Meanings of 瞅
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About 瞅
Podcast: 瞅
Podcast: 瞅
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AI Study Notes for 瞅
瞧 (qiáo) - use 瞅 (chǒu) when implying a more casual or dialectal way of looking, while 瞧 (qiáo) can suggest a slightly more attentive or considerate observation.
Be mindful that 瞅 is more commonly used in certain dialects, so it may not be appropriate in formal writing. A common mistake is confusing it with 看 (kàn); remember, 瞅 conveys a more casual or dialectical nuance. It’s often used with objects of interest, e.g., 瞅一瞅 (chǒu yī chǒu) meaning 'take a look.'
Although 瞅 is not listed in the HSK levels, it shares similarities with the HSK 1 verb 看 (kàn), which means 'to see.' Students should focus on distinguishing between these two words in usage and context, particularly in conversational Mandarin.
Learners often confuse 瞅 with the more common 看 (kàn), leading to incorrect usage in conversation. For instance, saying '我瞅电视' (Wǒ chǒu diànshì) instead of '我看电视' (Wǒ kàn diànshì) can sound awkward.
Pronunciation of 瞅
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Etymology of 瞅
Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 秋 represents the sound. Simplified form of 矁.
eye
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 瞅
Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 秋 represents the sound. Simplified form of 矁.
- 1The meaning half目 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half秋 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 瞅? 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
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Decomposition of 瞅
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How to say to see, to look at, to gaze at in Chinese
“to see, to look at, to gaze at” in Chinese is瞅
The verb 瞅 (chǒu) means 'to see,' 'to look at,' or 'to gaze at.' It is often used in dialects and can imply a more casual or less formal way of looking at something compared to the standard verb 看 (kàn). In certain contexts, especially in spoken language, it conveys a sense of inspecting or observing with a particular interest.
When to use 瞅
Be mindful that 瞅 is more commonly used in certain dialects, so it may not be appropriate in formal writing. A common mistake is confusing it with 看 (kàn); remember, 瞅 conveys a more casual or dialectical nuance. It’s often used with objects of interest, e.g., 瞅一瞅 (chǒu yī chǒu) meaning 'take a look.'
瞅 or something close to it
瞧 (qiáo) - use 瞅 (chǒu) when implying a more casual or dialectal way of looking, while 瞧 (qiáo) can suggest a slightly more attentive or considerate observation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 瞅 with the more common 看 (kàn), leading to incorrect usage in conversation. For instance, saying '我瞅电视' (Wǒ chǒu diànshì) instead of '我看电视' (Wǒ kàn diànshì) can sound awkward.
Write 瞅
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Practice writing 瞅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 瞅
瞅 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 2 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.
Complete the Sentence
偷车贼都是些____准机会就下手的人。
Car thieves are opportunists.
Example Sentences for 瞅 (6)
Word Family of 瞅
Compound Meaning
What does 瞅 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瞅
While 瞅 is understood, it is more commonly found in dialects rather than standard Mandarin.
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