看来
HSK 4- Modal verbs
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
看来 is used to introduce a judgment or conclusion based on what has been observed, equivalent to "it seems," "it looks like," or "apparently."
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
Use 看来 when you want to make a judgment or conclusion based on what you see or know. It is similar to saying "it seems" or "it looks like" in English. You observe a situation (e.g., the sky is very cloudy), then draw your own inference (e.g., it's about to rain).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 天阴了，看来要下雨了。繁: 天陰了，看來要下雨了。Tiān yīn le, kànlái yào xià yǔ le.
The sky has become overcast, and it looks like it's going to rain.
- 你脸色不好，看来没睡好。繁: 你臉色不好，看來沒睡好。Nǐ liǎnsè bù hǎo, kànlái méi shuì hǎo.
Your complexion looks bad; it seems you didn't sleep well.
- 商店关门了，看来今天不营业。繁: 商店關門了，看來今天不營業。Shāngdiàn guān mén le, kànlái jīntiān bù yíngyè.
The store is closed, so it seems it's not open for business today.
- 他一直在咳嗽，看来是感冒了。繁: 他一直在咳嗽，看來是感冒了。Tā yìzhí zài késou, kànlái shì gǎnmào le.
He has been coughing all along, and it seems he has caught a cold.
- 这次考试太难了，看来很多人会不及格。繁: 這次考試太難了，看來很多人會不及格。Zhè cì kǎoshì tài nán le, kànlái hěn duō rén huì bù jígé.
This exam is too difficult; it looks like many people will fail.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他生病了，看来。Correct:看来，他生病了。
看来 typically stands at the beginning of a sentence or clause to introduce a judgment, not at the end of a sentence.
- Wrong:看来会下雨吗？Correct:看来会下雨。
看来 is used to affirm a judgment and cannot be used in direct questions; it expresses the speaker's inference.