見み張はる

み

は

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

stand watch; stand guard; keep a lookout

Only when written 見張る / 見はる

Used for watching over a place or person to prevent trouble, or keeping a lookout for something. Often implies vigilance.

警けい備び員いんが夜よるのビルを見み張はっている。
A security guard is watching over the building at night.
子こ供どもたちがプールで遊あそん

で

いる

間あいだ

、

親おや

は

しっかり

見み

張は

っ

て

い

た

。

The parents kept a close watch while the children played in the pool.

2

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

open one's eyes wide

Almost exclusively used in the set phrase 目を見張る (to open one's eyes wide in surprise or admiration). Rarely used alone in modern Japanese.

Written forms

見み張はるUsage75%
Standard kanji form; high priority.
みはるUsage12%
瞠みはるUsage7%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
見みはるUsage6%
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.

Kanji

見see, hopes, chances
張counter for bows & stringed instruments, stretch, spread
瞠stare intently

Similar words

見み守まもる
見守る means to watch over protectively or with care, often for someone's well-being, while 見張る emphasizes guarding or keeping a lookout against potential threats or problems.
監かん視しする
監視する is more formal and systematic, often used for surveillance or monitoring, while 見張る is more general and can be used in everyday contexts.

Etymology

Compound of 見 (mi, 'seeing') and 張る (haru, 'to stretch, spread'). The original image is of stretching one's gaze or attention to cover an area, leading to 'keep watch'. The sense 'open eyes wide' comes from the idea of stretching the eyelids.