Comparing "xiande" and "kanqilai"

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.

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

Example Dialog

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

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 5上 (pp. 84) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 1477) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

HSK5