看样子 (kàn yàng zi) — it seems; it looks as if (based on observation) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A colloquial hedge meaning 'it seems / it looks as if', based on visible evidence or impression. Used at the start of a sentence to soften a guess, not a firm conclusion.

verb

it seemsit looks as if (based on observation)

Examples

看样子，。
kàn yàng zi, Tā jīn tiān xīn qíng bú tài hǎo.
It seems he's not in a very good mood today.
看样子，。
kàn yàng zi, Zhè chǎng yǔ yì shí bàn huì r tíng bù liǎo.
It looks as if this rain won't stop anytime soon.
看样子，。
kàn yàng zi, Tā men yǐ jīng zhǔn bèi hǎo chū fā le.
It seems they are already ready to set off.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

样子appearance

样yàngappearance子zǐ

后缀Suffix

“看” (look) and “样子” (appearance) combine to mean seeming.

Characters in this word

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

手手shǒuhand
目目mùeye

The shape 看 puts 手 (hand) over 目 (eye), showing a hand placed above the eyes to gaze into the distance.

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 樣; 样 is its simplified writing.

木羕樣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

羕

羕yàng樣yàng

Same sound today

For 样, the traditional form 樣 pairs 木 (wood) with 羕 as a sound part.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Appears in

Thinking & Cognition

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