看不出

kànbuchū
verb

Meanings

  1. 1 can't tell (by looking)
  2. 2 can't discern
  3. 3 you wouldn't have guessed

Examples

HSK 2
Zhēn kànbuchū lái nǐ yǐjīng sìshí suì le!
I really couldn't tell you're already forty!
HSK 4
Wǒ kànbuchū zhè liǎng zhāng tú yǒu shénme qūbié.
I can't see any difference between these two pictures.

Tips

grammar
Potential complement: 看 "look" + 不 "can't" + 出 "come out / detect." Positive form is 看得出 "can tell." The longer form 看不出来 is just as common and means the same thing. Used as a compliment: 真看不出来 = "You can't tell at all!"

Stroke Order

看 kàn
不 bù
出 chū