看作

• Pinyin: kàn zuò
• Hanzi breakdown: 看 = 手 + 目, to look; 作 = 亻+ 乍, to do/act as

Meaning

To regard as; to consider; to view as. Treating or perceiving something/someone in a particular way.

Similar to 看成 and 当作. Used when one thing is perceived or treated as another. Common pattern: A把B看作C (A regards B as C). Often used for relationships, classifications, or interpretations.

Examples

1. 她一直把我看作亲弟弟，关心得不得了。 She has always regarded me as her own younger brother and cares about me tremendously.
2. 不能把工作看作生活的全部，也要有自己的爱好。 You shouldn't view work as everything in life; you should also have your own hobbies.
3. 这部小说被看作当代文学的经典之作。 This novel is regarded as a classic of contemporary literature.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, evaluation, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 我把他看作我最好的朋友。(I regard him as my best friend.)
• 这被看作是一种荣誉。(This is considered an honor.)

Don't Say

• 混淆看作和看做 (Both are correct; 看作 is more common in written language, 看做 in spoken)

Origin & History

Compound of 看 (to look/view) + 作 (as, to act as). Together meaning 'to view as' or 'regard as.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal