Showing Perspective in Chinese 1

Grammar Point:
There are many ways to show perspective in Chinese. In this article, we are going to learn 看來来 kànlái. It’s similar to saying “it seems that” or “apparently” in English.

Structure

看來来 kànlái + Perspective

看來来 kànlái can be translated as “apparently” or “it seems” and is used by the speaker to introduce his understanding of a situation based on previous observation or experience.

看來kànlái他tā是shì個ge好人hǎorén看来kànlái他tā是shì个ge好人hǎorén
He seems to be a good person.
(As a listener, I would assume that the speaker knows the man in question and is judging his niceness based on his words and actions.)

看來kànlái明天míngtiān不會búhuì下雨xiàyǔ了le看来kànlái明天míngtiān不会búhuì下雨xiàyǔ了le
It doesn’t seem like it will rain tomorrow.

看來kànlái這次zhècì考試kǎoshì我wǒ又yòu失敗shībài了le看来kànlái这次zhècì考试kǎoshì我wǒ又yòu失败shībài了le
I’m pretty sure I failed this exam again.

看起來来 kànqǐlái VS 看來来 kànlái

看起來来 kǎnqǐlái and 看來来 kànlái are both Chinese phrases that can be used to express the speaker’s opinion or inference about a situation or circumstance, but there are some differences in their usage. 看起來来 kǎnqǐlái is used to express the speaker’s impression or observation of a situation or circumstance. It is often used to describe something that can be seen or observed, such as a person’s appearance, facial expression, or physical object.

看起來kànqǐlái他tā是shì個ge好人hǎorén看起来kànqǐlái他tā是shì个ge好人hǎorén
He looks like a good person.
(This judgment is based on appearance alone. I would assume that the speaker has never interacted with the man and knows nothing about him.)

這zhè些xiē蘋果pínguǒ看起來kànqǐlái非常fēicháng好吃hǎochī这zhè些xiē苹果píngguǒ看起来kànqǐlái非常fēicháng好吃hǎochī
These apples look very tasty.

她tā工作gōngzuò了le一天yìtiān， 看起來kànqǐlái有點yǒudiǎn累lèi她tā工作gōngzuò了le一天yìtiān， 看起来kànqǐlái有点儿yǒudiǎnr累lèi
She has worked all day and looks a little tired.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️Taiwan looks quite small, yet it’s home to 23 million people.

台灣Táiwān看起來kànqǐlái很hěn小xiǎo， 沒想到méixiǎngdào卻què住zhù了le2300 萬wàn人rén台湾Táiwān看起来kànqǐlái很hěn小xiǎo， 没想到méixiǎngdào却què住zhù了le2300 万wàn人rén

✔️ Really? It seems like I might find my significant other in Taiwan.

真的zhēnde嗎ma？ 看來kànlái我wǒ應該yīnggāi可以kěyǐ在zài台灣Táiwān找到zhǎodào我的wǒde另一半lìngyíbàn真的zhēnde吗ma？ 看来kànlái我wǒ应该yīnggāi可以kěyǐ在zài台湾Táiwān找到zhǎodào我的wǒde另一半lìngyíbàn

✔️ Why does your expression seem so annoying?

為什麼wèishénme你的nǐde表情biǎoqíng看起來kànqǐlái很hěn討人厭tǎorényàn为什么wèishénme你的nǐde表情biǎoqíng看起来kànqǐlái很hěn讨人厌tǎorényàn

• Showing Perspective With 在 zài···看來来 kànlái and 從从 cóng···來来看láikàn (HSK 5)