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看上去 (kàn shang qu) — to seem, to appear (based on appearance or observation)

Definition

A colloquial ‘seems / appears’ based on how something looks from the outside. Often used with 从... (from some perspective) to introduce an impression.

verb
to seemto appear (based on appearance or observation)

Examples

  • 看上去，。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu kàn shang qu hěn guì, qí shí hěn pián yi.
    This piece of clothing looks expensive, but actually it's very cheap.
  • 看上去，。
    Tā kàn shang qu bú tài gāo xìng, wǒ men bié dǎ rǎo tā.
    He seems not very happy — let's not disturb him.
  • 看上去，。
    Cóng wài miàn kàn shang qu, zhè dòng lóu yǐ jīng hěn jiǔ méi rén zhù le.
    From the outside, this building looks like no one has lived in it for a long time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

看kànlook
上去upward away
上shàngup去qùaway
联合Coordinate

看 means to look; 上 and 去 trace the eye moving upward and away, so 看上去 means how something appears when observed.

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 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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

去 pairs 大, a man, with 口, a mouth or object. The evidence reads this as a man leaving a place, a man opening his mouth, or a cover over an object.

Open 去 →
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