眼看

yǎnkàn

adverb HSK 6 #10,213

Meanings

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

Characters

to look; to watch

With one's own eyes watching — something happening right before you, often with helplessness.

Examples

眼看就要迟到了。

Yǎnkàn jiùyào chídào le.

We're about to be late.

他眼看着机会溜走了。

Tā yǎnkàn zhe jīhuì liūzǒu le.

He watched helplessly as the opportunity slipped away.

眼看春天就要来了。

Yǎnkàn chūntiān jiùyào lái le.

Spring is almost here.

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.

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