Expressing "it depends" with "kan"

Although there are a number of ways to express "it depends" in Chinese, the most common ones in spoken Chinese involve the verb 看 (kàn). Some common expressions include:

• 要看 (yào kàn)
• 得看 (děi kàn)

Both 得看 (děi kàn) and 要看 (yào kàn) mean "depends on." Literally, they both mean "have to look at," so the logic is not hard to understand. Both of them are informal spoken patterns. If you're looking for more formal language, consider 取决于 (qǔjué yú), "to be dependent on."

Used to Answer a Question

If you're answering a question with "it depends on..." then this is the pattern you want. It's a bit simpler than 取决于 (qǔjué yú).

Structure

这 / 那 + 要看 / 得看 + [Unclear Situation]

Examples

Keep in mind that the "answers" below are meant to be an answer to some imaginary question that we don't include.

• 这 得看 你 的 时间 。Zhè děi kàn nǐ de shíjiān.This depends on when you are available.
• 这 得看 天气 怎么样 。Zhè děi kàn tiānqì zěnmeyàng.It depends on how the weather is.
• 那 得看 考试 结果 。Nà děi kàn kǎoshì jiéguō.That depends on whether the result of the test.
• 那 要看 他 愿 不 愿意 。Nà yào kàn tā yuàn bu yuànyì.That depends on whether he feels like it or not.
• 那 要看 孩子 怎么 想 。Nà yào kàn háizi zěnme xiǎng.It depends on what the child thinks.

Used in a Full Sentence

Structure

If you're going to write a full sentence explaining what "it" depends on, then you're going to need to lead off with some kind of explanation of the "unknown outcome" of what "it depends" on. So you'll start with the "unknown outcome" in the first part of the sentence (before 要看 / 得看), and then end up with what "it depends on" (after 要看 / 得看).

[Unknown Outcome] + 要看 / 得看 + [Unclear Situation]

The "unknown outcome" normally includes some kind of question word, meaning something like "whether or not x happens" or "what x does," etc.

Examples

• 去 不 去 要看 他 的 心情 。 Qù bu qù yào kàn tā de xīnqíng.Whether he comes or not depends on his mood.
• 让 谁 去 得看 老板 的 态度 。Ràng shéi qù děi kàn lǎobǎn de tàidu.Who to send there depends on the boss' attitude.
• 能 不 能 留在 中国 要看 我 能 不 能 拿到 签证 。Néng bu néng liú zài Zhōngguó yào kàn wǒ néng bu néng nádào Qiānzhèng.Whether I can stay in China depends on whether or not I can get the visa.
• 产品 开发 要看 客户 的 需求 。Chǎnpǐn kāifā yào kàn kèhù de xūqiú.Product development depends on the needs of the clients.
• 什么 时候 给 你 升职 得看 你 的 业绩 。Shénme shíhou gěi nǐ shēngzhí děi kàn nǐ de yèjì.When to give you the promotion depends on your performance.

Sources and further reading

Books

• Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (p. 168)→buy