What does “mitsukeru” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “mitsukeru” to mean ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “mitsukeru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meanings of “mitsukeru”
- Mitsukenai: the nai form of “mitsukeru”
- Mitsukeyou: the volitional form of “mitsukeru”
- Mitsukemasu: the masu form of “mitsukeru”
- Mitsuketa: the ta form of “mitsukeru”
- Mitsukete: the te form of “mitsukeru”
- Mitsukereba: the ba form of “mitsukeru”
- Summary
Definition and meanings of “mitsukeru”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “mitsukeru”.
- mitsukeru – 見付ける (みつける) : a verb meaning ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ in Japanese.
The definition and meanings are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “find” in Japanese
boku wa tokidoki jibun no machigai wo mitsukeru – 僕は時々自分の間違いを見付ける (ぼくはときどきじぶんのまちがいをみつける)
I sometimes find my own mistakes.
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.
- tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
- jibun – 自分 (じぶん) : a pronoun meaning ‘myself’ or such in Japanese.
- no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “jibun” to make its possessive case, “jibun no”, which can mean ‘my own’ in Japanese.
- machigai – 間違い (まちがい) : a noun meaning ‘mistake’ 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 works after “jibun no machigai” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “mitsukeru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to find’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “mitsukeru” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “mitsukenai”.
Mitsukenai: the nai form of “mitsukeru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “mitsukenai”.
- mitsukenai – 見付けない (みつけない) : the nai form of “mitsukeru”, which means ‘not to find’ or ‘not to discover’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mitsukenai” consists of the following two parts:
- mitsuke – 見付け (みつけ) : one conjugation of “mitsukeru”. 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 “mitsukenai” is literally the nai form of “mitsukeru” and means ‘not to find’ or ‘not to discover’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “doesn’t find” in Japanese
watashi no kareshi wa shigoto wo mitsukenai – 私の彼氏は仕事を見つけない (わたしのかれしはしごとをみつけない)
My boyfriend doesn’t find a job.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with “no” to mean ‘my’ in Japanese.
- kareshi – 彼氏 (かれし) : a noun meaning ‘boyfriend’ in Japanese.
- shigoto – 仕事 (しごと) : a noun meaning ‘job’ or ‘work’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “mitsukenai”. When we want to mean ‘not to find’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Mitsukeyou: the volitional form of “mitsukeru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “mitsukeyou”.
- mitsukeyou – 見付けよう (みつけよう) : the volitional form of “mitsukeru”, which expresses volition to find or discover.
Grammatically, “mitsukeyou” consists of the following two parts:
- mitsuke – 見付け (みつけ) : one conjugation of “mitsukeru”. 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 “mitsukeyou” is literally the volitional form of “mitsukeru” and expresses volition to find or discover. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s discover” in Japanese
issho ni sekai wo mitsukeyou – 一緒に世界を見付けよう (いっしょにせかいをみつけよう)
Let’s discover the world together!
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- issho – 一緒 (いっしょ) : a noun meaning ‘same’, ‘being together’, or such in Japanese.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say how someone does something. In the example, this is used after “issho” to say “together” in Japanese.
- sekai – 世界 (せかい) : a noun meaning ‘world’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “mitsukeyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s discover” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Mitsukemasu: the masu form of “mitsukeru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “mitsukemasu”.
- mitsukemasu – 見付けます (みつけます) : the masu form of “mitsukeru”, which means ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mitsukemasu” consists of the following two parts:
- mitsuke – 見付け (みつけ) : one conjugation of “mitsukeru”. 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 “mitsukemasu” is literally the masu form of “mitsukeru” and means ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “find” politely in Japanese
kare mo boku no machigai wo mitsukemasu – 彼も僕の間違いを見付けます (かれもぼくのまちがいをみつけます)
He finds my mistakes, too.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ 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’. In the example, this works after “kare” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
This is a typical usage of “mitsukemasu”. 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 “find” or “discover” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.
Mitsuketa: the ta form of “mitsukeru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “mitsuketa”.
- mitsuketa – 見付けた (みつけた) : the ta form of “mitsukeru”, which means ‘found’ or ‘discovered’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mitsuketa” consists of the following two parts:
- mitsuke – 見付け (みつけ) : one conjugation of “mitsukeru”. 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 “mitsuketa” is literally the ta form of “mitsukeru” and means ‘found’ or ‘discovered’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “discovered” in Japanese
watashi no musume wa atarashii ginga wo mitsuketa – 私の娘は新しい銀河を見付けた (わたしのむすめはあたらしいぎんがをみつけた)
My daughter discovered a new galaxy.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- musume – 娘 (むすめ) : a noun meaning ‘daughter’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- atarashii – 新しい (あたらしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘new’ in Japanese.
- ginga – 銀河 (ぎんが) : a noun meaning ‘galaxy’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “mitsuketa”. When we want to use the past tense form of “mitsukeru”, this ta form is the best option.
Mitsukete: the te form of “mitsukeru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “mitsukete”.
- mitsukete – 見付けて (みつけて) : the te form of “mitsukeru”, which means ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mitsukete” consists of the following two parts:
- mitsuke – 見付け (みつけ) : one conjugation of “mitsukeru”. 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 “mitsukete” is literally the te form of “mitsukeru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “mitsukete” is very useful when we want to use “mitsukeru” 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 “please find” in Japanese
kimi no kokoro no naka ni boku wo mitsukete kudasai – 君の心の中に僕を見付けてください (きみのこころのなかにぼくをみつけてください)
Please find me in your heart.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kimi – 君 (きみ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with “no” to say “your” in Japanese.
- kokoro – 心 (こころ) : a noun meaning ‘heart’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns or noun equivalent words. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “kimi no kokoro” and “naka” to imply ‘the inside of your heart’ in Japanese.
- naka – 中 (なか) : a noun meaning ‘inside’ or such in Japanese.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say in which direction an action goes. In the example, this is used after “kimi no kokoro no naka” to indicate the object to which the action described by “mitsukete” goes.
- kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “mitsukete” to add the meaning of ‘please’.
This is a typical usage of “mitsukete”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “mitsukeru” in front of another verb like this, its te form is useful to make a smooth connection.
Mitsukereba: the ba form of “mitsukeru”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “mitsukereba”.
- mitsukereba – 見付ければ (みつければ) : the ba form of “mitsukeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mitsukereba” consists of the following two parts:
- mitsukere – 見付けれ (みつけれ) : one conjugation of “mitsukeru”. 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 “mitsukereba” is literally the ba form of “mitsukeru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “mitsukereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if find” in Japanese
kimi ga boku wo mitsukereba, boku mo kimi wo mitsukeru yo – 君が僕を見付ければ、僕も君を見付けるよ (きみがぼくをみつければ、ぼくもきみをみつけるよ)
If you find me, I’ll find you, too.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kimi” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
- yo – よ : a sentence-ending particle used to state the fact or idea in a soft way. As the definition suggests, this is used at the end of the second clause to state the speaker’s idea softly.
This is a typical usage of “mitsukereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kimi ga boku wo mitsukereba”, which means ‘if you find me’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to find’, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “mitsukeru” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- mitsukeru – 見付ける (みつける) : a verb meaning ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ in Japanese.
- mitsukenai – 見付けない (みつけない) : the nai form of “mitsukeru”, which means ‘not to find’ or ‘not to discover’ in Japanese.
- mitsukeyou – 見付けよう (みつけよう) : the volitional form of “mitsukeru”, which expresses volition to find or discover.
- mitsukemasu – 見付けます (みつけます) : the masu form of “mitsukeru”, which means ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ politely in Japanese.
- mitsuketa – 見付けた (みつけた) : the ta form of “mitsukeru”, which means ‘found’ or ‘discovered’ in Japanese.
- mitsukete – 見付けて (みつけて) : the te form of “mitsukeru”, which means ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ in Japanese. When we want to use “mitsukeru” in front of another verb, this te form is useful to make a smooth connection.
- mitsukereba – 見付ければ (みつければ) : the ba form of “mitsukeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to find’ or ‘to discover’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
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