Chinese word

观光

Pronunciation

Pinyinguān guāng

Meaning

  • verbgo sightseeing

Example

我们明天去观光，你要一起吗？wǒ men míng tiān qù guān guāng nǐ yào yì qǐ ma

We're going sightseeing tomorrow; do you want to come along?

Illustration for 观光 (go sightseeing)

More examples

到各地观光可以增长见识。dào gè dì guān guāng ké yǐ zēng zhǎng jiàn shí

Going sightseeing in various places can broaden your horizons.

Core concept

Moving through a place with attention on the views and attractions rather than on reaching a practical destination.

Common phrases

  • 到各地观光dào gè dì guān guāng

    go sightseeing in various places

  • 专程来观光zhuān chéng lái guān guāng

    come specifically to sightsee

Similar words

旅游lǚ yóu: Traveling away from home for leisure, usually with a stay and activities.
游览yóu lǎn: Going around scenic places and famous sites while looking at them.
参观cān guān: Visiting a museum, factory, or similar place to see its inside or exhibits firsthand.
游玩yóu wán: Roaming around for fun and enjoying recreational activities.

Definition in Chinese

为看风景、参观名胜而出行的行为或活动。wèi kàn fēng jǐng cān guān míng shèng ér chū xíng de xíng wéi huò huó dòng

Word origin

观光 (guānguāng, "sightseeing") combines 观 (guān, "view") with 光 (guāng, "light"), whose older sense of splendor connects the compound with impressive sights.

Usage tips

  • 观光 (guānguāng, "sightseeing") can describe a brief visit around nearby landmarks, so the word does not require a long vacation or a distant journey.

Other meanings

  • sightseeingnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 观光客guān guāng kètouristnoun
  • 观光地guān guāng dìtourist destinationnoun
  • 观光景点guān guāng jíng diǎntourist attractionnoun

Word lists with this word