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March 24, 2026
睹dǔ(du3)
The character 睹 (dǔ) means 'to observe' or 'to see.' It is often used in contexts where careful or attentive observation is required, such as watching a performance or examining details. This character has a slightly literary or formal tone compared to more common terms for seeing.
Strokes13Radical目Frequency#21579DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of observing can hold significant importance in various contexts, such as traditional practices of meditation or in the appreciation of art, where careful observation is valued for deeper understanding.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person peering through a keyhole to observe something secretive. The radical '目' (eye) suggests seeing, while '土' (earth) can remind you of looking at something grounded and real. Together, they form the idea of careful observation.
Meanings of 睹
dǔ(du3)
1to observe
2to see
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 睹
睹Simplified
13Strokes
目Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#21579Frequency Rank
Podcast: 睹
Podcast: 睹
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AI Study Notes for 睹
Quick Contrast
看 (kàn) vs 见 (jiàn) — use 睹 for a more literary or formal context of observing, whereas 看 is more casual and common, and 见 implies simply seeing without the nuance of observation.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 睹 with simpler characters like 看 (kàn), which means 'to look' in a more casual sense. 睹 is more formal and might be used in written language or literature. It often collocates with other words that imply scrutiny or analysis, such as '观察' (guānchá) meaning 'to observe.'
HSK Study Tips
While 睹 is not included in HSK levels, learners should connect it with related verbs of perception, such as 看 (kàn) and 见 (jiàn). Focus on the nuances of observation that 睹 implies, which may enhance your understanding of context in advanced vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 睹 in casual contexts where 看 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我睹电影' (wǒ dǔ diànyǐng) instead of '我看电影' (wǒ kàn diànyǐng) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 睹
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Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 者 represents the sound. Simplified form of 覩.
1The meaning half目 carries the sense.
2The sound half者 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayeye
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 睹? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 睹?
Decomposition of 睹
IDS Structure⿰目者
睹Full Character
=
目mu4
left
者zhe3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 睹?
How to say to observe in Chinese
“to observe” in Chinese is睹dǔ
The character 睹 (dǔ) means 'to observe' or 'to see.' It is often used in contexts where careful or attentive observation is required, such as watching a performance or examining details. This character has a slightly literary or formal tone compared to more common terms for seeing.
When to use 睹
Be cautious not to confuse 睹 with simpler characters like 看 (kàn), which means 'to look' in a more casual sense. 睹 is more formal and might be used in written language or literature. It often collocates with other words that imply scrutiny or analysis, such as '观察' (guānchá) meaning 'to observe.'
睹 or something close to it
看 (kàn) vs 见 (jiàn) — use 睹 for a more literary or formal context of observing, whereas 看 is more casual and common, and 见 implies simply seeing without the nuance of observation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 睹 in casual contexts where 看 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我睹电影' (wǒ dǔ diànyǐng) instead of '我看电影' (wǒ kàn diànyǐng) is incorrect.
Write 睹
睹
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Grammar Patterns of 睹
睹 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
我们目____了一家人正在收拾家当准备离开的凄惨景象。
We encountered the pathetic sight of a family packing up its home.
Example Sentences for 睹 (8)
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1
我们目睹了一家人正在收拾家当准备离开的凄惨景象。
wǒ mén mù dǔ le yī jiā rén zhèng zài shōu shí jiā dāng zhǔn bèi lí kāi de qī cǎn jǐng xiàng。
We encountered the pathetic sight of a family packing up its home.
2
这一描述似乎与我们目睹的情况不符。
zhè yī miáo shù sì hū yǔ wǒ mén mù dǔ de qíng kuàng bù fú。
This description didn't seem to tally with what we saw.
3
他觉得在目睹行刑前还要上酒让人很不舒服。
tā jué dé zài mù dǔ háng xíng qián huán yào shàng jiǔ ràng rén hěn bù shū fú。
He found it distasteful to be offered drinks before witnessing the execution.
4
他所目睹的那一幕永久性地影响了他的神智。
tā suǒ mù dǔ de nà yī mù yǒng jiǔ xìng dì yǐng xiǎng le tā de shén zhì。
His reason had been permanently affected by what he had witnessed.
