can be seen, can be heard (naturally)

見える and 聞こえる describe things that are visible or audible on their own, without effort. They differ from the potential forms 見られる and 聞ける, which imply a chance or choice to see or hear something. The thing perceived takes が.

Examples

• 窓まどから海うみが見みえます。

  Mado kara umi ga miemasu.

  You can see the sea from the window.

• 隣となりの部屋へやから音楽おんがくが聞きこえます。

  Tonari no heya kara ongaku ga kikoemasu.

  I can hear music from the next room.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 窓 window
• 海 sea
• 見える to be visible, to be seen
• 隣 next to; neighbor
• 部屋 room
• 音楽 music

Related patterns · Potential form

• 可能形（〜られる / 〜える） can, be able to do
• 〜ことができる can do, it is possible to do