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看出 (kàn chū) — to make out, to discern, to perceive (after looking)

Definition

看出 means to figure something out by looking or noticing — not just 'see', but to discern or detect (a difference, intention, trick). Unlike 看, it implies reaching a conclusion from what is seen.

verb
to make outto discernto perceive (after looking)

Examples

  • 看出。
    Wǒ kàn chū le tā de xīn si.
    I saw through his thoughts.
  • 看出？
    Nǐ néng kàn chū zhè liǎng zhāng zhào piàn de qū bié ma?
    Can you make out the difference between these two photos?
  • 看出。
    Tā yì yǎn jiù kàn chū le nà ge piàn jú.
    He saw through that scam at a glance.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

看kànlook
出chūout

看 is to look and 出 indicates coming out, so the word means to see or discern.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 看 puts 手 (hand) over 目 (eye), showing a hand placed above the eyes to gaze into the distance.

Open 看 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →
Appears in
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