看起来 vs 看来 (looks vs it seems)
Judged by eyes, or by reasoning?
- Both ≈ "it seems" — but the basis differs.
- seemingly看起来 = "looks (by appearance)" — based on what you see.
- apparently看来 = "it seems / apparently" — based on reasoning or evidence.
seemingly看起来 = looks (appearance)
- he / him他seemingly看起来很累 = "he looks very tired." (from how he appears)
he他looks看起来very很tired累。
- seemingly看起来很累 = "looks very tired."
Practice
He looks very tired: 他 ____ 很累。
看起来 = looks (appearance): 他看起来很累.
apparently看来 = it seems (inference)
- apparently看来want / will / need要to rain下雨(completed / change)了 = "it looks like it's going to rain." (a judgement)
it seems看来going to要rain下雨了。
- apparently看来want / will / need要to rain下雨(completed / change)了 = "it seems it's going to rain."
Explore
Which fits the cue better?
Both often parse — so follow the cue: a face or object you SEE points to 看起来; a situation you REASON from points to 看来.
Practice
Which is based on visual appearance (“looks …”)?
看起来 = by appearance; 看来 = by inference.
Practice
看来 expresses a judgement / inference.
Yes — 看来要下雨了 (I infer it will rain).
Recap
Key idea
- seemingly看起来 = looks (by appearance): he / him他seemingly看起来很累
- apparently看来 = it seems (by inference): apparently看来want / will / need要to rain下雨(completed / change)了
- seemingly看起来 = what you see; apparently看来 = what you conclude
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Comparing similar verbs.