覗く
覗く · godan verb (-ku)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 覗く | 覗かない |
| Polite | 覗きます | 覗きません |
| Past polite | 覗きました | 覗きませんでした |
| Past | 覗いた | 覗かなかった |
| Te-form | 覗いて | 覗かないで |
| Desire | 覗きたい | 覗きたくない |
| Potential | 覗ける | 覗けない |
| Passive | 覗かれる | 覗かれない |
| Causative | 覗かせる | 覗かせない |
| Causative passive | 覗かせられるalso 覗かされる | 覗かせられないalso 覗かされない |
| Volitional | 覗こう | |
| Polite volitional | 覗きましょう | |
| Imperative | 覗け | 覗くな |
| Conditional | 覗けば | 覗かなければ |
| Tara conditional | 覗いたら | 覗かなかったら |
Meanings
godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
peek through a gap; look through a keyhole
Looking through a small opening or gap, often secretly or cautiously.
I peeked into the room through the gap in the door.
godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
look down into; peer into a deep place
Looking down from a high place into a deep or open space, such as a ravine or valley.
I peered down into the valley from the top of the cliff.
godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
drop into a shop; look around a store
Casually entering or looking around a shop, bookstore, or similar place, often without a firm purpose.
Let's drop by the bookstore on the way home.
godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
sneak a look; take a quick look
Taking a brief, often secretive or casual look at something, such as a document or screen.
I sneaked a quick look at my neighbor's answer sheet.
godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
peep through an optical instrument; look through a telescope
Looking through a telescope, microscope, or similar device.
I looked through the microscope and observed the cells.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
stick out; peek through; be partially visible
Something partially visible, such as a scarf from a collar or the sky through trees. Intransitive use.
A red scarf is peeking out from the coat collar.
The blue sky was peeking through the trees.
godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
examine a face; study an expression
Looking closely at someone's face or expression, often to read their feelings or thoughts.
He studied the other person's expression intently.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
face; look out on
Only when written 臨く
Archaic use, especially with the kanji 臨く. Means to face or look out upon a scene. Cross-referenced with 臨む.
See also: 臨む
In old literary language, it was used like 'to face the sea'.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉の隙間から覗くto peek through a gap in something
I peeked through the gap in the door.
- 〈物〉のなかを覗くto peer down into something deep or open
When I peered down into the ravine, my legs went weak.
- 〈場所〉を覗くto drop by a place and look around
I dropped by the bookstore on my way home.
- 〈物〉をこっそり覗くto sneak a look at something
I secretly peeked at his diary.
- 望遠鏡で〈物〉を覗くto look at something through a telescope
I looked at the stars through a telescope.
- 〈物〉が〈物〉から覗くfor something to peek out from behind or under something else
A shirt is peeking out from under the sweater.
Expressions
- 顔を覗くlook into someone's face; examine someone's expression
- 針の穴から天覗くhave a narrow view of things; peek at the sky through the eye of a needle
- 管の穴から天を覗くhave a narrow view of things; see the world through a straw
- 針の穴から天を覗くhave a narrow view of things; peek at the sky through the eye of a needle
- 鍵の穴から天を覗くhave a narrow view of things; peep at the sky through a keyhole (lit.)
- 葦の髄から天井を覗くhave a narrow view of things; peek at the ceiling through the pith of a reed