Meanings of 看起来
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 看起来
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
看上去 (kàn shàng qù) - use 看起来 (kàn qǐ lái) when emphasizing a subjective impression rather than just a visual observation.
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.
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.
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.
Pronunciation of 看起来
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.
Component Characters
How to say seemingly in Chinese
“seemingly” in Chinese is看起来
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.
When to use 看起来
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.
看起来 or something close to it
看上去 (kàn shàng qù) - use 看起来 (kàn qǐ lái) when emphasizing a subjective impression rather than just a visual observation.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 看起来
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.
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.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 看起来?
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.