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眼看

yǎnkàn
adverb HSK 6 #10,213

Meanings

  1. 1 to watch helplessly; to look on
  2. 2 soon; in a moment; before long

Characters

眼
yǎn
eye
看
kàn
to look; to watch
With one's own eyes watching - something happening right before you, often with helplessness.

Examples

HSK 3
眼看就要迟到了。
Yǎnkàn jiùyào chídào le.
We're about to be late.
HSK 6
我不能眼看他犯错而不管。
Wǒ bùnéng yǎnkàn tā fàncuò ér bùguǎn.
I can't just stand by watching him make mistakes.
HSK 7-9
他眼看着机会溜走了。
Tā yǎnkàn zhe jīhuì liūzǒu le.
He watched helplessly as the opportunity slipped away.

Tips

usage
Two distinct uses: (1) 眼看着 + bad event = watching helplessly as something happens. (2) 眼看 + 就要/快 = something is about to happen soon. Both share the sense of 'right before your eyes.'

Stroke Order

眼 yǎn
看 kàn