View source for Comparing "kanqilai" and "kanlai"

Both 看起来 (kànqǐlái) and 看来 (kànlái) have the meanings, "it looks like" and "to seem," but they have different usages. Whereas 看起来 indicates a reaction to a physical sight, 看来 expresses a user's understanding of a situation.

== 看起来 Describes a Physical Appearance ==

看起来 is used to describe physical appearances. In other words, one can use 看起来 to literally describe what something "looks like." 

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 看起来 ⋯⋯
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=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*蛋糕 <em>看起来</em> 很 好吃 。<span class="pinyin">Dàngāo <em>kànqǐlái</em> hěn hǎochī.</span><span class="trans">This cake looks really tasty.</span>
*这 家 餐厅 <em>看起来</em> 不错。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiā cāntīng <em>kànqǐlái</em> bùcuò.</span><span class="trans">This restaurant looks good.</span>
*你 男朋友 <em>看起来</em> 很 成熟 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ nánpéngyou <em>kànqǐlái</em> hěn chéngshú.</span><span class="trans">Your boyfriend seems very mature.</span>
*老板 <em>看起来</em> 有点 不 高兴 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>kànqǐlái</em> yǒudiǎn bù gāoxìng.</span><span class="trans">The boss seems a little unhappy.</span>
*你们 <em>看起来</em> 差不多 高 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>kànqǐlái</em> chàbuduō gāo.</span><span class="trans">You two seem to be the same height.</span>

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== 看来 When Assessing a Situation ==

看来 can be used by a speaker to indicate his/her understanding of a situation. Note that 看来 is used in a manner, such that the speaker isn't necessarily indicating the physical appearance of anything. Rather, 看来 employs more of an abstract reading for how a situation "seems like."

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
看来 + Perspective
</div>

===Examples===

<div class="liju">

* <em>看来</em>他不来了，都这么晚了。<span class="pinyin"> <em>Kànlái</em> tā bù láile, dōu zhème wǎnle.</span><span class="trans">It seems he's not coming. It's already so late.</span>
* <em>看来</em>你玩得不高兴，怎么这么早就回来了？<span class="trans">I guess you didn't have a good time. Is that why you came back so early?</span>
* 现在<em>看来</em>，事情没那么糟。<span class="trans">Now it looks like things aren't that bad.</span>

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== 看来 as "From X's Perspective" ==

看来 also holds the form of expressing one's perspective. A more literal translation would be "the way one sees it..." The full form is mainly used in formal writing and speaking.

<div class="jiegou">
在 + Person + 看来 + Perspective
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

* <em>在</em><strong>我</strong><em>看来</em>，不 会 花 钱 的 人 就 不 会 享受 生活。<span class="trans">The way I see it, people who won't spend money aren't going to enjoy life.</span>
* <em>在</em><strong>他</strong><em>看来</em>，公司 大小 不重要，重要的是老板好不好。<span class="trans">According to him, the size of the company isn't important. What's important is whether or not the boss is good.</span>

</div>

== Example Dialog ==

<div class="liju">
* A: <em>看来</em>他不来了。<span class="pinyin">A: <em>Kànlái</em> tā bù láile.</span><span class="trans"> It seems he is not coming.</span>
* B: 天气<em>看起来</em>不好。<em>在</em><strong>我</strong><em>看来</em>，他不会来因为会下雨。 <span class="pinyin">B: Tiānqì <em>kànqǐlái</em> bu hǎo. <em>Zài</em> <strong>wǒ</strong> <em>kànlái</em>, tā bù huì lái yīnwèi huì xià yǔ.</span><span class="trans"> The weather looks bad. The way I see it, he won't come because it will rain.</span>
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