:

• mi – 見/観 (み) : one conjugation of “miru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “mita” is literally the past tense form of “miru” and means ‘saw’, ‘watched’, or ‘looked’ in Japanese. Let me explain its usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “watched” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kinou – 昨日 (きのう) : a noun meaning ‘yesterday’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this is used at the beginning of the sentence to say “yesterday” in Japanese.
• kareshi – 彼氏 (かれし) : a noun meaning ‘boyfriend’ in Japanese.
• to – と : a case particle used to say with whom someone does something. In the example, this is used after “kareshi” to say with whom the speaker watched the movie yesterday.
• ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “eiga” to say “that movie” in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “mita”. When we want to use the past tense form of “miru”, it is a very good option.

Mite: the te form of “miru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “mite”.

• mite – 見て/観て (みて) : the te form of “miru”, which means ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “mite” consists of the following two parts:

• mi – 見/観 (み) : one conjugation of “miru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “mite” is literally the te form of “miru”. In Japanese te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “mite” is very useful when we want to use “miru” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “watch and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• neru – 寝る (ねる) : a verb meaning ‘to sleep’ or ‘to go bed’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “mite”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “neru”. When we want to use “miru” in front of another verb, its te form is very useful.

Mireba: the ba form of “miru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “mireba”.

• mireba – 見れば/観れば (みれば) : the ba form of “miru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “mireba” consists of the following two parts:

• mire – 見れ/観れ (みれ) : one conjugation of “miru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “mireba” is literally the ba form of “miru”. In Japanese, ba-formed words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “mireba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’. Let me explain its usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if watch” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• anata – あなた : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘also’, ‘as well’, or ‘too’.
• wakaru – 分かる (わかる) : a verb meaning ‘to understand’ or ‘to see’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “mireba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kono eiga wo mireba”, which means ‘if you watch this movie” in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained “miru” and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• miru – 見る/観る (みる) : a verb meaning ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’ in Japanese.
• minai – 見ない/観ない (みない) : the nai form of “miru”, which means ‘not to see’, ‘not to watch’, or ‘not to look’ in Japanese.
• miyou – 見よう/観よう (みよう) : the volitional form of “miru”, which expresses volition to see, to watch, or to look.
• mimasu – 見ます/観ます (みます) : the masu form of “miru”, which means ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’ politely in Japanese.
• mita – 見た/観た (みた) : the ta form of “miru”, which means ‘saw’, ‘watched’, or ‘looked’ in Japanese.
• mite – 見て/観て (みて) : the te form of “miru”, which means ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’ in Japanese.
• mireba – 見れば/観れば (みれば) : the ba form of “miru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or ‘to look’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.