拝見する

To See (Humble)

Level 3Sounds Like haikensuru

拝見する（はいけんする） is the humble version of the verb 見る（みる - to see/look）. It is used in formal or business situations when you look at something belonging to or provided by someone of higher status.

How It Works

拝見する（はいけんする）is a humble verb used to describe your own action of 'seeing' or 'looking at' something. It is also used when meeting or seeing a person of higher status, often phrased as お顔を拝見する（おかおをはいけんする）。

Key Usage Rules:

  • Directionality: It can only be used for your own actions or the actions of your 'in-group' (like a colleague) when speaking to an outsider. Never use it for the person you are respecting.
  • Asking for Permission: A highly common business phrase is 拝見してもよろしいでしょうか (May I take a look?), used when asking to see someone's document or item.
  • Acknowledging Receipt: The past tense form 拝見しました（はいけんしました）is the standard, most frequent real-world business phrase used to confirm you have received and read an email or document from a superior or client.
  • Object Connection: The object you are looking at must belong to or be related to the person you want to honor. You cannot use it for neutral things like the weather or scenery, and crucially, you cannot use it for your own items or documents (e.g., 私の書いたレポートを拝見します is incorrect), as this incorrectly elevates yourself. You might hear native speakers mistakenly use it for neutral objects to sound polite, but you should stick to the rule and use the standard polite form 見ます（みます）or 見ました（みました）instead.
  • 拝見 vs. 拝読: While 拝見する is general, use 拝読する（はいどくする）specifically for 'reading' books, letters, or reports to sound more professional.
  • Idiom Warning: Be careful with お手並み拝見（おてなみはいけん）. Despite the humble verb, it is a challenging phrase meaning 'Let's see what you can do.'

Conjugation:
As a suru-verb, it conjugates normally:

  • Polite: 拝見します
  • Extra Humble: 拝見いたします (Note: This combines two different humble categories, Kenjougo I and Kenjougo II, which is linguistically permitted and very common in modern business Japanese. However, many business manners websites mistakenly flag it as a double honorific, so 拝見します is the safest undisputed choice).

Examples (5)

  1. 資料を拝見しました。

    I have looked over the documents (you provided).

    Word by Word: Documents (object) humbly-saw.

    This is the standard way to tell a boss or client that you have checked the materials they sent.

  2. こちらの資料を拝見してもよろしいでしょうか。

    May I take a look at these documents?

    Word by Word: This-way's documents (object) humbly-see even-if good is-it?

    This is a highly common and polite way to ask for permission to look at something belonging to a superior or client.

  3. 先生のご著書を拝読いたしました。

    I have (humbly) read your book, Professor.

    Word by Word: Professor's honorific-book (object) humbly-did-read.

    While 拝見する means 'to see,' when referring to reading a book or long report, 拝読する（はいどくする）is the more appropriate and professional humble form.

  4. メールを拝見しました。お返事ありがとうございます。

    I saw your email. Thank you for the reply.

    Word by Word: Email (object) humbly-saw. Reply thank you.

    A very common phrase in business correspondence to acknowledge receiving and reading an email.

  5. お顔を拝見できて光栄です。

    I am honored to be able to see your face (to meet you).

    Word by Word: Honorific-face (object) humbly-see can-do honor is.

    While usually for objects, using it for a person's face expresses great respect during a meeting.

Common Mistakes

  • Using it for the listener's action.

    部長、資料を拝見しましたか。
    部長、資料をご覧になりましたか。

    拝見する lowers the person doing the seeing. If you use it for your boss, you are accidentally insulting them by lowering their status. Use the honorific ご覧になる for their actions.

  • Using it for neutral objects like scenery or nature.

    山で景色を拝見しました。
    山で景色を見ました。

    拝見する（はいけんする）is a humble verb used to show respect to a person. If you are looking at something neutral like a mountain or the ocean where no specific person is involved, use the standard 見る（みる）.

  • Adding incorrect prefixes or using double honorifics.

    資料をご拝見させていただきます。
    資料を拝見します。

    Because 拝見（はいけん）is already a humble word, adding the prefix ご (ご拝見する) is incorrect. Furthermore, 拝見させていただきます is technically a double honorific (二重敬語). While you will see it constantly in modern business emails and it is ubiquitous despite being debated, 拝見します is grammatically cleaner and preferred.

How It Connects

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拝見するLevel 3To See (Humble)

Learn This First

拝見する is the humble (Kenjougo) version of the verb 見る (to see). To use it correctly, learners must understand the social hierarchy of Japanese honorifics, specifically how humble language is used to lower one's own actions when speaking to a superior. It is also helpful to know the standard humble patterns and the respectful equivalent to ensure the correct level of politeness is applied.

Words in This Pattern

拝見為る