望而生畏

wàng'érshēngwèi

idiom #63,395

Meanings

1 to feel intimidated at the very sight
2 to be daunting; forbidding
3 to inspire awe and fear from afar

Characters

to gaze; to look at

to produce; to give rise to

Examples

这本书厚得令人望而生畏。

Zhè běn shū hòu de lìng rén wàng ér shēng wèi.

This book is so thick it's daunting just to look at.

他严肃的表情让新员工望而生畏。

Tā yánsù de biǎoqíng ràng xīn yuángōng wàng ér shēng wèi.

His stern expression intimidates new employees the moment they see him.

陡峭的山路让许多游客望而生畏。

Dǒuqiào de shānlù ràng xǔduō yóukè wàng ér shēng wèi.

The steep mountain path makes many tourists balk at the very sight.

Tips

history

Roots in 《论语·尧曰》: a noble figure straightens his robes and gaze so that 'people see him and feel awe'. The modern four-character form crystallized later from this Analects passage.

grammar

Often takes 令人 (lìng rén) or 让人 (ràng rén) before it: 令人望而生畏 = 'makes one feel intimidated at first sight'. Also works directly: 这道题望而生畏 (this problem is daunting just to look at).

Stroke Order

望 wàng

而 ér

生 shēng

畏 wèi