見える・聞こえる
Something can be seen or heard naturally
You'll be able to describe sights and sounds that reach you without any deliberate effort.
窓から山が見えます。
mado kara yama ga miemasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
I can see mountains from the window.
Describe what reaches your senses
見える describes something within sight; 聞こえる describes a sound that reaches your ears. English often uses “can see” or “can hear,” but Japanese focuses on natural perception rather than intentional ability.
鳥の声が聞こえます。
tori no koe ga kikoemasu.
I can hear birds singing.
Form and use 見える・聞こえる
Both verbs conjugate like Group 2 verbs: 見えます, 見えない, 聞こえました. が commonly marks what is perceived. 見られる and 聞ける express the possibility of deliberately watching, listening, or asking.
鳥の声が聞こえます。
tori no koe ga kikoemasu.
I can hear birds singing.
暗くて何も見えません。
kurakute nanimo miemasen.
It is dark, so I cannot see anything.
ホテルの部屋から海が見えます。
hoteru no heya kara umi ga miemasu.
You can see the sea from the hotel room.
後ろの席からは先生の声がよく聞こえません。
ushiro no seki kara wa sensei no koe ga yoku kikoemasen.
From the back seats, you can't hear the teacher's voice well.
眼鏡をかけていないので、黒板の字がよく見えません。
megane o kakete inai node, kokuban no ji ga yoku miemasen.
I'm not wearing my glasses, so I can't see the letters on the blackboard well.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.