What does ～とみられる mean? Japanese grammar N1

Forming it

How to use it

States an OBJECTIVE assessment by experts/public opinion. News/report writing.

• 「～とみられる」 = regarded by (experts/public opinion) as... Very common in news.
• Different from 「～とされる」 (already widely accepted, nearly settled): 「とみられる」 is a CURRENT judgment that could still change.
• Often paired with 「～と見られている」 to emphasize the state of currently being judged so.

Examples

• 出火(しゅっか)の原因(げんいん)は漏電(ろうでん)とみられる。

  The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical leak.

• 来年度(らいねんど)も需要(じゅよう)は増加(ぞうか)するとみられている。

  Demand is expected to grow next fiscal year as well.

Keep in mind

• A current judgment that could still change.
• News/report writing.

Common mistakes

• Wrong私(わたし)はこの案(あん)がいいとみられる。

  I think this plan is good.

  Correctこの案(あん)がいいと思(おも)う。

  「とみられる」 is an OBJECTIVE judgment by a third party; a personal opinion uses 「と思う」.

• Wrongこの寺(てら)は日本(にっぽん)最古(さいこ)とみられる（定説(ていせつ)）。

  This temple is regarded as the oldest in Japan.

  Correctこの寺(てら)は日本(にっぽん)最古(さいこ)とされる。

  Something already WIDELY ACCEPTED uses 「とされる」; 「とみられる」 is a judgment that could still change.

Exam tips

• 「とみられる」 = judged to be (could still change); different from 「とされる」 (already accepted).

Related patterns

• ～とされる
• ～と思われる
• ～ようだ