見下ろす
見下ろす · godan verb (-su)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 見下ろす | 見下ろさない |
| Polite | 見下ろします | 見下ろしません |
| Past polite | 見下ろしました | 見下ろしませんでした |
| Past | 見下ろした | 見下ろさなかった |
| Te-form | 見下ろして | 見下ろさないで |
| Desire | 見下ろしたい | 見下ろしたくない |
| Potential | 見下ろせる | 見下ろせない |
| Passive | 見下ろされる | 見下ろされない |
| Causative | 見下ろさせる | 見下ろさせない |
| Causative passive | 見下ろさせられる | 見下ろさせられない |
| Volitional | 見下ろそう | |
| Polite volitional | 見下ろしましょう | |
| Imperative | 見下ろせ | 見下ろすな |
| Conditional | 見下ろせば | 見下ろさなければ |
| Tara conditional | 見下ろしたら | 見下ろさなかったら |
Meanings
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
look down at; overlook; command a view of
Physical sense: looking downward from a higher place, or a building or location having a view over something. The English 'overlook' here means 'have a view of,' not 'fail to notice.'
I looked down at the town from the summit.
This room overlooks the sea.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Figurative extension from looking downward at someone. For the direct meaning 'despise, look down on,' 見下す is often the more explicit verb; 見下ろす can sound image-based, as in an attitude or gaze from above.
See also: 見下す
He always acts as if he is looking down on people.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉を見下ろすto look down over a place (from a height)
I looked down over the city from the observation deck.
- 〈人〉を見下ろすto look down on someone (with contempt)
He always has a look in his eyes as if he's looking down on people.
- 〈場所〉から〈物〉を見下ろすto look down at something from a place
You can look down on the valley from the mountaintop.