Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI show | ||
| NegativeI don’t show |
JAPANESE VERB
みせる
見せる
to show
- #82 most used
- Ichidan verb (ru-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI showed | ||
| NegativeI didn’t show |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formshowing, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am showing | ||
| Please (て ください)please show |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can show | ||
| NegativeI can’t show |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to show | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to show |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s show |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I show
- If, when (たら) if I show
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) show (do it)
- Plain command show!
- Please don’t please don’t show
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am shown | ||
| CausativeI make someone show |
How to use みせる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
ともだち に りょこう の しゃしん を みせます。
I show my friends the photos from my trip.
-
Past
せんせい に しゅくだい を みせた。
I showed my homework to the teacher.
-
Te-form
パスポート を みせて ください。
Please show me your passport.
-
Potential
この しゃしん は ひと に みせられません。
I can't show this photo to anyone.
-
Want to
ゆい に さくら を みせたい。
I want to show Yui the cherry blossoms.
-
Volitional
ベン に ほんとう の とうきょう を みせよう。
Let's show Ben the real Tokyo.
-
Conditional
この カード を みせれば、 やすく なります。
If you show this card, you get a discount.
-
Commands and requests
て を あらった か、 みせなさい。
Show me that you've washed your hands.
-
Passive and causative
ともだち に あかちゃん の しゃしん を みせられました。
My friend showed me pictures of her baby.
Good to know
- て みせる is to show someone you can do it; て みる is to try.
Where you hear みせる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 2
- がくせい に よく しゃしん を みせます。 I often show photographs to my students.
- うけつけ で パスポート を みせました。 I showed my passport at reception.
- らいしゅう の げつようび に、 また あし を みせます。 Next Monday, I'll show the doctor my foot again.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- ともだち に しゃしん を みせる。 I show photos to my friends.
- けんた に ゆびわ を みせた。 I showed Kenta the ring.
- あと で しゃしん を みせる。 I'll show you the photos later.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: ichidan verb (ru-verb).