Definition
眼看 has two distinct uses: as an adverb it means 'soon, in a moment' (like 快 but with a sense of imminent, often unwelcome change); as a verb it means 'to watch helplessly as something happens' — a meaning that 快, 一会儿, and 即将 do not share. Unlike 目睹 (to witness neutrally), 眼看 implies the observer cannot intervene.
adverb
soonin a moment
verb
to look on helplesslyto watch (something happen) without being able to act
Examples
- 眼看，。yǎn kàn jiù yào xià yǔ le, wǒmen kuài zǒu ba.It's about to rain soon; let's go quickly.
- 眼看，。Tā zhǐ néng yǎn kàn zìjǐ zhòng de huā bèi yǔ dǎ huài, què háo wú bànfǎ.He could only watch helplessly as his own flowers were ruined by the rain, with no way to stop it.
- 眼看，。yǎn kàn huǒchē jiù yào kāi le, tā hái zài lù shàng dǔ zhe.The train is about to depart soon, but she's still stuck in traffic.
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