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見える・聞こえる

can be seen, can be heard

Thing + が + 見える / 聞こえる

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見える and 聞こえる say that something is visible or audible, that it reaches your eyes or ears by itself: 窓から海が見えます, "you can see the sea from the window"; 音楽が聞こえます, "I can hear music".

Compare the potential forms 見られる and 聞ける. Those are about being able to see or hear something because you have the chance: この映画はネットで見られます, "you can watch this film online"; ラジオで聞けます, "you can listen on the radio".

So a view or a noise is 見える / 聞こえる; a film, a concert or a show you can get to is 見られる / 聞ける.

Both take が for what's seen or heard, and both are ichidan verbs: 見えない, 聞こえました.

Examples

  • 窓まどから海うみが見みえます。

    You can see the sea from the window.

  • 隣となりの部屋へやから音楽おんがくが聞きこえます。

    I can hear music from the next room.

  • 暗くらくて何なにも見みえない。

    It's so dark I can't see anything.

  • すみません、よく聞きこえません。

    Sorry, I can't hear you very well.

  • ここから富士山ふじさんが見みえますか。

    Can you see Mount Fuji from here?

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