看
kàn
To look, to watch, to read
How to say “it seems” in Chinese with 看起来 and 看来
看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (visual impression) / 看来 (kànlái) + Clause (inference)
看起来 (kàn qǐ lái) vs 看来 (kàn lái) — seem, look like
HSK 5Verbs
看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (visual impression) / 看来 (kànlái) + Clause (inference)
HSK 5Verbs看起来 (kàn qǐ lái) vs 看来 (kàn lái) — seem, look like
Rule structure
看起来 (kàn qǐlái) is based on direct observation (appearance). 看来 (kànlái) is based on reasoning or evidence (it seems, it appears).
Rule structure
看起来 (kàn qǐlái) is based on direct observation (appearance). 看来 (kànlái) is based on reasoning or evidence (it seems, it appears).
Examples
他看起来累了。 / 看来他不会来了。
Tā kàn qǐlái lèi le. / Kànlái tā bù huì lái le.
He looks tired. / It seems he won’t come.
Examples
他看起来累了。 / 看来他不会来了。
Tā kàn qǐlái lèi le. / Kànlái tā bù huì lái le.
He looks tired. / It seems he won’t come.
Practice
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say “seem, look like” in Chinese with 看起来 vs 看来?
Use the structure: 看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (visual impression) / 看来 (kànlái) + Clause (inference). For example: 他看起来累了。 / 看来他不会来了。 — “He looks tired. / It seems he won’t come”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
他看起来累了。 / 看来他不会来了。 — “He looks tired. / It seems he won’t come”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.
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More HSK 5 grammar rules
算 — counting as, considering
Subj. + 算 (suàn) + (是 (shì)) + Noun / Adj.
难怪 — hard to blame
这 (zhè) / 也 (yě) + 难怪 (nánguài) + Person
什么 — rhetorical disapproval
Verb + 什么 (shénme) + (Obj.) (rhetorical disapproval)
化 — making -ize/-ify verbs
Noun / Adj. + 化 (huà) → Verb (to -ize/-ify)
像 — comparing with “like”
A + 像 (xiàng) + B + 一样 (yíyàng) / 这么 (zhème) / 那么 (nàme) + Adj.
显得 vs 看起来 — looks vs seems
Subj. + 显得 (xiǎnde) + Adj. (shows quality) / Subj. + 看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (looks)
比起 — compared with
比起 (bǐqǐ) + B + (来 (lái)), A + 更 (gèng) / 比较 (bǐjiào) + Adj.
不如 — not as… as
A + 不如 (bùrú) + B + (那么 (nàme) + Adj.)