拱手旁观

拱手旁觀

gǒngshǒu-pángguān

idiom

Meanings

1 to stand by with folded arms
2 to watch from the sidelines and do nothing

Characters

to clasp (hands)

Examples

HSK 4

面对同事的困难，他拱手旁观，让大家很失望。

Miànduì tóngshì de kùnnán, tā gǒngshǒupángguān, ràng dàjiā hěn shīwàng.

Faced with his colleague's difficulty, he just stood by, everyone was disappointed.

HSK 6

在这种关键时刻，我们绝不能拱手旁观。

Zài zhèzhǒng guānjiàn shíkè, wǒmen juébù néng gǒngshǒupángguān.

At a critical moment like this, we absolutely cannot stand idly by.

HSK 7-9

看着河里挣扎的人，路人却拱手旁观。

Kàn zhe hélǐ zhēngzhá de rén, lùrén què gǒngshǒupángguān.

Watching the person struggle in the river, passersby stood by doing nothing.

Tips

memory

拱手 = clasp hands in a salute (so they're occupied), 旁观 = watch from the side. Together: hands tucked in your sleeves while you watch, i.e. doing nothing. Near-synonym 袖手旁观 is more common.

Stroke Order

拱 gǒng

手 shǒu

旁 páng

观 guān