看不起

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

含义

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.

例句

1. 你不能因为别人穷就看不起他们。
2. 他觉得同事们都看不起他，心里很难受。
3. 不要看不起自己，你有很多优点。

用法指南

语境: emotional expression, social relationships, everyday

语气: critical

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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)

起源与历史

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.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal