English–Chinese
“stand idly by” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyinxiù shǒu páng guān
Example
有人受伤了，大家不要袖手旁观。yǒu rén shòu shāng le dà jiā bú yào xiù shǒu páng guān
Someone is hurt, so no one should just stand idly by.
How to say “stand idly by” in Chinese
“Stand idly by” in Chinese is 袖手旁观 (xiù shǒu páng guān).
Hands stay tucked into the sleeves while a problem unfolds nearby, showing passive watching instead of helping.
Example sentences with 袖手旁观
面对不公，他不能再袖手旁观，决定站出来发声。miàn duì bù gōng tā bù néng zài xiù shǒu páng guān jué dìng zhàn chū lái fā shēng
When faced with injustice, he can no longer stand idly by and has decided to speak out.
Tips for using 袖手旁观
- In everyday conversation, this idiom is usually critical because it portrays noninvolvement as a choice, not simply as being unable to help.