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看得起 (kàn de qǐ) — to think highly of, to show respect for

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to think highly of' (someone) — usually in contrast with 看不上. Weaker than 看重 ('to value' in general) and 器重 (a superior regarding a subordinate as promising).

verb
to think highly ofto show respect for

Examples

  • ，看得起。
    Nǐ zhè yàng zuò, bié rén huì kàn de qǐ nǐ.
    If you do this, others will think highly of you.
  • ，看得起。
    Tā shì yí gè hěn yǒu néng lì de rén, dà jiā dōu kàn de qǐ tā.
    He is a very capable person; everyone respects him.
  • ，看得起？
    Rú guǒ zì jǐ bù nǔ lì, bié rén zěn me huì kàn de qǐ nǐ ne?
    If you don't work hard yourself, how can others think highly of you?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

看kànlook
得起able to rise
得déable起qǐrise
偏正Modifier + head

看 'look' plus 得起 'able to rise' suggests raising one's eyes, hence respect.

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.

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

Open 得 →

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.