p8nda
p8nda BETA
Home Dictionary Translate Flashcards Sign in

看不起

kànbuqǐ
verb HSK 4 #17,841

Meanings

  1. 1 to look down upon
  2. 2 to despise
  3. 3 to hold in contempt

Characters

看
kàn
to look; to see
不
bu
not
起
qǐ
to rise; up
Literally 'cannot look up at'. If you can't look up at someone, you look down on them.

Examples

不要看不起别人。
Bùyào kànbuqǐ biérén.
Don't look down on others.
他从来不看不起穷人。
Tā cónglái bù kànbuqǐ qióngrén.
He never looks down on poor people.
你不应该看不起自己。
Nǐ bù yīnggāi kànbuqǐ zìjǐ.
You shouldn't look down on yourself.

Tips

grammar
This is a resultative complement structure: 看 + 不 + 起. The positive form is 看得起 (to think highly of).
usage
看不起 is a strong expression. For milder disapproval, use 不尊重 (to not respect).

Stroke Order

看 kàn
不 bù
起 qǐ