見える（みえる mieru）and 見る（みる miru,）聞こえる（きこえる kikoeru）and 聞く(きく kiku) look similar but the meaning and the usage are different. Let’s master them so you can use them naturally!
1. 見える (みえる mieru) vs. 見る (みる miru)
Imagine this:
You go swimming at the beach with your friends. Many people are enjoying the ocean, swimming, surfing and relaxing. They naturally come into your sight.
海で楽しんでいる人たちが見える。
(Umi de tanoshinde iru hito tachi ga mieru)
I can see people having fun at the beach.
You weren’t trying to look at anyone in particular, right?
見える describes something that comes into your sight naturally, without trying to look at it.
Later, you notice someone surfing. You think, “Wow, that’s amazing”, and you and gaze at them intently.
サーフィンをしている人がかっこよくてずっと見ていたら、雨が降ってきた。
( saafin o shite iru hito ga kakkoyokute zutto mite itara, ame ga futte kita)
The surfer was so cool that I kept watching, and then it started to rain.
Here, you are looking at the surfer intentionally. 見る is used when you deliberately use your eyes to look at something.
💡 Tip: In English, “see” can also mean “to meet” someone (e.g., I see my friend). But in Japanese, 見る is never used to mean “to meet.” Instead, say:
友達に会います
( Tomodachi ni aimasu)I meet my friend.
2. 聞こえる (きこえる kikoeru) vs. 聞く (きく kiku)
This works the same way.
You’re in a café and there’s a couple at the next table. You hear their voices naturally.
カップルの話が聞こえる。
( Kappuru no hanashi ga kikoeru)
I can hear the couple talking.
If you’re curious about their conversation and lean in to listen on purpose, it becomes:
カップルの話を聞く。
( Kappuru no hanashi o kiku)
I listen to the couple’s conversation.
3. 聞こえる vs. 聞ける
聞こえる is used when sound enters your ears, whether you want to hear it or not.
聞ける is the potential form of 聞く, used when you can hear something intentionally.
Example: A popular band’s outdoor concert in Japan caused a noise problem.
私はコンサート会場の外にいたけど音楽が聞こえた。
( watashi wa konsaato kaijoo no soto ni ita kedo ongaku ga kikoeta)
I was outside the concert venue, but I could hear the music.
→ Neutral: You might be happy about it, or you might think it’s noisy.
私はコンサート会場の外にいたけど音楽が聞けた。
(watashi wa konsaato kaijoo no soto ni ita kedo ongaku ga kiketa
I was outside the concert venue, but I got to hear the music.
→ Positive: You were happy you could hear it.
Also, 聞こえる is an involuntary verb, it describes something that happens without the speaker’s will, so it doesn’t have a volitional form or a potential form.
【Quick Recap】
見える / 聞こえる: Something comes into your sight or hearing naturally.
見る / 聞く: You intentionally look or listen.
These are very common in daily conversation, so practice them in real situations!
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