Meanings of 視
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 視
Podcast: 視
Podcast: 視
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 視
看 (kàn) — use 視 when implying a more careful or formal observation, as opposed to 看 which can mean simply 'to look' or 'to see'.
Be cautious of using 視 in overly casual contexts, as it may come off as too formal. Common collocations include 視力 (shìlì, eyesight) and 視覺 (shìjué, vision), which emphasize the act of seeing in specific ways. Pay attention to the tone; 'shì' is pronounced with a falling tone, which is crucial for correct understanding.
Although 視 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other HSK Level 3 and 4 words related to vision and observation, such as 看 (kàn, to look) and 觀看 (guānkàn, to watch). Focus on how 視 can be combined with other characters to form compound words.
Learners often confuse 視 with 看 (kàn), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我視電視' (Wǒ shì diànshì) instead of '我看電視' (Wǒ kàn diànshì) is incorrect; use 視 for inspection, not casual viewing.
Pronunciation of 視
Drill the tone of 視 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 視
Simplified form of 視. Phonosemantic compound. 見 represents the meaning and 礻 represents the sound.
see
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 視
Simplified form of 視. Phonosemantic compound. 見 represents the meaning and 礻 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half見 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half礻 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaysee
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 視? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 視?
Decomposition of 視
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 視?
How to say to look at, to inspect, to observe, to regard in Chinese
“to look at, to inspect, to observe, to regard” in Chinese is視
The character 視 (shì) means 'to look at', 'to inspect', or 'to observe'. It is commonly used in contexts where one examines or considers something carefully, such as in medical or academic settings. The nuance often implies a deeper level of observation rather than just a casual glance.
When to use 視
Be cautious of using 視 in overly casual contexts, as it may come off as too formal. Common collocations include 視力 (shìlì, eyesight) and 視覺 (shìjué, vision), which emphasize the act of seeing in specific ways. Pay attention to the tone; 'shì' is pronounced with a falling tone, which is crucial for correct understanding.
視 or something close to it
看 (kàn) — use 視 when implying a more careful or formal observation, as opposed to 看 which can mean simply 'to look' or 'to see'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 視 with 看 (kàn), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我視電視' (Wǒ shì diànshì) instead of '我看電視' (Wǒ kàn diànshì) is incorrect; use 視 for inspection, not casual viewing.
Write 視
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 視 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 視
Compound Meaning
What does 电视 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 視
You can say '我想視察這個項目' (Wǒ xiǎng shìchá zhège xiàngmù), meaning 'I want to inspect this project'.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 視?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.