診る

§ Basic Usage of 診る

診る (miru) means "to examine (a patient)". It's specifically used in medical contexts. Think of a doctor examining a patient, or a nurse checking on someone's condition. It's not for general "seeing" or "looking at" things; for that, you'd use 見る (miru) or 見る (neru) depending on the context.

Hint

The doctor examines the patient.

In this example, the doctor (医者 - isha) is the one performing the action, and the patient (患者 - kanja) is the one being examined. The particle を (o) marks the direct object of the verb.

§ Who does the examining?

The subject of 診る is almost always a medical professional. You wouldn't say, for example, "I examined my friend" using 診る unless you are a doctor.

Hint

The nurse examined the patient who was on an IV drip.

Here, 看護師 (kangoshi - nurse) is the subject. The past tense 診ました (mimashita) is used to indicate a completed action.

§ Combining with other verbs and expressions

You'll often see 診る used in passive constructions or in requests. Remember that Japanese politeness levels are important, especially in a medical setting.

• 医者に診てもらう (isha ni mi te morau): To have a doctor examine you.

  熱があるので、医者に診てもらいました 。

  Hint

  I had a fever, so I was examined by a doctor (lit. received the favor of a doctor examining me).

• 診てくれる (mite kureru): To examine (for someone's benefit).

  先生が足を診てくれました 。

  Hint

  The doctor examined my leg (for my benefit).

§ When not to use 診る

Again, 診る is strictly for medical examinations. Do not use it for:

• Looking at something generally: Use 見る (miru).

  映画を見る。

  Hint

  To watch a movie.

• Checking something (like a document or a schedule): Use 確認する (kakunin suru) or 調べる (shiraberu).

  スケジュールを確認する。

  Hint

  To check the schedule.

Always keep the specific context of medical examination in mind when using 診る.

§ What 診る means

Let's learn about the verb 診る (miru). This word is often translated as 'to examine' or 'to diagnose.' But it's specifically about examining a patient or a person's health. You wouldn't use 診る to talk about examining a document or a crime scene. For that, you'd use other verbs like 調べる (shiraberu) or 検討する (kentō suru).

Japanese Word

診る (miru)

Meaning

To examine (a patient), to diagnose.

CEFR Level

A2

§ Where you hear 診る

You'll mostly hear 診る in medical settings. Think hospitals, clinics, or when people are talking about seeing a doctor. It's a common and important word to know if you ever need to discuss health in Japanese.

• At the doctor's office: This is the most common place. The doctor will 診る you.
• In conversations about health: If someone is feeling unwell, they might say they're going to have a doctor 診る them.
• On medical shows or news: When reporting on health-related topics, this word will come up.

Translation hint

The doctor examines the patient.

Translation hint

I was examined by the doctor at the hospital.

The verb 診る is almost exclusively used in a medical context. You wouldn't use it to say 'I examined the broken car engine.' For that, you'd use 調べる (shiraberu - to investigate/examine in a general sense) or 点検する (tenken suru - to inspect).

Translation hint

They examine the whole body in a health checkup.

It's crucial to understand the nuance of 診る. While 'examine' is a good general translation, its specific application to health and patients is what makes it distinct. If you stick to this context, you'll use it correctly.