～に見える・～く見える
Something looks a certain way
You'll be able to describe how a person or thing appears to your eyes, even if reality may differ.
この写真の父は若く見えます。
kono shashin no chichi wa wakaku miemasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
My father looks young in this photograph.
Say how something looks
～に見える and ～く見える describe the appearance of a person or thing. Use に after a noun or な-adjective stem, and く after an い-adjective stem. The impression may differ from reality.
蓮は大学生に見えます。
ren wa daigakusei ni miemasu.
Ren looks like a university student.
Form and use ～に見える・～く見える
Use 学生に見える for looking like a student and 若く見える for looking young. Do not attach に to an unchanged い-adjective. This judges appearance rather than simply saying an object is visible.
蓮は大学生に見えます。
ren wa daigakusei ni miemasu.
Ren looks like a university student.
この部屋は広く見えます。
kono heya wa hiroku miemasu.
This room looks spacious.
あの人は先生に見えますが、学生です。
ano hito wa sensei ni miemasu ga, gakusei desu.
That person looks like a teacher, but is actually a student.
このかばんは高く見えますが、三千円でした。
kono kaban wa takaku miemasu ga, sanzen'en deshita.
This bag looks expensive, but it was 3,000 yen.
祖父は前より元気に見えます。
sofu wa mae yori genki ni miemasu.
My grandfather looks healthier than before.
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