Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
看似 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
看似kànsìto look as ifHSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #10689, Hard
看似kànsìto seemHSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #10689, Hard
kànsì(kan4si4) T4
  1. 1to look as if
  2. 2to seem
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

看似kànsì(kan4si4)

看似 means 'to look as if' or 'to seem' in Mandarin. It is often used to express an appearance or impression that may not reflect the underlying reality. Commonly used in both spoken and written language, it can introduce a contrast between perception and truth.

Strokes15Frequency#10689DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The concept of appearance versus reality is significant in Chinese literature and philosophy, often explored in classical works like 'Zhuangzi', where perception can be deceptive. This reflects a broader cultural value placed on understanding deeper truths beyond surface appearances.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pair of glasses that helps you see things as they appear (看) and another that reveals the truth behind them (似). When you wear these glasses, you first see what something看 (kàn) looks like, and then you realize似 (sì) it may not be what it seems.

Meanings of 看似

kànsì(kan4si4)
1to look as if
2to seem
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 看似

看似Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 看似

JasonAmy

Podcast: 看似

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 看似

Quick Contrast

似乎 (sìhū) vs 看起来 (kàn qǐlái) — use 看似 when emphasizing a deceptive appearance rather than just a general impression.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 看似 with other similar expressions like 似乎 (sìhū), which means 'it seems' but is often less direct. This phrase is more formal and suitable for written contexts, while 似乎 is more informal. Pay attention to tonal pronunciation: 看 (kàn) is the fourth tone and 似 (sì) is also the fourth tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 看似 is not explicitly listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other descriptive phrases at HSK levels 3 and 4. Students should focus on using 看 (to see) and 似 (to resemble) in various contexts to enhance their understanding of appearance versus reality.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce the tones, saying 'kan si' instead of 'kàn sì'. Additionally, some might confuse it with the phrase 看起来 (kàn qǐlái), which means 'to look like,' leading to incorrect usage in expressing seeming or appearing.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 看似

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 看似 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

看kànto see
HSK 19 strokes目
View full entry
似shìresembling, similar to; as if, to seem
6 strokes亻
View full entry

How to say to look as if in Chinese

“to look as if” in Chinese is看似kànsì

看似 means 'to look as if' or 'to seem' in Mandarin. It is often used to express an appearance or impression that may not reflect the underlying reality. Commonly used in both spoken and written language, it can introduce a contrast between perception and truth.

When to use 看似

Be careful not to confuse 看似 with other similar expressions like 似乎 (sìhū), which means 'it seems' but is often less direct. This phrase is more formal and suitable for written contexts, while 似乎 is more informal. Pay attention to tonal pronunciation: 看 (kàn) is the fourth tone and 似 (sì) is also the fourth tone.

看似 or something close to it

似乎 (sìhū) vs 看起来 (kàn qǐlái) — use 看似 when emphasizing a deceptive appearance rather than just a general impression.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce the tones, saying 'kan si' instead of 'kàn sì'. Additionally, some might confuse it with the phrase 看起来 (kàn qǐlái), which means 'to look like,' leading to incorrect usage in expressing seeming or appearing.

Write 看似

看
似

Practice writing 看似 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 看似

Yes, while it's more formal, you can use 看似 in conversations to express how something appears.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 看似?

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.