Word
拝見
Meaning in Englishhumble seeing, respectful looking
Animated kanji stroke order
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)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
見地
kenchi
point of view
N1
拝啓
haikei
-- a formal greeting used at the beginning of a letter --
N1
拝借
haishaku
(humble) (polite) borrowing
N1
一見
ikken
a look, a glimpse, glance; first meeting
N1
会見
kaiken
interview, conference
N1
異見
iken
different opinion, objection
N1
崇拝
suuhai
worship, adoration
N1
偏見
henken
prejudice, narrow view
N1
見合い
miai
formal marriage interview