参看 (cān kàn) — see also; refer to; consult (a source for reference)

Definition

Written/formal 'see also; refer to' — typically used in books, footnotes, and academic writing to direct the reader to another passage, unlike everyday 看看 (casual 'take a look').

verb
see alsorefer toconsult (a source for reference)

Examples

  • 参看。
    Xiáng xì shuō míng qǐng cān kàn fù lù.
    Please see the appendix for detailed instructions.
  • ，参看。
    Guān yú zhè ge wèn tí, kě yǐ cān kàn xiāng guān wén xiàn.
    Regarding this issue, you can consult the relevant literature.
  • 参看，。
    cān kàn Dì sān zhāng, nà lǐ yǒu gèng duō lì zi.
    See Chapter 3 — there are more examples there.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

参cānconsult
看kànlook

“参” suggests consulting or examining, and “看” means looking; together they mean to look something up for reference.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 參; 参 is its simplified writing.

For simplified 参, the story belongs to traditional 參, which combines 晶 (stars), 光 (light), and 彡 (rays) to show the Three Stars; one reading takes 光 as a kneeling person looking up.

Open 参 →

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 →

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