Translation guide
The English verb "look" covers many meanings, from directing your gaze to describing appearance. Japanese uses different words and grammar patterns for each meaning. This guide breaks down the most useful ones for learners.
To turn your eyes toward something, often intentionally.
The most common and neutral verb for 'look' or 'see'. It can be used for both intentional looking and passive seeing.
Please look at that painting.
窓の外を見た。
I looked out the window.
Literally 'turn one's eyes to', used when you direct your attention or gaze toward something.
彼は私に目を向けた。
He looked at me.
To gaze at or look at something for a while, often with appreciation or contemplation.
景色を眺めるのが好きです。
I like looking at the scenery.
To stare or gaze intently at something.
彼女は彼の顔を見つめた。
She stared at his face.
To look for something, to search.
To describe how someone or something appears.
A common pattern meaning 'looks like ~' or 'seems ~'. Attach to nouns, adjectives, or verbs.
彼は疲れているように見える。
He looks tired.
あの雲は犬のように見える。
That cloud looks like a dog.
Attach to adjective stems or verb stems to mean 'looks ~' or 'seems ~'. For い-adjectives, drop the final い; for な-adjectives, just add そう.
Casual pattern meaning 'looks like' or 'seems like'. Used in spoken Japanese.
彼、怒ってるみたい。
He looks angry.
Attach to nouns or adjective stems to mean '-ish' or 'looks like'. Often implies a negative or casual nuance.
彼は忘れっぽい。
He looks forgetful. / He tends to forget.
To be oriented toward a certain direction.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to face' or 'to look toward'. Used for buildings, rooms, etc.
この部屋は南を向いている。
This room looks south.
Transitive verb meaning 'to turn something toward'. Used when you actively direct something.
To look at something carefully to check or examine it.
To look into, investigate, or check something.
その単語を辞書で調べてください。
Please look up that word in the dictionary.
原因を調べている。
I'm looking into the cause.
To confirm or check something, often used in formal contexts.
メールを確認してください。
Please look at your email. / Please check your email.
To look after someone or something.
To take care of or look after someone.
子供の世話をしなければならない。
I have to look after the children.
To look after or take care of someone, often with a nuance of responsibility.
祖母の面倒を見ています。
I'm looking after my grandmother.
To look forward to something.
To look forward to something with pleasure.
週末を楽しみにしています。
I'm looking forward to the weekend.
English uses 'look' in many phrasal verbs and idioms. Japanese often uses completely different verbs. For example, 'look for' is 探す, not 見る + ために. Always learn the whole expression.
見る (miru) is 'to look' (intentional), while 見える (mieru) is 'to be visible' or 'can see' (potential/spontaneous). Don't confuse them.
The police are looking for the criminal.
Look the camera this way.