觑 (qù) · to peek, to spy, to look at stealthily

Meanings

1 to peek
2 to spy
3 to look at stealthily

Characters

觑

qù

to peek; to spy; to look stealthily

Examples

HSK 5

这个对手的实力不可小觑。

Zhège duìshǒu de shílì bùkě xiǎoqù.

This opponent's strength must not be underestimated.

HSK 7-9

他从门缝里觑了一眼，看外面是谁。

Tā cóng ménfèng lǐ qù le yìyǎn, kàn wàimiàn shì shéi.

He peeked through the crack in the door to see who was outside.

Tips

usage

觑 is best known in 小觑 ('to look down on, to underestimate'), nearly always negated as 不可小觑 ('not to be underestimated').

Components

radical

见 jiàn

to see

见 ('to see') on the right is the meaning-bearing radical, making clear that 觑 is an act of looking.

phonetic

虚 xū

empty; void

虚 ('empty') on the left is the phonetic; the reading has shifted from xū to qù. A faint hook: an 'empty', furtive glance.

Stroke Order

觑 qù

Related Words

面面相觑 miànmiàn-xiāngqù #54,286

to look at each other in dismay / to exchange bewildered glances

瞧瞧 qiáoqiáo #1,934

to have a look / to take a peek

顾 gù HSK 6 #5,745

to look after; to care for / to attend to; to take into account / to look around; to turn around

看看 kànkàn #177

to take a look / to have a look

翘 qiáo #3,888

outstanding; pre-eminent / to lift up (the head); to look up eagerly

气色 qìsè HSK 7-9 #5,573

complexion / color (of one's face) / look of health

期待 qīdài HSK 5 #1,567

to look forward to; to expect; to await

瞧 qiáo HSK 6 #689

to look at; to see / to visit (a doctor)

看待 kàndài HSK 6 #5,041

to look upon; to regard; to view

搜寻 sōuxún HSK 7-9 #4,571

to search for; to look for / to seek (thoroughly)