TongTong
Sign in

看穿 (kàn chuān) — to see through (a trick, deception, or someone's true intentions)

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to see through' a trick, lie, or someone's true intentions — it splits as 看不穿 in negation (e.g. 看不穿 = 'can't see through').

verb
to see through (a trick, deception, or someone's true intentions)

Examples

  • 看穿。
    Tā yì yǎn jiù kàn chuān le nà ge huǎng yán.
    He saw through that lie at a glance.
  • ，看穿。
    Nǐ de xīn si, wǒ zǎo jiù kàn chuān le.
    I saw through your intentions long ago.
  • ，。
    Zhè ge piàn jú tài qiǎo miào, yì bān rén gēn běn kàn bù chuān.
    This scam is so clever that ordinary people simply cannot see through it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

看kànsee
穿chuānthrough

看 see and 穿 through combine to mean see through something.

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.

穿 puts 穴 (cave) and 牙 (tooth) together to show passing through or penetrating.

Open 穿 →
Appears in
Thinking & Cognition

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.