小看

xiǎokàn

verb HSK 7 #11,455

Meanings

1 to look down on
2 to underestimate
3 to belittle

Characters

Literally 'to see as small'

Examples

别小看他，他很有能力的。

Bié xiǎokàn tā, tā hěn yǒu nénglì de.

Don't underestimate him, he's very capable.

不要小看这个问题。

Bùyào xiǎokàn zhège wèntí.

Don't underestimate this problem.

他总被人小看。

Tā zǒng bèi rén xiǎokàn.

He is always looked down upon.

Tips

usage

小看 is colloquial and common. Similar to 看不起 (kànbuqǐ, despise) but 小看 focuses more on underestimating ability, while 看不起 is more about social contempt.

memory

See (看) someone as small (小) = underestimate them.

Stroke Order

小 xiǎo

看 kàn