旁观

旁觀
pángguān
verb HSK 7 #13,215

Meanings

  1. 1 to look on
  2. 2 to watch from the sidelines
  3. 3 to be a bystander

Examples

Tā zhǐshì zhàn zài yī páng pángguān.
He just stood to the side and watched.
Pángguānzhě qīng, dāngjúzhě mí.
The bystander sees clearly; the one involved is confused.

Tips

culture
The proverb 旁观者当局 (the bystander sees clearly while the person involved is confused) is one of the most well-known Chinese sayings, emphasizing the value of an outside perspective.

Stroke Order

páng
guān