See is not looking — it is what already got in

Where the picture shows up in see

1. 1

   it enters your eyes

   I saw her at the bus stop.

   aɪ sɔː hɜːr æt ðə bʌs stɑːp

   I ran into her at the bus stop.

   You walk past the stop and her face simply arrives in your eyes.

2. 2

   it enters your head

   I see what you mean.

   aɪ siː wʌt juː miːn

   I understand what you mean.

   What the other person said lands in your head and the blur clears.

   Look is aiming the eyes; see is what already got through.

3. 3

   you come face to face

   I am seeing the doctor tomorrow.

   aɪ æm ˈsiːɪŋ ðə ˈdɑːktər təˈmɑːroʊ

   I have a doctor appointment tomorrow.

   Tomorrow a door opens and you are face to face with the doctor.

4. 4

   wait for the outcome to arrive

   Let us see how it goes.

   let ʌs siː haʊ ɪt ɡoʊz

   Let us wait and find out how it goes.

   Hands off, waiting for the result to show up in front of you.

5. 5

   may you show up again

   See you next week.

   siː juː nekst wiːk

   Catch you next week.

   Some day next week that face appears in front of you again.