看起来

• Pinyin: kàn qǐ lái
• Hanzi breakdown: 看 = 手 (hand) + 目 (eye), meaning to shield eyes and look; 起 = 走 (walk) + 己 (self); 来 = simplified from 來, pictograph of a wheat plant

Meaning

To look like; to appear; to seem. Used to express how something appears based on visual impression or overall feeling.

A complement structure combining 看 (look) with the directional complement 起来 (up/upon). It expresses a subjective judgement based on appearance. Can be used for people, objects, or situations. Often interchangeable with 看上去, though 看起来 is slightly more common in everyday speech.

Examples

1. 她今天看起来很高兴。 She looks very happy today.
2. 这道菜看起来非常好吃。 This dish looks really delicious.
3. 外面看起来快要下雨了。 It looks like it's about to rain outside.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, description

Tone: observational

Do Say

• 你看起来很累，早点休息吧。(You look tired — get some rest early.)
• 这件衣服看起来很适合你。(This outfit looks like it suits you well.)

Don't Say

• 这首歌看起来很好听。(Don't use 看起来 for sounds — use 听起来 for things perceived by hearing. Say 这首歌听起来很好听.)

Origin & History

Formed from 看 (to look) + 起来 (a verbal complement indicating the beginning of an action or an impression). The structure verb+起来 is a productive pattern in Chinese for expressing how something appears.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal