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看起来 vs 看来 (looks vs it seems)
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An appearance supports an inference without certainty
- A person looks exhausted, but you have not asked them.
- he他looks看起来very很tired累。 — The speaker judges tiredness from the apparent evidence.
A person looks exhausted, but you have not asked them. What does 他看起来很累。 communicate?
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The speaker judges tiredness from the apparent evidence. 看来 often introduces a wider inference, and the uses overlap. Neither form proves that the inferred state is true or limits evidence to literal eyesight in every context.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is looks看起来 vs it seems看来 (looks vs it seems). 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.
he他looks看起来very很tired累。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: He looks very tired: 他 ____ 很累。
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看起来 = looks (appearance): 他看起来很累.
Read examples in context
it seems看来going to要rain下雨了。
- In the opening example, he他looks看起来very很tired累。: The speaker judges tiredness from the apparent evidence.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which form fits the demonstrated appearance judgment 他____很累?
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他看起来很累 is the ordinary demonstrated form. 看来 often introduces an inference as a clause, and the meanings overlap; neither is proof of the actual state.
Know the boundary
- it seems看来 often introduces a wider inference, and the uses overlap.
- Neither form proves that the inferred state is true or limits evidence to literal eyesight in every context.
看来 expresses a judgement / inference.
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Yes — 看来要下雨了 (I infer it will rain).
In the opening situation: The speaker judges tiredness from the apparent evidence.
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看来 often introduces a wider inference, and the uses overlap. Neither form proves that the inferred state is true or limits evidence to literal eyesight in every context. The speaker judges tiredness from the apparent evidence.
Use the distinction
- The speaker judges tiredness from the apparent evidence.
- it seems看来 often introduces a wider inference, and the uses overlap. Neither form proves that the inferred state is true or limits evidence to literal eyesight in every context.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Comparing similar verbs.
A person looks exhausted, but you have not asked them. 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.