viendo or mirando

Question

Este frase es de una lección de audio que estoy escuchando

El médico está viendo las radiografías de la mano de un paciente.

He siempre usado el verbo ver cuando estoy tratando de decir to see y también, he usado el verbo mirar cuando estoy tratando de decir to look o to watch. ¿Cual es lo mejor palabra en este caso? ¿o no es importa? ¿El significado de la frase es el mismo y cualquiera de los dos palabras serviría, sí o no? ¿Son intercambiables? Viendo parece un poco extraño a mi.

Gracias por sus pensamientos

Answer 1

I believe you have got the right idea. "Ver" is "to see", and "mirar" is to look or watch.

The verbs are somewhat exchangeable, depending on culture and custom, but you'll be ok if you use them the way you have learned.

For example in this case, it would be ok to say: "El doctro está mirando las radiografías". People would understand you, and probably wouldn't think it odd. However, I find that there's a subtle difference in the meaning conveyed that your listener may catch or not. "El doctor está mirando", to me expresses that his examination is not as detailed as if "El doctor está viendo", which in turn is less detailed than "El doctor está examinando..."

You can spot a beautiful bird on a walk and point it out to your friend: "¡Mira que bello pájaro!" ("Look at the beautiful bird!") Your friend might reply: "Ah, si... lo veo" (Oh yes... I see it). He/she would not say "Si, lo miro", however.

On the other hand you might say: "¿Has visto los pájaros hoy?" ("Have you seen / cheked on the birds today?"), and your friend might reply: "Ahora voy a mirar" ("I'll go check in a bit").

Answer 2

However, I find that there's a subtle difference in the meaning conveyed that your listener may catch or not. "El doctor está mirando", to me expresses that his examination is not as detailed as if "El doctor está viendo", which in turn is less detailed than "El doctor está examinando..."

¡Gracias Gekkosan! Su explicación me ayudas entender porque alguien podría usar los dos palabras. Como siempre, adivino todo depende en la situación.

Eso es correcto. Las sutilezas culturales no siempre van de la mano con lo estrictamente correcto, desde el punto de vista académico. - Gekkosan, Mar 18, 2010

Answer 3

"mirar" is like "to have a look" while "ver" is like "watch, observe".

"Aprende a mirar para poder ver"

B U T, in this case "el médico está viendo" and "el médico está mirando" for me it sounds exactly the same... I see no difference