拝見
Meaning in Englishhumble seeing, respectful looking
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
拝見 means to humbly see or view something, typically used by the speaker to show respect when reading or examining someone else's materials.
Main meanings
- to view something with humility, especially when receiving documents or messages
- forms such as 資料を拝見します or 拝見しました indicate that the speaker will or has looked at the material with respect
- the noun 拝見 refers to the act of viewing in a respectful context
How to use it
Used in formal contexts to acknowledge receipt or review of materials; common in business emails, proposals, reports; often used with phrases like 資料を拝見します and 資料を拝見しました.
Variants and close terms
- 拝読 (haidoku) — polite reading
- 拝聴 (haichō) — polite listening
- ご覧になる (goran ni naru) — a more general respectful way to say 'look at'
Composition
- 拝 — humble prefix derived from bowing; used to show respect
- 見 — the verb 'to see'; combined with 拝 to express humble viewing
Etymology
拝 (hai) and 見 (ken) are the on-reading components; the compound haiken is formed by combining the humble prefix 拝 with the verb 見る to mean viewing with reverence.
Origin
Keigo developed in classical and early modern Japan; 拝見 emerged as a polite way to refer to the act of looking at someone else's materials in formal contexts such as letters and business communication.
Word class
Noun (suru-verb)