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看起来

HSK 3
  • Other

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

Subject看起来(很)Adjective/Verb phrase

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

看起来 is used to express a judgment or impression based on outward appearance, meaning "looks like" or "seems."

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

Use 看起来 when you want to make a comment or judgment based on what you see. It is similar to saying "looks like" or "appears to be" in English. This is a fixed phrase — 看 and 起来 cannot be separated. The judgment can be about a person, an object, or a situation.

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

  1. 他看起来很高兴。
    繁: 他看起來很高興。Tā kàn qǐlái hěn gāoxìng.

    He looks very happy.

  2. 这件衣服看起来很贵。
    繁: 這件衣服看起來很貴。Zhè jiàn yīfu kàn qǐlái hěn guì.

    This outfit looks very expensive.

  3. 今天看起来要下雨。
    繁: 今天看起來要下雨。Jīntiān kàn qǐlái yào xià yǔ.

    It looks like it's going to rain today.

  4. 这个问题看起来不简单。
    繁: 這個問題看起來不簡單。Zhège wèntí kàn qǐlái bù jiǎndān.

    This problem doesn't look straightforward.

  5. 你的计划看起来不错。
    繁: 你的計劃看起來不錯。Nǐ de jìhuà kàn qǐlái búcuò.

    Your plan looks pretty good.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong:他看上很高兴。
    Correct:他看起来很高兴。

    看起来 is a fixed phrase meaning "to appear" or "to seem"; 看上 cannot be used with this meaning.

  • Wrong:这个声音看起来很奇怪。
    Correct:这个声音听起来很奇怪。

    看起来 is used for judgments based on sight. For sound, use 听起来 (sounds like) instead.