見つめる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 見つめる (みつめる) is a transitive verb meaning to keep one's gaze fixed on a target. The source gives past 見つめた and dictionary-form 見つめる.
• Basic usage: 窓の外を見つめたまま preserves the state of gazing outside, while 自分を見つめると makes looking at oneself the trigger for a realization.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Object marked by を and the following connector
  • Both gaze targets are marked by を. The useful distinction is that 見つめたまま maintains a state, whereas 見つめると opens the event that follows.