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
見習う
minarau
to follow another's example
N1
見逃す
minogasu
to miss, to overlook, to leave at large
N1
見計らう
mihakarau
to choose at one's own discretion
N1
見晴らし
miharashi
view
N1
見渡す
miwatasu
to look out over, to survey (scene), to take an extensive view of
N1
目論見
mokuromi
a plan, a scheme, intention
N1
余所見
yosomi
looking away, looking aside
N2
拝む
ogamu
to worship, to pray
N2
見学
kengaku
tour, study by observation