看起来像
kàn qǐlái xiàng
The English phrase "looks like" is translated into Chinese as 看起来像 (kàn qǐlái xiàng).
The phrase 看起来像 is used to express a visual resemblance to a person, an object or a specific noun.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 看 (to look), 起来 (a directional complement indicating a state or appearance) and 像 (to be like or resemble).
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to say that something "looks [adjective]" (for example, "looks happy") instead of "looks like [noun]", you should drop the 像 and use an adjective instead.
How do you pronounce it?
kàn qǐlái xiàng
Did you know?
- The character 像 also means 'statue' or 'portrait' in Chinese, reflecting the idea that a statue is the ultimate version of something that 'looks like' the subject.
- The directional complement 起来 in this phrase doesn't mean 'getting up' or 'rising', but instead signals that the speaker is forming an impression based on initial observation.
- Using 看起来 without 像 shifts the meaning from a physical likeness to a personal judgment or an intuitive feeling about a situation.
Examples in context
- 她看起来像老师。She looks like a teacher.This sentence is useful for showing how to say someone looks like a specific profession using 看起来像.Tatoeba #8686303 by crescat, translation #313257 by CK
- 他的鼻子看起来像土豆。His nose looks like a potato.This sentence is useful for describing how a body part looks like a specific object using 看起来像.Tatoeba #1788118 by sadhen, translation #7779309 by sharris123
- 那朵云看起来像汤姆·杰克逊。That cloud looks like Tom Jackson.This sentence is useful for describing how a natural object looks like a specific person using 看起来像.Tatoeba #10083942 by ColawithIce, translation #10083933 by maaster
- 这个方案看起来很有希望。This plan looks very promising.
- 这家餐厅的装修好像我以前去过的地方。The interior design of this restaurant looks like a place I've been to before.
- 这个地方像是电影里的场景。This place looks like a scene from a movie.
- 这件外套跟你的很像。This coat looks like yours.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zhiqiang and Xiaowen are looking at a puppy.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这只小狗看起来像个球。Zhè zhī xiǎo gǒu kàn qǐ lái xiàng gè qiú.This puppy looks like a ball.
- 志强 Zhiqiang真的，它太圆了。Zhēn de, tā tài yuán le.True, it is too round.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen它还看起来像个棉花糖。Tā hái kàn qǐ lái xiàng gè miánhuātáng.It also looks like a marshmallow.
- 志强 Zhiqiang太可爱了，晓雯。Tài kě'ài le, Xiǎowén.It's so cute, Xiaowen.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
