bekijken

Bekijken is a Dutch verb meaning to look at, to view, to inspect, or to consider. It is used transitively with a direct object and covers both the act of looking and a more deliberate examination or evaluation. In many contexts, vergelijkbaar with the English “to view” or “to examine,” the sense can range from simply looking at something to carefully assessing it.

Etymology and usage notes: Bekijken is formed from the verb kijken (to look) with the prefix be-, a common Dutch construction that adds emphasis or transitivity. The prefix be- has historical roots in the Germanic languages and is used to shift Kijk into a transitive, directed action. The meaning often implies a purposeful or thorough act of looking, rather than a casual glance.

Usage and senses: The verb is versatile. It can describe visually observing something (de foto bekijken), inspecting or examining for details (de auto op schade bekijken), or evaluating or considering something (het voorstel bekijken). In spoken Dutch it can also appear in phrases that stress deliberation or assessment, such as “laten we het even bekijken” (let’s take a look at it).

Grammar: Bekijken is conjugated like a regular Dutch verb with a be- prefix in its base form. Present tense forms: ik bekijk, jij bekijkt, hij bekijkt, wij bekijken, jullie bekijken, zij bekijken. Simple past forms: ik bekeek, jij bekeek, hij bekeek, wij bekeken, jullie bekeken, zij bekeken. Past participle: bekeken. Compound tenses use hebben: ik heb bekeken.

See also: kijken; be- prefix; Dutch verb conjugation.