Meanings of 觑
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About 觑
Podcast: 觑
Podcast: 觑
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AI Study Notes for 觑
窥 (kuī) - 觑 (qù) emphasizes a more stealthy or secretive observation, while 窥 (kuī) can imply simply looking in or peering without the same nuance of stealth.
Be careful not to confuse 觑 with similar-sounding words; it is typically more informal and carries a slightly negative connotation. Common collocations include 觑视 (qùshì, to spy on) and 觑探 (qùtàn, to observe secretly).
Although 觑 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for learners interested in nuanced verbs. Focus on the context in which this verb is used, especially in literature or informal conversation.
Learners often confuse 觑 with 视 (shì), which means to see or to look, leading to sentences like '我想要视他' (I want to see him), which should be corrected to '我想要觑他' (I want to spy on him).
Pronunciation of 觑
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Etymology of 觑
see
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 觑
- 1The meaning half见 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half虚 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 觑? 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 觑
Identify the Components
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How to say to peep, to watch, to spy on in Chinese
“to peep, to watch, to spy on” in Chinese is觑
The character 觑 (qù) refers to the act of peeping or spying, often connoting a sense of stealth or secrecy. It can be used in contexts where someone is watching something or someone without their knowledge, often for the purpose of gathering information or observing discreetly.
When to use 觑
Be careful not to confuse 觑 with similar-sounding words; it is typically more informal and carries a slightly negative connotation. Common collocations include 觑视 (qùshì, to spy on) and 觑探 (qùtàn, to observe secretly).
觑 or something close to it
窥 (kuī) - 觑 (qù) emphasizes a more stealthy or secretive observation, while 窥 (kuī) can imply simply looking in or peering without the same nuance of stealth.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 觑 with 视 (shì), which means to see or to look, leading to sentences like '我想要视他' (I want to see him), which should be corrected to '我想要觑他' (I want to spy on him).
Write 觑
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Practice writing 觑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 觑
觑 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 3 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
那名男子____了他一眼。
The man squinted up at him.
Example Sentences for 觑 (3)
Reorder the Sentence
The man squinted up at him.
Word Family of 觑
Compound Meaning
What does 小觑 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 觑
No, 觑 is generally used in informal contexts and may not be appropriate for formal writing.
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