The Meaning of haiken [拝見] In Japanese

拝見
はいけん
Romaji: haiken N3

What does 拝見 mean?

Translation and Meaning

to humbly see, to view; I have seen

Definition

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.

Type

Noun (suru-verb)

Stroke Order

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

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.

Composition

  • 拝 — humble prefix derived from bowing; used to show respect
  • 見 — the verb ‘to see’; combined with 拝 to express humble viewing

Usage

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.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine bowing before you peek at someone’s document; the bow equals 拝 and the peek equals 見; haiken means to humbly see.

Variations

  • 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’

Example Phrases

  • 上司 の メール を 拝見 しました、 要点 を 教えて ください。
    Jōshi no mēru o haiken shimashita, yōten o oshiete kudasai.
    I’ve read my boss’s email; please tell me the main points.
    Lista:
    • 上司 (jōshi) – boss
    • の (no) – of
    • メール (mēru) – email
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 拝見 (haiken) – to humbly see
    • しました、 (shimashita) – did
    • 要点 (yōten) – main points
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 教えて (oshiete) – tell me
    • ください。 (kudasai) – please
    拝見 is the humble form of 見る used for things belonging to or presented by someone else; in this sentence, 「拝見」 refers to viewing the boss’s email.
拝見