看不起

kànbuqǐ

verb HSK 4 #17,841

Meanings

Literally 'cannot look up at' — if you can't look up at someone, you look down on them.

Bùyào kànbuqǐ biérén.

Don't look down on others.

Tā cónglái bù kànbuqǐ qióngrén.

He never looks down on poor people.

Nǐ bù yīnggāi kànbuqǐ zìjǐ.

You shouldn't look down on yourself.

grammar

This is a resultative complement structure: 看 + 不 + 起. The positive form is 看得起 (kàndeqǐ, to think highly of).

usage

看不起 is a strong expression. For milder disapproval, use 不尊重 (bù zūnzhòng, to not respect).

看 kàn

不 bù

起 qǐ