注视

• Pinyin: zhù shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 注 = 氵(water) + 主 (master) — to concentrate; 视 = 礻(spirit) + 见 (see) — to look

Meaning

To gaze at; to watch intently; to stare. Looking at someone or something with focused, sustained attention.

Implies deliberate, concentrated looking. Can be used for both positive contexts (admiring gaze) and neutral ones (careful observation). More literary than 看.

Examples

1. 他深情地注视着她的眼睛。 He gazed affectionately into her eyes.
2. 观众们都注视着舞台上的表演。 The audience all watched the performance on stage intently.
3. 在注视对方的时候，要保持适当的眼神交流。 When gazing at someone, maintain appropriate eye contact.

Usage Guide

Context: literary, formal description

Tone: intense

Do Say

• 他默默地注视着窗外的风景。(He silently gazed at the scenery outside the window.)
• 全世界都在注视着这场比赛的结果。(The whole world is watching the outcome of this match.)

Don't Say

• 说'我注视一下手机' (Don't use 注视 for casual glancing — it implies intense, sustained attention; use 看一下 instead)

Origin & History

注 (to concentrate, to focus) + 视 (to look, to see). Together they mean to look with concentrated attention.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal