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斜视 (xié shì) — to look sideways at; to glance sidelong (often with suspicion, disdain, or stealth)

Definition

Means to look sideways at someone — usually with suspicion, disdain, or stealth. It can also be a noun for the medical condition 'strabismus' (crossed/wandering eyes), but the verb sense is primary here.

verb
to look sideways atto glance sidelong (often with suspicion, disdain, or stealth)

Examples

  • 斜视，。
    Tā xié shì le wǒ yì yǎn, shén me yě méi shuō.
    He gave me a sidelong glance and said nothing.
  • 斜视。
    Tā tōu tōu de xié shì zhe nà ge mò shēng rén.
    She stealthily cast a sidelong glance at the stranger.
  • 斜视，。
    Bú yào zǒng shì xié shì bié rén, zhè yàng hěn bù lǐ mào.
    Don't always look askance at others; it's very impolite.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

斜xiésideways
视shìlook

斜 gives the sense “sideways,” and 视 gives the sense “look”; together they mean to look askance or cast a sidelong glance.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
斗斗dòuladle/dipper
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú斜xié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

斜 pairs 斗, a ladle or dipper, with 余 for sound; the idea of scooping or drawing out was extended to mean a slant.

Open 斜 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 視; 视 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
示
示shì視shì
Same sound today

The story is about the traditional form 視: it combines 見, meaning see, with 示, which gives the sound shì.

Open 视 →
Appears in
Senses

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