見せる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 見せる is read as みせる and is an ichidan transitive verb with an item being shown and a person who is shown it.
• Basic usage: It is used for showing photographs to family or demonstrating how to use a tool to students.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Object and recipient
  • Mark the item with を and the viewer with に, as in 写真を家族に見せる.
• Showing versus demonstrating
  • Presenting photographs is naturally “show,” while displaying a procedure can be “demonstrate.”