JLPT N1 grammar

〜と見えるmeaning and usage

Meaning

It seems that A

How to form it

  • verb (plain form)/い-adjectiveと見える
  • noun/な-adjective (stem)（だ）と見える
  • plain formと見えて

How it is used

The speaker infers A from what can be seen, often about a third person's feelings or situation; it sounds a little formal or old-fashioned. 「〜と見えて」 often leads into the next fact. Everyday speech uses 「ようだ」 or 「らしい」.

Examples

  1. 太郎君はニコニコとして、何かいいことがあったと見える。

    Taro is grinning, it seems that something good happened.

  2. 部屋の明かりが消えている。もう寝たと見える。

    The light in the room is off. It seems they've already gone to bed.

  3. よほど疲れていたと見えて、弟は夕飯も食べずに寝てしまった。

    My brother must have been really tired; he went to sleep without even eating dinner.