Chinese word

看上去

Pronunciation

Pinyinkàn shàng qù

Meaning

  • verblook

Example

这道菜看上去很好吃。zhè dào cài kàn shàng qù hěn hǎo chī

This dish looks very tasty.

Illustration for 看上去 (look)

More examples

这个手机看上去有点儿贵。zhè ge shǒu jī kàn shàng qù yóu diǎnr guì

This phone looks a little expensive.

Core concept

What something seems to be from the outside, before fuller evidence is available.

Common phrases

  • 看上去有点儿贵kàn shàng qù yóu diǎnr guì

    look somewhat expensive

  • 看上去很简单kàn shàng qù hěn jiǎn dān

    look very simple

Similar words

看起来kàn qǐ lái: Shows how something appears when its visible features or condition are observed.
好像hǎo xiàng: Expresses an uncertain belief that something is true, even without firm evidence.

Definition in Chinese

根据看到的外表或表象做出暂时性或不确定的推断，常作谓语或状语，表示某物或某事在外观上给人的印象。gēn jù kàn dào de wài biǎo huò biǎo xiàng zuò chū zàn shí xìng huò bú què dìng de tuī duàn cháng zuò wèi yǔ huò zhuàng yǔ biǎo shì mǒu wù huò mǒu shì zài wài guān shàng gěi rén de yìn xiàng

Word origin

看上去 (kànshàngqù, "look") uses 看 (kàn, "look") with the directional complement 上去 (shàngqù, "up and away"), marking what an observer sees as an apparent result.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this expression works especially naturally before an adjective, allowing a speaker to describe a first impression without making a fully certain claim.

Other meanings

  • apparentlyverb

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