东张西望

• 拼音: dōng zhāng xī wàng
• 汉字拆解: 东 = 木 + 日 (east); 张 = 弓 + 长 (to stretch/gaze); 西 = 覀 (west); 望 = 亡 + 月 + 王 (to look into the distance)

含义

To look around in all directions; to gaze about furtively or curiously. Describes someone who keeps turning their head to look here and there, often suggesting distraction, nervousness, or suspicion.

Typically carries a slightly negative connotation — implying a person is not paying proper attention, is anxious, or is behaving suspiciously. Also used literally to describe someone unfamiliar with a place who looks around out of curiosity or disorientation.

例句

1. 考试期间，监考老师发现他东张西望，立刻上前给予警告。
2. 她在陌生街道上东张西望，显然是第一次来这个地方。
3. 他东张西望了好一阵，才鼓起勇气走进那家店。

用法指南

语境: behaviour, social observation, colloquial

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 他进入考场后便开始东张西望，令监考人员产生了怀疑。(He started looking around in all directions after entering the exam hall, arousing the suspicion of the invigilators.)
• 初到异乡的她东张西望，对周围的一切都充满了好奇与新鲜感。(Newly arrived in a foreign land, she looked about in all directions, full of curiosity and wonder at everything around her.)

错误说法

• 他东张西望地读书 — contradictory; 东张西望 implies being unfocused and distracted, which is incompatible with attentive reading

起源与历史

东 (east) + 张 (to gaze/stretch) + 西 (west) + 望 (to look into the distance) — looking east and west, glancing about in all directions

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal