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Shirimono
GRAMMAR
〜にみえる
to look ~
Explanation
NOTE

える means to look like ~ or to appear ~. It describes how something visually appears to the speaker. The judgment is based on what the speaker's eyes tell them.

NOTE

For nouns, use える (looks like a ~). For i-adjectives, drop and add える (looks ~). This pattern focuses on visual appearance specifically.

STRUCTURE
N
に<ruby>見<rt>み</rt></ruby>える
彼女かのじょ学生がくせいえる
Kanojo wa gakusei ni mieru.
She looks like a student.
このいし宝石ほうせきえる
Kono ishi wa houseki ni mieru.
This stone looks like a jewel.
とおくからると人形にんぎょうえる
Tooku kara miru to ningyou ni mieru.
From far away, it looks like a doll.
STRUCTURE
Adj-I
く<ruby>見<rt>み</rt></ruby>える
かれわかえる
Kare wa wakaku mieru.
He looks young.
この部屋へやひろえる
Kono heya wa hiroku mieru.
This room looks spacious.

Practice exercises

1
かれ日本人にほんじんに見える
He looks like a Japanese person.
Answer
に見える
2
あの建物たてものしろに見える
That building looks like a castle.
Answer
に見える
3
このふくるとほそく見える
When you wear these clothes, you look slim.
Answer
く見える
4
写真しゃしんよりうつくく見える
She looks more beautiful than in photos.
Answer
く見える
5
彼女かのじょ学生がくせいに見える
She looks like a student.
Answer
に見える
6
あのひと先生せんせいに見える
That person looks like a teacher.
Answer
に見える
7
この料理りょうり美味おいく見える
This dish looks delicious.
Answer
く見える
8
かれ実際じっさいよりわかく見える
He looks younger than he actually is.
Answer
く見える
9
あの建物たてものとおくからるとしろに見える
That building looks like a castle when seen from far away.
Answer
に見える