Translation and Meaning of: 見掛ける - mikakeru

The Japanese word 「見掛ける」, read as "mikakeru", is a verb that refers to the act of seeing or noticing something or someone in a casual or fleeting manner. This expression is often used to describe unexpected or brief visual encounters with objects, people, or situations in daily life. The construction of the term holds significant importance in everyday communication, especially in contexts where one wants to express the idea of a superficial or momentary observation.

Etymologically, 「見掛ける」 is composed of two kanji: 「見」 (mi), which means "to see," and 「掛ける」 (kakeru), which has various meanings such as "to hang," "to place," or, in this case, "to give." The kanji 「見」 is rooted in the idea of vision or observation, while 「掛ける」 provides a sense of action or effort associated with seeing. In this combination, the expression emphasizes the act of "giving a glance" or "encountering visually" something or someone.

In the Japanese language, verbs like 「見掛ける」 are used not only to describe physical actions but also to convey emotional and subjective nuances related to observations and personal impressions. This characteristic gives the language a rich layer of contextual meaning, allowing speakers to communicate sensory and emotional experiences more precisely. Furthermore, 「見掛ける」 suggests an observation that is not necessarily deep or exploratory but rather an initial perception that may or may not be investigated further.

Vocabulary

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Verb conjugation of 見掛ける

• 見掛けます Polite affirmative form
• 見掛けない - negative form
• 見掛けました - Past affirmative form
• 見掛けませんでした - Polite past negative form
• 見掛けよう conditional form
• 見掛けてください - Polite imperative form

Synonyms and similar words

• 見る (miru) - See; look; observe.
• 目にする (me ni suru) - See; perceive; have the experience of seeing something.
• 発見する (hakken suru) - Discover; to find something that was hidden or unknown.
• 見つける (mitsukeru) - Find; to discover something you were looking for.
• 発覚する (hakkaku suru) - Reveal; to discover something that was hidden or not evident.

見掛ける

Romaji: mikakeru
Kana: みかける
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: to (happen) to see; to perceive

Meaning in English: to (happen to) see;to notice;to catch sight of

Definition: to see something. reflected in the eyes.

Example Sentences - (見掛ける) mikakeru

See below some example sentences:

彼女を街で見掛けた。

Kanojo wo machi de mikakeru ta

I saw her on the street.

I saw her in town.

• 彼女 - Means "girlfriend" or "she" in Japanese.
• を - direct object particle in Japanese.
• 街 - means "street" or "city" in Japanese.
• で - location particle in Japanese.
• 見掛けた - means "sight" or "see" in Japanese, in the past tense.