N4 Perception & Transitive

見みえる/聞きこえる: meaning, usage and examples

見みえる/聞きこえる means: 見みえる: can be seen, be visible; 聞きこえる: can be heard, be audible (without trying).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 窓まどから海うみが見みえます。

   I can see the ocean from the window.

2. 隣となりの部屋へやから音楽おんがくが聞きこえます。

   I can hear music from the next room.

3. ここから山やまがよく見みえますね。

   You can see the mountains clearly from here.

4. すみません、声こえがよく聞きこえません。

   Sorry, I can't hear you very well.

When to use it

見みえる means something can be seen, and 聞きこえる means something can be heard, naturally, without special effort: 窓まどから海うみが見みえます, 隣となりから音楽おんがくが聞きこえます. The thing seen or heard is marked with が. Use them for what reaches your eyes or ears, or for whether you can physically see or hear.

Nuance

Neutral, used in all registers. These verbs describe what happens to you, not what you decide to do, so they cannot be used for plans or effort. 見みえる also means "seem" or "look": 若わかく見みえます (looks young). Neither verb has a て-form request.

Compare

見みられる and 聞きける are potential forms: you have the chance or ability to watch or listen. テレビで映画えいがが見みられます (you can watch movies on TV). ラジオで音楽おんがくが聞きけます (you can listen to music on the radio). Something visible is 見みえる: 山やまが見みえます. An opportunity is 見みられる.

Tip: Ask: is it reaching my eyes or ears on its own? Then use 見みえる / 聞きこえる. If it is a chance to watch or listen, use 見みられる / 聞きける.