21525
Are the two 「が」 different?

Is 「目が見えない」 (at least in principle) ambiguous (eyes can't see / eyes can't be
seen)?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-29T10:04:54.163
21516
2015-01-30T07:13:22.003
5346
question
particle-が ambiguity
「星が見えない＝Stars can't be seen」 but 「目が見えない＝Eyes can't see」, why?
Yes.

**見える**

  1. ([divalent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valency_%28linguistics%29)) _A_ が _B_ に見える " _A_ is visible to _B_ ".

> 大切なものは目に見えない。 _What is essential is invisible to the eye._

  2. (divalent) _A_ が _B_ に見える " _A_ looks (like) _B_ ".

> 「でつ」がスヌーピーの顔に見える。 _" でつ" looks like Snoopy's face._

  3. (monovalent) _A_ が見える " _A_ can see things".

> [吸血鬼]{きゅう・けつ・き}は夜でも見える。 _Vampires have night vision._
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-29T17:37:58.703
21518
2015-01-29T20:12:21.347
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
-1
7810
21516
answer
The particle "が" is not different in your examples, but the verb "見える" has
[more than one meaning](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/jn2/210883/m0u/).

Theoretically, you are correct. A person like
[Altair](http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Alta%C3%AFr_Ibn-La%27Ahad) might
be described as 目が見えない人.

![Altair](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sS3uh.jpg)

Of course you have to say フードのせいで外から目が見えない人 or something like that in order to
avoid confusion.

Similar things happen in English, and the natural interpretation greatly
changes depending on the subject. It's always difficult to answer why, but I
think that's something you have to learn.

  * I _look_ at the dog. vs. The dog _looks_ cute.
  * I _read_ the sign. vs. The sign _reads_ "No trespassing."
  * I _sold_ the book. vs. The book _sold_ well.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-30T07:13:22.003
21525
2015-01-30T07:13:22.003
5010
21516
answer