Chinese word

一眼

Pronunciation

Pinyinyī yǎn

Meaning

  • adverbat a glance

Example

我一眼就看出他不一样。wǒ yì yǎn jiù kàn chū tā bù yí yàng

I can tell at a glance that he is different.

Illustration for 一眼 (at a glance)

More examples

从照片一眼看不出他的年龄。cóng zhào piān yì yǎn kàn bù chū tā de nián líng

You cannot tell his age at a glance from the photo.

Core concept

A single glance reaches the key feature and brings quick recognition.

Common phrases

  • 一眼看穿yì yǎn kàn chuān

    see through at a glance

  • 一眼认出yì yǎn rèn chū

    recognize at a glance

  • 一眼没看出yì yǎn méi kàn chū

    not tell at a glance

Similar words

乍一看zhà yí kàn: Refers to the impression received when something is seen briefly for the first time.
一看yí kàn: Indicates that looking at something immediately reveals a fact about it.

Definition in Chinese

通过一次眼神立刻看出某事或某人特点，作副词用，含有迅速判断的意思。tōng guò yí cì yǎn shén lì kè kàn chū mǒu shì huò mǒu rén tè diǎn zuò fù cí yòng hán yǒu xùn sù pàn duàn de yì si

Word origin

一眼 (yīyǎn, "one look") combines 一 (yī, "one") + 眼 (yǎn, "eye"), making one look the basis for immediate recognition.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this adverb usually comes before the verb, so its position signals that the recognition happens immediately rather than after a long examination.

Other meanings

  • one looknoun

Opposites

  • 认真地rèn zhēn dìseriouslyadverb
  • 仔细zǐ xìcarefullyadverb

Word lists with this word