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.
Contents
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
Subj. + 看起来 ⋯⋯
Examples
- 蛋糕 看起来 很 好吃 。This cake looks really tasty.
- 这 家 餐厅 看起来 不错。This restaurant looks good.
- 你 男朋友 看起来 很 成熟 。Your boyfriend seems very mature.
- 老板 看起来 有点 不 高兴 。The boss seems a little unhappy.
- 你们 看起来 差不多 高 。You two seem to be the same height.
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
看来 + Perspective
Examples
- 看来他不来了，都这么晚了。It seems he's not coming. It's already so late.
- 看来你玩得不高兴，怎么这么早就回来了？I guess you didn't have a good time. Is that why you came back so early?
- 现在看来，事情没那么糟。Now it looks like things aren't that bad.
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.
在 + Person + 看来 + Perspective
Examples
- 在我看来，不 会 花 钱 的 人 就 不 会 享受 生活。The way I see it, people who won't spend money aren't going to enjoy life.
- 在他看来，公司 大小 不重要，重要的是老板好不好。According to him, the size of the company isn't important. What's important is whether or not the boss is good.
Example Dialog
- A: 看来他不来了。 It seems he is not coming.
- B: 可能 是 这 件 衣服 显得我 很 苗条 。 It's probably these clothes that makes me seem that way.
