Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
看起来(看起來)kànqǐlai(kan4qi3lai5)
看起来 (kàn qǐ lái) means 'to seem' or 'to appear to be' and is used to describe an impression or appearance based on observation. It often conveys a subjective viewpoint, suggesting that something may not be as it seems at first glance. This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversation as well as in descriptive writing.
Frequency#3072DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the appearance of things can hold significant meaning, and people often rely on visual cues to make judgments about situations or individuals. The phrase 看起来 reflects this cultural tendency to assess based on outward appearances.
Memory Tip
Imagine looking at a scene through a camera lens (看) that captures an image (起来) of how things appear. '看' (kàn) means 'to look' and '起来' (qǐ lái) suggests the idea of rising or coming into view. Picture yourself saying 'It looks like...' while pointing at the scene, reinforcing the connection between the visual and the impression.
Meanings of 看起来
kànqǐlai(kan4qi3lai5)
1seemingly
2apparently
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 看起来
看起来Simplified
看起來Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 看起来
Podcast: 看起来
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 看起来
Quick Contrast
看上去 (kàn shàng qù) - use 看起来 (kàn qǐ lái) when emphasizing a subjective impression rather than just a visual observation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine looking at a scene through a camera lens (看) that captures an image (起来) of how things appear. '看' (kàn) means 'to look' and '起来' (qǐ lái) suggests the idea of rising or coming into view. Picture yourself saying 'It looks like...' while pointing at the scene, reinforcing the connection between the visual and the impression.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 看起来 with other expressions of appearance, such as 觉得 (jué de, to feel). Remember that 看起来 emphasizes visual perception rather than personal feelings or opinions. It is generally informal, suitable for everyday conversations.
HSK Study Tips
Though not part of HSK, 看起来 can be useful for learners at HSK 3 and above who want to describe impressions. Focus on using it in sentences to practice making observations about people or situations, as it helps reinforce vocabulary related to appearance and perception.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the appearance of things can hold significant meaning, and people often rely on visual cues to make judgments about situations or individuals. The phrase 看起来 reflects this cultural tendency to assess based on outward appearances.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 看起来 with a negative context, e.g., saying '看起来不好' (kàn qǐ lái bù hǎo) when they want to express a direct opinion. Instead, use '似乎不好' (sì hū bù hǎo) to maintain the nuance of appearance rather than personal judgment.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 看起来
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 看起来 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 看起来 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 看起来
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the appearance of things can hold significant meaning, and people often rely on visual cues to make judgments about situations or individuals. The phrase 看起来 reflects this cultural tendency to assess based on outward appearances.
Frequently Asked Questions about 看起来
You can use 看起来 to express an impression, for example, '他看起来很高兴' (tā kàn qǐ lái hěn gāo xìng) means 'He seems very happy.'
While 看起来 is primarily used in informal contexts, it can also appear in semi-formal writing, but be cautious about the tone.
Synonyms include 似乎 (sì hū, to seem) and 好像 (hǎo xiàng, to appear).
