Appearance; the way something looks or is perceived. Often used as a suffix (〜kan) in compounds.
建物の外観を写真に撮った。
I took photos of the building's exterior appearance.
商品の外観だけで判断してはいけない。
You shouldn't judge a product only by its appearance.
この作品は外観より中身が重要だと考える人もいる。
Some people think the content of this work is more important than its appearance.
A spectacle or impressive sight; something visually striking (as in words like 壮観).
富士山頂からの眺めは本当に壮観だ。
The view from the top of Mt. Fuji is truly spectacular.
祭りの夜景は壮観で、たくさんの見物客が集まった。
The festival's night view was a spectacle, and many onlookers gathered.
舞台の照明と演出が合わさって非常に壮観な場面になった。
The stage lighting and direction combined to create a very spectacular scene.
In Buddhism, a meditative observation (kan)—a practice of observing or contemplating an object with focused attention.
禅の修行では呼吸や心の動きを観（かん）することがある。
In Zen practice, one sometimes performs kan, observing the breath and movements of the mind.
この宗派では観を通して自己の業を見つめる。
In this sect, practitioners look at their own karma through kan (contemplation).
A way of seeing or outlook on something (used as 〜kan), as in '人生観' (view of life) or '価値観' (values).
彼の人生観はとても現実的だ。
His outlook on life is very realistic.
価値観の違いが原因で友人と衝突した。
A difference in values caused a clash with a friend.
研究を進めるには多様な観から問題を見ることが重要だ。
To advance research, it's important to look at problems from diverse perspectives.