要看 / 得看 (it depends)

• Pinyin: yàokàn / děikàn
• Formation: 这/那 + 要看/得看 + Unclear Situation
• Hanzi breakdown: 要 = 覀 (west/cover) + 女 (woman), 看 = 手 (hand) + 目 (eye)

Meaning

The expressions 要看 and 得看 both mean 'it depends on' and are used to indicate that a decision or outcome hinges on an uncertain factor. They are typically followed by a clause describing the situation that needs to be assessed.

要看 and 得看 are largely interchangeable, though 得看 can sound slightly more emphatic or colloquial. Both are commonly preceded by 这 or 那 to reference the matter at hand: 这要看你怎么想 (this depends on how you think about it). The uncertain factor following 要看/得看 is usually expressed as an embedded question using structures like A不A, 有没有, 怎么样, or question words. This pattern is very useful in conversation for avoiding a direct yes or no answer. It can stand alone as a response: 那得看情况 (that depends on the situation).

Examples

1. 能不能去旅行，要看我有没有假期。 Whether we can travel depends on whether I have time off.
2. 这得看天气情况再决定。 This depends on the weather before we decide.
3. 去不去参加聚会，那要看我明天忙不忙。 Whether to go to the party depends on how busy I am tomorrow.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, everyday

Tone: non-committal

Do Say

• 买不买这辆车，要看价格合不合适。
• 这得看老板怎么说了。
• 晚上做什么菜，得看冰箱里有什么。

Don't Say

• 这个看要明天他来不来。(要看 is a fixed phrase — 要 must come directly before 看, not separated by other words) → 这个要看明天他来不来。
• 我们去不去要看。(要看 requires a following clause explaining the uncertain factor — do not end the sentence with 要看 alone) → 我们去不去要看天气怎么样。

Origin & History

要看 and 得看 use 看 (to look/see) in the sense of 'to examine' or 'to assess.' Combined with 要 (need to) or 得 (must), they mean 'it needs to be seen' — an indirect way of saying the answer is not yet determined and depends on further information.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal