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Grammar detail: 見える vs 見られる

見える vs 見られる - is visible vs can be seen
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み
見
える is an ichidan verb meaning 'is visible'. However, it is very similar to, and often confused with, the potential form of
み
見
る (to see),
み
見
られる, which means 'can be seen'.
見える means that something is visible (anyone could see it if they looked).
DETAILS
すばらしいけしきが
み
見
えました。
The scenery was magnificent.
見られる means 'able to be seen' (you could see it if some suitable condition was met).
DETAILS
ブルーレイプレイヤーを持っていないからこの
えいが
映画
が見られません。
I don't have a blu-ray player, so I can't watch this movie.
Note that the form 見れる is incorrect, although it is often used as a colloquial abbreviation of 見られる. This form is known as a ら
ぬ
抜
き
ことば
言葉
, literally 'missing ra word' - because the ら is skipped.
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More information / references:
  • https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/25963/見える-versus-見られる/25967 ⇗
  • https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/43881/is-mierareru-the-potential-form-of-mieru ⇗

Words used in this grammar

ichidan verb, transitive verb
1. to see; to look; to watch; to view; to observe
2. to look over; to look on; to assess; to examine; to judge  (see also: 診る)
(click the word to view an additional 4 meanings and 3 forms)
5
1
TEST
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
1. to be seen; to be in sight
2. to look; to seem; to appear
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning)
4
2
TEST

Kanji used in this grammar

見
ケン   みる to see   みえる to be seen; to appear   みせる to show   
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1
抜
バツ   ぬく to extract, pull out   ぬける to come / fall out; be omitted   ぬかす to omit   ぬかる to make a blunder   
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3
言
ゲン   ゴン   say; word   こと word, saying   いう to say   
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2
葉
ヨウ   leaf   は leaves   
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3
持
ジ   もつ to hold, to have   
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2
映
エイ   はえる to shine   うつる to be reflected   うつす to reflect, project   
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2
画
ガ   カク   draw
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2
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