Today's theme is "Miemasu" vs. "Miraremasu" !
★ Quiz time! ★
Which one is correct, ① or ②?
ホテルの へやから うみが ( )。
Hoteru no heya kara umi ga ( ).
① 見えます (Mi e ma su)
② 見られます (Mi ra re ma su)
The answer is...
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Answer: ① Miemasu is correct.
Why is Miraremasu unnatural here?
First, the image of "A ga miemasu" is:
"Even if you do nothing, A comes into your eyes naturally."
The same is true for Kikoemasu (hear). Please look at the image below.

So, what is Miraremasu?
That's right. "Miraremasu" is the potential form of "Mimasu" (see).
Now, let's feel the nuance of
miemasu / Kikoeru and Miraremasu /Miraremasu through examples.
● miemasu / Kikoemasu (Natural perception)
山の上から 京都の町が 見えます。
Yama no ue kara Kyōto no machi ga miemasu.
→ If you go up the mountain, it naturally comes into your eyes.
めがねが ないと、何も 見えません。
Megane ga nai to, nani mo miemasen.
→ If you put on glasses, it naturally comes into your eyes.
外から ねこの声が 聞こえます。
Soto kara neko no koe ga kikoemasu.
→ Even if you do nothing, it comes into your ears.
声が小さくて、聞こえません。
Koe ga chiisakute, kikoemasen.
→ If the voice becomes louder, it naturally comes into your ears.
● Mirareru / Kikeru (Potential form — with conditions)
お金を払えば、この映画が 見られます。
Okane o haraeba, kono eiga ga Miraremasu.
→ Just paying money doesn't make the film come into your eyes naturally.
テレビが こわれているから、テレビが 見られません。
Terebi ga kowareteiru kara, terebi ga Miraremasen.
→ Even if the TV is fixed, the screen doesn't naturally come into your eyes.
先生のレッスンを申し込めば、講義が 聞けます。
Sensei no ressun o mōshikomeba, kōgi ga kikemasu.
→ Just applying for the lesson doesn't make the lecture naturally come into your ears.
How was that? Could you feel the difference?
★ Quiz to check your understanding! ★
① 晴れれば 富士山が( 見えます OR 見られます )。
Harereba Fujisan ga ( miemasu OR miraremasu ).
② 日本に行ったら 富士山が( 見えます OR 見られます )。
Nihon ni ittara Fujisan ga ( miemasu OR mi ra re ma su ).
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Answers:
① 見えます (miemasu)
② 見られます (Miraremasu)
How did you do? :)

I came to Japan, but......
By the way, miemasu / kikoemasu are intransitive verbs, and
Miru / Kiku are transitive verbs.
Now, if you want to see my other columns, please visit my profile!
If you come to my profile, you can see the list of my columns —
見られます (miraremasu) :)
See you next time!
★ Homework for you! ★
Think about this:
In what situation can you say "Umi ga Miraremasu"?
If you figure it out, please tell me! :)
One more point:
In patterns like "Xたら、Aが見える/聞こえる"
(If X happens, A is visible / audible)
Use "見える/聞こえる" when A naturally comes into your senses as soon as condition X is met.
Use "見られます/見られます" when more action or effort is needed after condition X.
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