垣間見る

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 垣間見る is read as かいまみる and is a verb meaning to catch a brief or partial glimpse of something not fully visible.
• Basic usage: Use 当時の暮らしを垣間見る for glimpsing life in an earlier period and 意外な一面を垣間見る for catching a glimpse of someone's unexpected side.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Distinction between 垣間見る and 見る
  • The headword emphasizes a brief or indirect view of only part of something, while the comparison term is the general verb for seeing or looking.