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看得起 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
看得起kàndeqǐto show respect forHSK 6, unknown, 30 strokes, rank #54136, Hard
看得起kàndeqǐto think highly ofHSK 6, unknown, 30 strokes, rank #54136, Hard
kàndeqǐ(kan4de5qi3)kan de qi T4
  1. 1to show respect for
  2. 2to think highly of
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March 24, 2026

看得起kàndeqǐ(kan4de5qi3)

看得起 (kàn de qǐ) means to show respect for someone or to think highly of them. It is often used in contexts where one person acknowledges the abilities, qualities, or status of another, indicating a sense of admiration or esteem.

Strokes30Frequency#54136DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, showing respect is paramount, especially towards elders or those in higher positions. The phrase reflects the collective nature of society, where interpersonal respect fosters harmony and relationships.

Memory Tip

Imagine looking up (看) at someone you admire and feeling uplifted (得起) by their presence. The character 看 resembles an eye looking up, while 得起 suggests being lifted up by someone’s qualities.

Meanings of 看得起

kàndeqǐ(kan4de5qi3)
1to show respect for
2to think highly of
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About 看得起

看得起Simplified
30Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

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AI Study Notes for 看得起

Quick Contrast

看得起 (kàndeqǐ) vs 看不起 (kàn bù qǐ) — use 看得起 when expressing respect, while 看不起 indicates disdain or contempt.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to use 看得起 in negative contexts, as it can imply condescension if misapplied. It is more formal than casual phrases and is often used in discussions about respect or status. A common collocation is '不看得起' which means to look down on someone.

HSK Study Tips

As this term is not included in HSK levels, focus on related terms like '尊重' (respect) and '欣赏' (appreciate) to deepen your understanding of respect in Chinese culture. Practicing these terms together can enhance your conversational skills in formal situations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 看得起 with 看不起, which means to look down on someone. Remember that 看得起 conveys respect, while 看不起 conveys disdain.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 看得起

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Component Characters

看kànto see
HSK 19 strokes目
View full entry
得destructural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc
HSK 211 strokes彳
View full entry
起qǐto rise
HSK 310 strokes走
View full entry

How to say to show respect for in Chinese

“to show respect for” in Chinese is看得起kàndeqǐ

看得起 (kàn de qǐ) means to show respect for someone or to think highly of them. It is often used in contexts where one person acknowledges the abilities, qualities, or status of another, indicating a sense of admiration or esteem.

When to use 看得起

Be careful not to use 看得起 in negative contexts, as it can imply condescension if misapplied. It is more formal than casual phrases and is often used in discussions about respect or status. A common collocation is '不看得起' which means to look down on someone.

看得起 or something close to it

看得起 (kàndeqǐ) vs 看不起 (kàn bù qǐ) — use 看得起 when expressing respect, while 看不起 indicates disdain or contempt.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 看得起 with 看不起, which means to look down on someone. Remember that 看得起 conveys respect, while 看不起 conveys disdain.

Write 看得起

看
得
起

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Frequently Asked Questions about 看得起

Yes, it is more formal and is often used in respectful discussions.

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