显得
xiǎn de
To appear, to seem, to look
How to say “looks” in Chinese with 显得 and 看起来
Subj. + 显得 (xiǎnde) + Adj. (shows quality) / Subj. + 看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (looks)
显得 (xiǎn dé) vs 看起来 (kàn qǐ lái) — looks vs seems
HSK 5Verbs
Subj. + 显得 (xiǎnde) + Adj. (shows quality) / Subj. + 看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (looks)
HSK 5Verbs显得 (xiǎn dé) vs 看起来 (kàn qǐ lái) — looks vs seems
Rule structure
显得 (xiǎnde) emphasizes that a certain quality is exhibited or comes across. 看起来 (kànqǐlái) is purely visual impression.
Rule structure
显得 (xiǎnde) emphasizes that a certain quality is exhibited or comes across. 看起来 (kànqǐlái) is purely visual impression.
Examples
她穿黑色显得很瘦。 / 她看起来很高兴。
Tā chuān hēisè xiǎnde hěn shòu. / Tā kàn qǐlái hěn gāoxìng.
She looks slimmer in black. / She looks happy.
Examples
她穿黑色显得很瘦。 / 她看起来很高兴。
Tā chuān hēisè xiǎnde hěn shòu. / Tā kàn qǐlái hěn gāoxìng.
She looks slimmer in black. / She looks happy.
Practice
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say “looks vs seems” in Chinese with 显得 vs 看起来?
Use the structure: Subj. + 显得 (xiǎnde) + Adj. (shows quality) / Subj. + 看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (looks). For example: 她穿黑色显得很瘦。 / 她看起来很高兴。 — “She looks slimmer in black. / She looks happy”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
她穿黑色显得很瘦。 / 她看起来很高兴。 — “She looks slimmer in black. / She looks happy”.
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.
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.)
看起来 vs 看来 — seem, look like
看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (visual impression) / 看来 (kànlái) + Clause (inference)