Difference between revisions of "Comparing "xiande" and "kanqilai""

 
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Both 显得 (xiǎnde) and 看起来 (kànqǐlái) have meanings in English like "to appear to be" or "seems like," but their connotations are subtly different.
  
Both 显得 (xiǎnde) and 看起来 (kànqilai) have meanings in English like "to appear to be" or "seems like," but their connotations are subtly different.
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== 显得 Emphasizes Objectivity ==
 
 
== 显得 emphasizes objectivity ==
 
  
 
显得 is used for objective descriptions and comparisons. Use it when you want to say that something "appears" a certain way without emphasizing that it's just your own viewpoint.
 
显得 is used for objective descriptions and comparisons. Use it when you want to say that something "appears" a certain way without emphasizing that it's just your own viewpoint.
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== 看起来 emphasize subjectivity ==
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== 看起来 Emphasizes Subjectivity ==
  
 
看起来 is the opposite of 显得 in that it emphasizes subjectivity, emphasizing how the observer feels.  
 
看起来 is the opposite of 显得 in that it emphasizes subjectivity, emphasizing how the observer feels.  
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* 你 今天 <em>看起来</em> 很 高兴 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ jīntiān <em>kànqilai</em> hěn gāoxìng.</span><span class="trans">You seem very happy today.</span>
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* 你 今天 <em>看起来</em> 很 高兴 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ jīntiān <em>kànqǐlái</em> hěn gāoxìng.</span><span class="trans">You seem very happy today.</span>
* 这个 餐厅 <em>看起来</em> 不错,我们 可以 试试。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège cāntīng <em>kànqilai</em> bùcuò, wǒmen kěyǐ shìshi.</span><span class="trans">This restaurant seems pretty good. Let's try it out.</span>
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* 这个 餐厅 <em>看起来</em> 不错,我们 可以 试试。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège cāntīng <em>kànqǐlái</em> bùcuò, wǒmen kěyǐ shìshi.</span><span class="trans">This restaurant seems pretty good. Let's try it out.</span>
* 她 <em>看起来</em> 有点 生气 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>kànqilai</em> yǒudiǎn shēngqì.</span><span class="trans">She seems a little angry.</span>
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* 她 <em>看起来</em> 有点 生气 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>kànqǐlái</em> yǒudiǎn shēngqì.</span><span class="trans">She seems a little angry.</span>
* 你的 衣服 <em>看起来</em> 挺 贵 的 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ de yīfu <em>kànqilai</em> tǐng guì de.</span><span class="trans">Your clothes look quote expensive.</span>
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* 你的 衣服 <em>看起来</em> 挺 贵 的 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ de yīfu <em>kànqǐlái</em> tǐng guì de.</span><span class="trans">Your clothes look quote expensive.</span>
* 你 女朋友 <em>看起来</em> 像 我 的 中文 老师 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ nǚpéngyou <em>kànqilai</em> xiàng wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī.</span><span class="trans">Your girlfriend looks like my Chinese teacher.</span>
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* 你 女朋友 <em>看起来</em> 像 我 的 中文 老师 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ nǚpéngyou <em>kànqǐlái</em> xiàng wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī.</span><span class="trans">Your girlfriend looks like my Chinese teacher.</span>
 
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<ul class="dialog">
 
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 今天 <em>看起来</em> 很 苗条。<span class="pinyin">A: Nǐ jīntiān <em>kànqilai</em> hěn miáotiáo.</span><span class="trans">You look very slim today.</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 今天 <em>看起来</em> 很 苗条。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jīntiān <em>kànqǐlái</em> hěn miáotiao.</span><span class="trans">You look very slim today.</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>可能 是 这 件 衣服 <em>显得</em>我 很 苗条 。 <span class="pinyin">B: Kěnéng shì zhè jiàn yīfu <em>xiǎnde</em> wǒ hěn miáotiáo.</span><span class="trans">It's probably these clothes that makes me appear that way.</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>可能 是 这 件 衣服 <em>显得</em>我 很 苗条 。 <span class="pinyin">Kěnéng shì zhè jiàn yīfu <em>xiǎnde</em> wǒ hěn miáotiao.</span><span class="trans">It's probably these clothes that makes me appear that way.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
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Latest revision as of 14:54, 14 January 2021

Both 显得 (xiǎnde) and 看起来 (kànqǐlái) have meanings in English like "to appear to be" or "seems like," but their connotations are subtly different.

显得 Emphasizes Objectivity

显得 is used for objective descriptions and comparisons. Use it when you want to say that something "appears" a certain way without emphasizing that it's just your own viewpoint.

Structure

A + 显得 + B + Predicate

Examples

  • 这样 穿 显得 我 比较 成熟 。Zhèyàng chuān xiǎnde wǒ bǐjiào chéngshú.Dressing like this makes me appear more mature.
  • 那样 吃 显得 你 很 没 礼貌 。 Nàyàng chī xiǎnde nǐ hěn méi lǐmào.Eating like that makes you look very impolite.
  • 这么 做 会 显得 你 很 小气 。 Zhème zuò huì xiǎnde nǐ hěn xiǎoqì.Doing this makes you appear stingy.
  • 那样 说 显得 她 很 笨 。 Nàyàng shuō xiǎnde tā hěn bèn.Saying that made her appear stupid.
  • 这 种 颜色 的 衣服 显得 你 的 脸色 不 好看 。 Zhè zhǒng yánsè de yīfu xiǎnde nǐ de liǎnsè bù hǎokàn.This color of clothing doesn't go well with your complexion.

看起来 Emphasizes Subjectivity

看起来 is the opposite of 显得 in that it emphasizes subjectivity, emphasizing how the observer feels.

Structure

Subj. + 看起来 + Predicate

Examples

  • 你 今天 看起来 很 高兴 。 Nǐ jīntiān kànqǐlái hěn gāoxìng.You seem very happy today.
  • 这个 餐厅 看起来 不错,我们 可以 试试。 Zhège cāntīng kànqǐlái bùcuò, wǒmen kěyǐ shìshi.This restaurant seems pretty good. Let's try it out.
  • 看起来 有点 生气 。 kànqǐlái yǒudiǎn shēngqì.She seems a little angry.
  • 你的 衣服 看起来 挺 贵 的 。 Nǐ de yīfu kànqǐlái tǐng guì de.Your clothes look quote expensive.
  • 你 女朋友 看起来 像 我 的 中文 老师 。 Nǐ nǚpéngyou kànqǐlái xiàng wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī.Your girlfriend looks like my Chinese teacher.

Example Dialog

  • A:你 今天 看起来 很 苗条。Nǐ jīntiān kànqǐlái hěn miáotiao.You look very slim today.
  • B:可能 是 这 件 衣服 显得我 很 苗条 。 Kěnéng shì zhè jiàn yīfu xiǎnde wǒ hěn miáotiao.It's probably these clothes that makes me appear that way.

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries

HSK5