German Conversation · Level 21
89 words
German word
zuschauen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈtsuːˌʃaʊ̯ən/
Meaning
- verbwatch
Example
Ich schaue dem Spiel zu.
I'm watching the game.
More examples
Die Touristen schauen dem Straßenkünstler zu.
The tourists are watching the street performer.
Core concept
A spectator follows a game or a person's activity from the side while remaining outside the action.
Common phrases
jemandem zuschauen
watch someone
dem Spiel zuschauen
watch the game
einem Künstler zuschauen
watch an artist
Similar words
zusehen: Watching a person or event nearby while attentively following its course.
zugucken: Watching nearby movements in a relaxed, informal manner without joining in.
beobachten: Monitoring a person or process carefully over time for gradual changes.
Definition in German
Etwas oder jemanden aufmerksam beobachten, dabei oft an der Seite stehen und nicht eingreifen.
Word origin
The separable verb zuschauen combines zu- with schauen and developed the sense of looking on at an activity rather than joining it.
Usage tips
- The person or activity watched usually takes the dative, as in jemandem or dem Spiel zuschauen.
Other meanings
- spectateverb
- look onverb
Opposites
- mitmachenparticipateverb
- teilnehmentake partverb
Related words
- der Zuschauerspectatornoun
- die Zuschauerinfemale spectatornoun
- das Zuschauenwatchingnoun