terugzien

Terugzien is a Dutch verb with two closely related senses. Primarily, it means to see someone again or to see something again after a period of absence. It can also be used in a more figurative sense to refer to looking back at a memory or past event, though in many cases that sense is expressed with terugkijken rather than terugzien.

Etymology and usage

The word is formed from terug (back, again) and zien (to see). It conjugates like zien. In the sense of reuniting with someone, it is commonly used with a direct object: ik zal je terugzien (I will see you again). The past participle is teruggezien, used in perfect constructions: ik heb hem teruggezien. Typical present-tense forms are ik zie terug, jij ziet terug, hij ziet terug, wij zien terug, jullie zien terug, zij zien terug.

Examples

We hebben elkaar na vele jaren teruggezien. Zullen we elkaar binnenkort terugzien? Zeg maar wanneer je langs wilt komen; dan kunnen we elkaar weer terugzien.

Comparison and note

When the idea is to reflect on past events, Dutch usually prefers terugkijken op or terugblikken op. Terugzien focuses more on the act of seeing again, either literally meeting someone or reencountering something, rather than on reflective evaluation.