What is the difference between “watch” and “look at”? There is only one word in Japanese, “miru,” so this can be a little difficult for Japanese students. Basically, you “watch” something that moves, and you “look at” something that doesn’t move. For example, you watch someone dancing, but you look at the dancer’s clothes. I watch birds, and then I look at my field guide. I used to have an interesting mug that said, “The Clock Watcher.” Donald Duck is at his desk in his office, and he is watching the clock. Why don’t we say “look at” here? Because he wants to go home, and he is waiting for the clock hands to move to 5 p.m. If he just wanted to know the time, he would look at the clock quickly and go back to work.   (138 words)

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