看不起

• Pinyin: kàn bù qǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 看 = 手 (hand) + 目 (eye) — shading eyes to look; 不 = negation; 起 = 走 (walk) + 己 (self) — to rise; together: unable to look up to

Meaning

To look down upon; to despise; to think little of. Expresses a dismissive or contemptuous attitude towards someone or something.

A resultative complement construction: 看 (to look at) + 不起 (unable to rise/measure up). Used to express that one regards another person as inferior or unworthy of respect. The opposite is 看得起 (to think highly of, to respect). Common in everyday and emotional contexts.

Examples

1. 你不能因为别人穷就看不起他们。 You can't look down on people just because they are poor.
2. 他觉得同事们都看不起他，心里很难受。 He felt that his colleagues all looked down on him, and he felt terrible inside.
3. 不要看不起自己，你有很多优点。 Don't look down on yourself — you have many strengths.

Usage Guide

Context: emotional expression, social relationships, everyday

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 我从不看不起任何人。(I never look down on anyone.)
• 别看不起他，他其实很有能力。(Don't underestimate him — he is actually very capable.)

Don't Say

• 我看不起这本书 (Don't use 看不起 for objects — for a book you dislike, say 我不喜欢这本书 or 这本书不好; 看不起 is reserved for people or groups)

Origin & History

A resultative complement: 看 (to view) + 不 (not) + 起 (to rise; to regard as worthy). The structure implies the person viewed cannot 'rise to' a level worthy of respect.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal