眼看

• Pinyin: yǎn kàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 眼 = 目 (eye) + 艮 (phonetic); 看 = 手 (hand) + 目 (eye) — shading eyes to see

Meaning

To watch helplessly; soon; about to; on the verge of. Emphasizes imminent occurrence or inability to intervene.

Functions as both a verb phrase meaning to watch something happen and an adverb meaning something is about to occur. Often carries a sense of urgency or helplessness — watching something unfold without being able to change it. Common in narratives describing approaching deadlines or crises.

Examples

1. 眼看截止日期就要到了，他还没完成报告，急得团团转。 With the deadline fast approaching and the report unfinished, he was spinning around anxiously.
2. 我眼看着机会从手边溜走，却什么都做不了。 I watched helplessly as the opportunity slipped through my fingers, unable to do anything.
3. 眼看天就要黑了，我们得加快脚步赶回去。 It's getting dark soon, we need to pick up the pace and head back.

Usage Guide

Context: narrative, daily conversation, urgency

Tone: urgent

Do Say

• 眼看就要下雨了，快跑！(It's about to rain, run!)
• 他眼看着房价涨上去了。(He watched helplessly as housing prices went up.)

Don't Say

• 我眼看电视。(眼看 doesn't mean simply watching — for TV use 看 or 看着)

Origin & History

Compound of 眼 (eye) and 看 (to see). Literally 'eyes seeing,' emphasizing direct witnessing of events, especially those one cannot control.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal