Difference between revisions of "Comparing "xiande" and "kanqilai""
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| − | Both 显得 (xiǎnde) and 看起来 ( | + | 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 pretty different. |
== 显得 emphasizes objectivity == | == 显得 emphasizes objectivity == | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 你 今天 <em>看起来</em> 很 高兴 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ jīntiān <em> | + | * 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> |
| − | * 这个 餐厅 <em>看起来</em> 不错，我们 可以 试试。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège cāntīng <em> | + | * 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 doesn't seem too bad, let's try it out.</span> |
| − | * 她 <em>看起来</em> 有 点 生气 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em> | + | * 她 <em>看起来</em> 有 点 生气 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>kànqilai</em> yǒu diǎn 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> | + | * 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 seems expensive to me.</span> |
| − | * 你 女朋友 <em>看起来</em> 像 我 的 中文 老师 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ nǚpéngyou <em> | + | * 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 seems like my Chinese teacher.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * A: 你 今天 <em>看起来</em> 很 苗条。<span class="pinyin">A: Nǐ jīntiān <em> | + | * A: 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 seem very slim today.</span> |
* B: 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 seem that way.</span> | * B: 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 seem that way.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 09:59, 10 November 2020
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
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 pretty different.
Contents
显得 emphasizes objectivity
显得 is used for objective descriptions and comparisons. Therefore, if you want to say that something is not very good, you can use 显得 to emphasize your objectiveness. It can be a "tactical" way to talk.
Structure
A + 显得 + B + Predicate
Examples
- 这样 穿 显得 我 比较 成熟 。Dressing like this makes me look more mature.
- 那样 吃 显得 你 很 没 礼貌 。 Eating like that makes you look not very polite.
- 这么 做 会 显得 你 很 小气 。 Doing it like this makes you seem stingy.
- 那样 说 显得 她 很 笨 。 Talking like that makes her look stupid.
- 这 种 颜色 的 衣服 显得 你 的 脸色 不 好看 。 This color of clothing doesn't go well with your complexion.
看起来 emphasize subjectivity
看起来 is the opposite in that it emphasizes subjectivity, paying close attention to how the observer feels.
Structure
Subj. + 看起来 + Predicate
Examples
- 你 今天 看起来 很 高兴 。 You seem very happy today.
- 这个 餐厅 看起来 不错，我们 可以 试试。 This restaurant doesn't seem too bad, let's try it out.
- 她 看起来 有 点 生气 。 She seems a little angry.
- 你 的 衣服 看起来 挺 贵 的 。 Your clothes seems expensive to me.
- 你 女朋友 看起来 像 我 的 中文 老师 。 Your girlfriend seems like my Chinese teacher.
Example Dialog
- A: 你 今天 看起来 很 苗条。You seem very slim today.
- 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.
Sources and further reading
Books
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 1477) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
