ichidan verb, transitive verb
show; display; let someone see
Basic transitive use: show an object, document, expression, result, or scene to someone. Common pattern: 人に物を見せる.
写真を友だちに見せた。
I showed the photo to my friend.
身分証明書を見せてください
Please show me your ID.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
make look; make appear; present as
Used when something creates a certain appearance or impression, often with adjectives or adjectival phrases such as 大きく見せる, 若く見せる, or 元気そうに見せる.
黒い服は体を細く見せる。
Black clothes make the body look slimmer.
彼女は不安を見せず、平気な顔をしていた。
She did not show her anxiety and kept a calm face.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
be worth watching; be entertaining; make a good show
Evaluative use for a performance, game, film, or similar thing that holds the viewer's attention. Often appears in phrases such as 見せる演技 or Xは最後まで見せる.
若手とは思えない、見せる演技だった。
It was a watchable, compelling performance, hard to believe it came from a young actor.
この映画は派手ではないが、最後まで見せる。
This film is not flashy, but it keeps you watching to the end.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
have looked at by a specialist; have appraised
Means taking or showing something to an expert so they can inspect, judge, or appraise it. Common with 専門家, 鑑定士, and items such as antiques or documents.
祖父の古い時計を鑑定士に見せた。
I had an appraiser look at my grandfather's old watch.
契約書は署名する前に専門家に見せたほうがいい。
You should have a specialist look at the contract before signing it.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
take to a doctor; have examined by a doctor
Only when written 見せる / 診せる
Medical version of the previous idea: have a person, injury, symptom, or pet looked at by a doctor or veterinarian. 診せる is a noted spelling for this sense.
熱が続くので、子どもを医者に診せた。
The fever continued, so I took my child to the doctor.
足のけがを早めに医者に見せたほうがいい。
You should have a doctor look at that leg injury soon.
auxiliary verb, ichidan verb
make a show of doing; do conspicuously; do in front of others
Auxiliary verb after the te-form: 〜てみせる. Here it means doing something visibly or deliberately so that others notice, often with a performative or demonstrative feel.
彼は皆の前でわざと笑ってみせた。
He deliberately laughed in front of everyone.
先生は解き方を黒板で書いてみせた。
The teacher demonstrated the solution by writing it on the board.
auxiliary verb, ichidan verb
definitely do; do at any cost; show that one will do
Auxiliary verb after the te-form: 〜てみせる. This expresses strong determination to accomplish something and prove it to oneself or others.
次の試合では必ず勝ってみせる。
I will definitely win the next match.
いつか自分の店を持ってみせる。
Someday I will have my own shop, no matter what.