Japanese verb · ru-verb · first needed at beginner level (A1)
見る
miru
to see, to watch
A ru-verb: (mimasu), (minai), (mite). “To be visible” is (mieru), and “to show” is (miseru).
Present
現在形
Now, habits and the future. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ます is the default.
| plain | 見るmiru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 見ますmimasu | |
| plain negative | 見ないminai | |
| polite negative | 見ませんmimasen |
Past
過去形
What happened, or what has happened. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ました is the default.
| plain | 見たmita | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 見ましたmimashita | |
| plain negative | 見なかったminakatta | |
| polite negative | 見ませんでしたmimasen deshita |
Te-form
て形
Joins actions and builds requests and permission. After another te-form, (miru) means “try”: (tabete miru), to try eating.
| te-form | 見てmite | |
|---|---|---|
| -te imasu (doing now) | 見ていますmite imasu | |
| -te kudasai (please do) | 見てくださいmite kudasai | |
| -te mo ii desu ka (may I) | 見てもいいですかmite mo ii desu ka |
Volitional
意向形
Let's: the plain form between friends, ～ましょう in polite speech. ～ましょうか suggests (shall we?) or offers help (shall I?).
| plain (let's) | 見ようmiyō | |
|---|---|---|
| polite (let's) | 見ましょうmimashō | |
| polite (shall we?) | 見ましょうかmimashō ka |
Potential
可能形
Can see or watch, when you have the chance: (netto de mirareru), you can watch it online. “To be visible” is (mieru).
| plain | 見られるmirareru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 見られますmiraremasu | |
| plain negative | 見られないmirarenai | |
| polite negative | 見られませんmiraremasen |
Passive
受身形
Being seen or watched: (hito ni mirareru), to be seen by people. Same form as the potential.
| plain | 見られるmirareru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 見られますmiraremasu | |
| plain negative | 見られないmirarenai | |
| polite negative | 見られませんmiraremasen |
Causative
使役形
Letting someone watch: (kodomo ni terebi o misaseru), to let the children watch TV. “To show” is the separate verb (miseru).
| plain | 見させるmisaseru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 見させますmisasemasu | |
| plain negative | 見させないmisasenai | |
| polite negative | 見させませんmisasemasen |
Conditional
条件形
If: ～ば for general conditions, ～たら for “if” and “when, once”, ～なければ for “if not”.
| -ba | 見ればmireba | |
|---|---|---|
| -tara | 見たらmitara | |
| -nakereba (if not) | 見なければminakereba |
Examples
- 毎晩テレビを見ます。Maiban terebi o mimasu.I watch TV every evening.
- この映画を見ましたか。Kono eiga o mimashita ka.Have you seen this film?
- ちょっと見てもいいですか。Chotto mite mo ii desu ka.May I have a look?