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March 24, 2026
瞥piē(pie1)
The character 瞥 (piē) means to take a quick or fleeting glance at something. It is often used to describe a momentary observation that is not thorough or deliberate, commonly used in both spoken and written contexts when referring to seeing something briefly.
Strokes16Radical目Frequency#14216DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of taking a quick glance at something can signify curiosity or intrigue, often reflecting the fast-paced lifestyle in urban areas where people are constantly on the move.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cat (the radical 目 for 'eye') that suddenly catches sight of a bird and takes a quick glance before it flies away. The word 'piē' sounds like 'peer,' which reminds you of peering quickly at something before it disappears.
Meanings of 瞥
piē(pie1)
1to take a fleeting glance at
2to shoot a glance
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 瞥
瞥Simplified
16Strokes
目Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 瞥
Podcast: 瞥
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AI Study Notes for 瞥
Quick Contrast
瞧 (qiáo) vs 看 (kàn) — use 瞥 for a brief, casual glance rather than a more attentive look.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a cat (the radical 目 for 'eye') that suddenly catches sight of a bird and takes a quick glance before it flies away. The word 'piē' sounds like 'peer,' which reminds you of peering quickly at something before it disappears.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 瞥 with other similar verbs that imply different types of looking, such as 看 (kàn, to watch) or 望 (wàng, to gaze). 瞥 is more informal and is best used in casual conversation. Be careful with its tone; it is pronounced with a first tone, which can be misleading if not practiced.
HSK Study Tips
While 瞥 is not currently part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be associated with HSK Level 3 words that deal with seeing and observing, such as 看 (kàn) and 视 (shì). Focus on understanding the context in which 瞥 is used to differentiate it from these more common terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of taking a quick glance at something can signify curiosity or intrigue, often reflecting the fast-paced lifestyle in urban areas where people are constantly on the move.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 瞥 with 视 (shì) which means to look or to see in a broader sense, potentially using it incorrectly in sentences like '我瞥电视' (I glance at the TV) instead of '我看电视' (I watch TV). Corrections involve using 瞥 for brief looks only.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 瞥
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Grammar Patterns of 瞥
瞥 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
她转过身，____见有个东西从草地上穿了过去。
As she turned back, a movement across the lawn caught her eye.
Example Sentences for 瞥 (10)
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1
她转过身，瞥见有个东西从草地上穿了过去。
tā zhuǎn guò shēn， ， piē jiàn yǒu gè dōng xī cóng cǎo dì shàng chuān le guò。
As she turned back, a movement across the lawn caught her eye.
2
他在商店橱窗里瞥见了一眼那个人的脸。
tā zài shāng diàn chú chuāng lǐ piē jiàn le yī yǎn nà gè rén de liǎn。
He caught a glimpse of the man's face in a shop window.
3
伯克匆匆地瞥了一眼菜单，然后啪地合上了。
bó kè cōng cōng dì piē le yī yǎn cài dān， ， rán hòu pā dì hé shàng。
Burke cast a cursory glance at the menu, then flapped it shut.
4
她抬眼迅速瞥了他一下，然后眼睛又垂了下去。
tā tái yǎn xùn sù piē le tā yī xià， ， rán hòu yǎn jīng yòu chuí le xià。
She gave him a quick, upward look, then lowered her eyes.
5
他扭头瞥了一眼，看见我正看他。
tā niǔ tóu piē le yī yǎn， ， kàn jiàn wǒ zhèng kàn。
He glanced over his shoulder and saw me watching him.
6
“14分钟,”克里斯瞥了一眼他的手表说道.
“14 “14 fēn,” zhōng ,” kè lǐ sī piē le yī yǎn tā de shǒu biǎo.
"Fourteen minutes," Chris said, taking a peep at his watch.
7
他谨慎地瞥了一眼房间里的其他人。
tā jǐn shèn dì piē le yī yǎn fáng jiān lǐ de qí tā rén。
He glanced discreetly around the room at the other people.
8
出了门，布鲁斯瞥了一眼自己的手表，“天哪，快一点了。”
chū le mén， ， bù lǔ sī piē le yī yǎn zì jǐ de shǒu，“ biǎo ，“， tiān nǎ ， kuài。”
Outside, Bruce glanced at his watch: "Dear me, nearly oneo'clock."
Eve, squinting at the clock, saw it was just on 7 a.m.
10
休瞥了一眼坐在她妈妈膝上的小女孩。
xiū piē le yī yǎn zuò zài tā mā mā xī shàng de xiǎo nǚ hái。
Hugh glanced at the child on her mother's lap.
Cultural Notes for 瞥
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of taking a quick glance at something can signify curiosity or intrigue, often reflecting the fast-paced lifestyle in urban areas where people are constantly on the move.
Word Family of 瞥
Words Containing This Character3
瞥piēglance
瞥见to glimpse瞥見
一瞥glance
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 瞥 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瞥
瞥 (piē) refers to a quick glance, while 看 (kàn) means to look or watch more thoroughly.
Typically, 瞥 is more informal and is best suited for casual conversations rather than formal writing.
Yes, 瞥 is used in everyday speech when describing moments of brief observation.
