冷眼旁观 (lěng yǎn páng guān) — to look on coldly; to observe from a detached,… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

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.

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.

冷眼

冷lěngcold眼yǎneye

偏正Modifier + head

旁观

旁pángside观guānwatch

偏正Modifier + head

冷眼 gives a detached gaze, and 旁观 means watching from the side.

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.

冫令冷

Meaning part形符xíngfú

冫Written in full as仌bīngice

Sound part声符shēngfú

令

令lìng冷lěng

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

冷 uses 冫, the ice form, with 令 as a sound part, to mean cold as ice.

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.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

方

方fāng旁páng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 旁, 方 is the lower part and gives the sound. The upper part is unclear and may have been part of the meaning.

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 觀; 观 is its simplified writing.

雚見觀

Meaning part形符xíngfú

見見jiànsee

Sound part声符shēngfú

雚

雚guàn觀guān

Same sound today

The traditional form 觀 uses 見 (see) for meaning and 雚 for sound.

Appears in

Attitudes & Opinions Idioms & Set Phrases

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