要看 / 得看 (it depends on)
IntroducedAn unresolved decision depends on a factor
- An outdoor plan has not been settled because of the weather.
- this这want / will / need要to see看weather天气。 — The decision depends on what the weather is like.
An outdoor plan has not been settled because of the weather. What does 这要看天气。 communicate?
The decision depends on what the weather is like. 看 has the dependency sense here. The sentence does not tell you what the weather will be or what choice will follow each possibility.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is want / will / need要to see看 / (degree marker)得to see看 (it depends on). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
this这depends on要看you你的decision决定。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: That depends on the weather: 这 ____ 天气。
要看 / 得看 + factor = it depends on: 这要看天气.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, this这want / will / need要to see看weather天气。: The decision depends on what the weather is like.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
What does 看 mean in 这要看天气?
Here 看 = “depends on”, not “look”.
Know the boundary
- to see看 has the dependency sense here.
- The sentence does not tell you what the weather will be or what choice will follow each possibility.
要看 / 得看 points to the deciding factor.
Yes: 这要看你的决定 (depends on your decision).
要看天气 proves the weather will be sunny.
看 has the dependency sense here. The sentence does not tell you what the weather will be or what choice will follow each possibility. The decision depends on what the weather is like.
Use the distinction
- The decision depends on what the weather is like.
- to see看 has the dependency sense here. The sentence does not tell you what the weather will be or what choice will follow each possibility.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Verbs.
An outdoor plan has not been settled because of the weather. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.