In Japanese, there is a potential form to express that it's possible for something to be done.
My own examples of potential form:
辛【から】い食【た】べ物【もの】が食【た】べられる。 (I can eat spicy foods.)
ギターが弾【ひ】ける。 (I can play the guitar.)
But I also know of 見【み】える and 聞【き】こえる. I've heard them used as also meaning it's possible for something to be done (seeing for 見【み】える and hearing for 聞【き】こえる). But this isn't the potential conjugation of the original words, 見【み】る and 聞【き】く. The potential form would be 見【み】られる and 聞【き】ける.
What is the difference between the normal potential form and their "special" forms?
Answer
みえる = to be able to see. (precisely: to be seen/to be in sight)
⇒ Can you see the fujisan? => 富士山が見えますか？みれる = to be able to watch.
⇒ Can you watch DVD with this? => それでDVDが見れますか？
The same for 聞ける (Can you listen) vs 聞こえる (Can you hear / precisely: to be heard/to be audible)
みえる and きこえる and not a special form of みる and きく, they are specific verbs by themselves.
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