Translation guide
Expressing the idea of looking down on someone or something, including contempt, condescension, and literal downward gaze.
To express that you consider someone or something inferior or worthless.
The most direct and common verb for looking down on someone with contempt or condescension.
He always takes an attitude of looking down on people.
Means to despise or scorn, often with a stronger sense of moral contempt.
She despises people who lie.
To belittle or make light of, often implying underestimation.
You must not look down on your opponent.
A literary or formal word for despising or scorning.
He never looked down on the weak.
To express a superior attitude, often in a less harsh but still dismissive way.
To describe the physical act of directing one's gaze downward.
見下ろす (みおろす) is only for physically looking down from a high place. Using it for contempt would be unnatural. Use 見下す (みくだす) for looking down on someone figuratively.
He looked down on me. (contempt)
He looked down at me from the window. (physical)
She always speaks with a condescending attitude.
山の上から町を見下ろした。
I looked down on the town from the top of the mountain.