In German, sehen and schauen describe different kinds of visual experiences.
- sehen: to see (perceive visually, often passively)
- schauen: to look (direct attention, focus, observe)
sehen: to see (perceive visually)
*sehen means to see*—the natural, passive act of perceiving things with your eyes. It’s about taking in visual information, often without intention.
- Core idea: perceiving with your eyes, often automatically or passively
- Used for: noticing, spotting, recognizing, and general “seeing”
- Common forms:
- ich sehe – I see
- du siehst – you see
- er/sie/es sieht – he/she/it sees
- wir sehen – we see
- ihr seht – you all see
- sie/Sie sehen – they/you (formal) see
Example Sentences sehen
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich sehe den Hund. | I see the dog. |
| Siehst du den Mann? | Do you see the man? |
| Er sieht den Film nicht. | He doesn’t see the movie (on TV). |
*sehen* is used for perceiving or noticing something with your eyes (to see).
*sehen* is used for noticing, noticing, or recognizing—anything involving passive seeing.
schauen: to look (focus, observe)
*schauen means to look or to watch—and it’s about actively directing your eyes/attention. When you schauen*, you’re not just seeing; you’re focusing, observing, or even checking something out.
- Core idea: actively looking, focusing, or watching
- Used for: directing attention to something, watching (Schauen Sie!), checking, examining
- Common forms:
- ich schaue
- du schaust
- er/sie/es schaut
- wir schauen
- ihr schaut
- sie/Sie schauen
Example Sentences schauen
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich schaue aus dem Fenster. | I’m looking out the window. |
| Schaut ihr den Film? | Are you (all) watching the film? |
| Schau mal! | Look! (informal command) |
*schauen* is used when you actively direct your gaze or attention (to look, to watch).
*schauen* is for when you actively look or watch, or when you tell someone to look.
Summary
| Verb | Hauptbedeutung | Verwendung | Beispiel |
|---|---|---|---|
| sehen | Sehen (passiv, wahrnehmen) | Dinge/Visionen bemerken, sehen | Ich sehe den Vogel. |
| schauen | (Hin)schauen, beobachten (aktiv) | Aufmerksamkeit richten, etwas betrachten | Ich schaue den Film an. |
sehen = to see (passive perception)
schauen = to look (actively focusing your eyes)