放眼 (fàng yǎn) — to take a broad view (of); to scan widely | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

放眼 (fàngyǎn) is a formal written verb meaning to 'cast one's gaze widely' — used for sweeping, big-picture views (the future, the world), not casual looking around.

verb

to take a broad view (of)to scan widely

Examples

放眼，。
fàng yǎn Wèi lái, wǒ men yào nǔ lì fèn dòu.
Taking a broad view of the future, we must strive hard.
，。
Wǒ fàng le yí cì yǎn, biàn kàn dào le yuǎn chù de shān mài.
I took one broad look and immediately saw the distant mountains.
放眼，。
fàng yǎn Shì jiè, cái néng fā xiàn gèng duō jī huì.
By taking a broad view of the world, you can discover more opportunities.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

放fàngspread; extend

放 means to spread or extend, and 眼 is the eye; the image is spreading the eye's gaze widely.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

方攵放

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pūhand, action

Sound part声符shēngfú

方

方fāng放fàng

Same sound today

放 uses 方 for its sound and 攵, a hand/action part, to mark an action of release.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

目艮眼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

目目mùeye

Sound part声符shēngfú

艮

艮gèn眼yǎn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

眼 combines 目, which is an eye, with 艮, which gives the character's sound.

Appears in

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.