Translation guide
How to say 'look!' in Japanese, depending on what you want the listener to look at and the situation.
You want someone to look at something you can both see, like an object, a scene, or a screen.
The most common and natural way to say 'look!' in casual situations. It's the te-form of 見る (to see/look).
Look, there's a cat over there.
Look at this photo.
Polite version of 見て. Use with strangers, superiors, or in formal settings.
Please look, it's written here.
An interjection meaning 'look!' or 'see?', often used when pointing something out or handing something over. Very common in casual speech.
Look, that (thing).
See? I told you so.
Polite/humble 'look', often used when offering something to a customer or superior. Can be used alone or as ご覧ください.
Please take a look, this is our new product.
Strong, blunt imperative form of 見る. Used by men in rough or commanding speech. Can sound aggressive.
Look at that cloud!
You are handing something to someone or showing them something you have, like a document or an item.
Works for showing things as well. Very versatile.
Look at this, I bought it yesterday.
Adding ちょっと makes it 'take a quick look' or 'look at this for a sec'. Softens the request.
Take a look, what do you think of this design?
Means 'show me' (literally 'let me see'). Used when you want someone to show you something, but can also be used when you are showing something and want them to look.
When you are the one showing, 見て is more direct. 見せて can imply 'let me show you' but is more commonly 'show me'.
Show me that.
You want to get someone's attention before you say something important, not necessarily to look at a physical object.
A filler used to get attention, similar to 'hey, look...' or 'listen...' in casual conversation. Often used by women and children, but men use it too.
Look, today something amazing happened.
Literally 'Is it okay?', but used like 'Listen' or 'Look' to check if the listener is paying attention before you say something.
Used to get someone's attention, like 'hey' or 'look here'. Can be used alone or with 聞いて (listen).
You are surprised or excited by something you see and want to share that feeling.
English 'look' can mean 'appear' (e.g., 'You look tired'). In Japanese, that's a different expression: 〜そう, 〜みたい, or 〜ように見える. Do not use 見て for this meaning.
You look tired.
見て means 'look (at this)'. 見せて means 'show me (that)' or 'let me see'. If you are holding something and want someone to look, use 見て. If you want someone to show you something they have, use 見せて.
Listen, I'm going to tell you something important.
ちょっと、聞いてよ。
Hey, listen.