Translation guide
The ability to notice details, understand situations, or read people. In Japanese, this is expressed through nouns like 観察力, verbs like 見抜く, and set phrases. The best choice depends on whether you mean general attentiveness, scientific observation, or social insight.
Describing someone's skill at noticing things in everyday life, work, or study.
The most direct and common noun for 'power of observation'. Used for both people and animals.
彼は観察力が鋭い。
He has sharp powers of observation.
観察力を養うには、日記をつけるといい。
To develop your powers of observation, keeping a diary is good.
Literally 'observing eye'; emphasizes a keen, discerning eye for detail. Slightly more literary.
彼女の観察眼には驚かされる。
I'm amazed by her power of observation.
A plain, explanatory phrase meaning 'the ability to look carefully'. Natural in casual speech.
よく見る力があれば、違いがわかる。
If you have good powers of observation, you can tell the difference.
The ability to read people's feelings, motives, or hidden truths.
Insight, discernment. Focuses on understanding deeper truths, not just surface details.
彼の洞察力は素晴らしい。
His power of observation is wonderful.
洞察力のある人は、嘘を見抜く。
A person with insight sees through lies.
The ability to see through something. Often used for detecting lies or true intentions.
彼女は人の本音を見抜く力がある。
She has the power of observation to see people's true feelings.
An eye for judging people. Common in phrases like 人を見る目がある (to be a good judge of character).
彼は人を見る目がある。
He has a good eye for people.
Observation as a method in science, research, or formal study.
The act of observing. Used in scientific contexts, often with verbs like する or 行う.
実験では、注意深い観察が必要だ。
In experiments, careful observation is necessary.
天体観察が趣味です。
My hobby is astronomical observation.
Observation with instruments or measurement, like weather or astronomical observation.
Expressions that highlight sharpness or attentiveness.
Literally 'eyes are fattened'; means having a discerning eye, often from experience. Used for aesthetics, quality, etc.
彼は美術に関して目が肥えている。
He has a keen eye for art.
Sharp-eyed, quick to notice. Can be positive or negative (nosy).
彼女は目ざといから、小さなミスも見逃さない。
She's sharp-eyed, so she doesn't miss even small mistakes.
観察力 is about noticing external details; 洞察力 is about understanding inner truths. Use 観察力 for Sherlock Holmes noticing a speck of dust, and 洞察力 for him deducing a motive.
観察力で証拠を見つけ、洞察力で犯人を特定する。
Find evidence with observation, identify the culprit with insight.
The phrase 'power of observation' doesn't translate word-for-word. 観察の力 is understandable but unnatural; use 観察力 instead.
気象観測のデータを分析する。
Analyze meteorological observation data.