看上去 (kàn shangqu) · to look

看上去 (kàn shangqu) means “to look; to seem; it appears”. It is written with 3 characters: 看 (to look) + 上 (on) + 去 (to go). It is an HSK 3 word in the 2021 standard.

How 看上去 is built

The characters

看 kàn · to look

What 看 is made of

手shǒu — hand
目mù — eye
- 口kǒu — mouth
  - 冂 — frame
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
- 二 — two strokes
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
  - 一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: Shielding one's eyes 目 with a hand 手 to look to the distance (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

上 shàng · on

What 上 is made of

⺊ — structural part
- 丨 — vertical stroke
一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: One stroke on top of another; compare 下 (below) (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

去 qù · to go

What 去 is made of

土tǔ — earth
- 十 — ten
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
  - 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
厶sī — private

Example sentences

他看上去有点儿累。Tā kàn shangqu yǒudiǎnr lèi.He looks a little tired.

这件衣服看上去很贵。Zhè jiàn yīfu kàn shangqu hěn guì.This piece of clothing looks expensive.

Questions about 看上去

What does 看上去 mean?

看上去 (kàn shangqu) means “to look; to seem; it appears”.

How do you pronounce 看上去?

看上去 is pronounced kàn shangqu.

Which HSK level is 看上去?

看上去 is in HSK 3 (2021).

Related words

Learn 看上去 with its group

It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 20: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

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