冷眼旁观 (lěng yǎn páng guān) — to look on coldly; to observe from a detached, critical perspective; to stay aloof
Definition
A formal set phrase meaning to watch from the sidelines with cold detachment — implies disapproval but choosing not to intervene. Often paired with 我们不应该 ∼, 应该… to urge action.
idiom
to look on coldlyto observe from a detachedcritical perspectiveto stay aloof
Examples
- ，冷眼旁观。Bié rén dōu zài bāng máng, tā què zhàn zài yì páng lěng yǎn páng guān.Everyone else was helping, but he just stood by and looked on coldly.
- ，冷眼旁观。Duì yú zhè chǎng zhēng lùn, tā yì zhí cǎi qǔ lěng yǎn páng guān de tài dù.He has maintained a detached, critical attitude toward this debate.
- 冷眼旁观，。Wǒ men bú yīng gāi lěng yǎn páng guān, ér yīng gāi shēn chū yuán shǒu.We shouldn't just look on coldly; we should lend a helping hand.
Appears in
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