Meaning
見える and 聞こえる describe spontaneous perception; they are not the conjugated potential forms of 見る and 聞く.
Formation
- What is seen or heard takes が: 富士山が見えます
- Not the potential 見られる, which implies an intention to look
When to use it
- Core use
- Describes what is naturally visible or audible
Example
この窓から富士山が見えます
Mount Fuji is visible from this window.
Important notes
- Pay attention to the word form before the construction and to the particles around it.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate the pattern word for word; first identify its function in the whole situation.