走着瞧 (zǒu zhe qiáo) — (set phrase) just wait and see; time will tell…

Definition

A colloquial set phrase meaning 'just wait and see' — used to challenge someone or express confident that the outcome will prove you right.

verb

(set phrase) just wait and seetime will tell (expressing confidence or challenge)

，走着瞧！
Nǐ děng zhe ba, wǒ men zǒu zhe qiáo!
You just wait, we'll see!
，走着瞧。
Xiàn zài bié dé yì, zǒu zhe qiáo jié guǒ shì shén me.
Don't get cocky now; just wait and see what the outcome is.
，走着瞧。
Tā shuō néng yíng, nà zán men jiù zǒu zhe qiáo.
He says he can win – well, let's just wait and see.

Characters in this word

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

The original shape showed a running man, with a foot added later.

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 著; 着 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艸艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

者

者zhě著zháo

Same sound today

The traditional form 著 puts 艸 (grass; plant) above 者, which gives the sound; the simplified 着 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

目焦瞧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

焦

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 目 is an eye, and the right part 焦 gives the character's sound.

Appears in