显得 vs 看起来 (comes across as vs looks)
IntroducedDescribe the impression made by an outfit
- Someone seems slimmer when wearing a particular outfit.
- you你wear穿this这(measure word)件outfit衣服seem显得very很slim瘦。 — seem显得 describes the impression made in that situation.
Someone seems slimmer when wearing a particular outfit. What does 你穿这件衣服显得很瘦。 communicate?
显得 describes the impression made in that situation. 看起来很瘦 can also describe an appearance. Use a clear subject for 显得; the impression does not mean the person's actual body changed.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is seem显得 vs looks看起来 (comes across as vs looks). 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.
you你wear穿this这(measure word)件outfit衣服seem显得very很slim瘦。
Using 显得 for the impression: 你穿这件衣服 ____ 很瘦。
The clear subject is 你: 你穿这件衣服显得很瘦. The outfit provides the situation causing the impression.
Read examples in context
he他looks看起来very很young年轻。
- In the opening example, you你wear穿this这(measure word)件outfit衣服seem显得very很slim瘦。: seem显得 describes the impression made in that situation.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which form describes the impression in 你穿这件衣服____很瘦?
显得 describes the impression made by wearing the outfit. 看起来 can also express an appearance; neither proves physical weight loss.
Know the boundary
- looks看起来very很slim瘦 can also describe an appearance.
- Use a clear subject for seem显得; the impression does not mean the person's actual body changed.
显得 and 看起来 can both describe an appearance rather than prove a physical change.
Their focus can differ, but they overlap. An impression of slimness does not prove actual weight loss.
显得很瘦 proves that the person physically lost weight.
看起来很瘦 can also describe an appearance. Use a clear subject for 显得; the impression does not mean the person's actual body changed. 显得 describes the impression made in that situation.
Use the distinction
- seem显得 describes the impression made in that situation.
- looks看起来very很slim瘦 can also describe an appearance. Use a clear subject for seem显得; the impression does not mean the person's actual body changed.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Comparing similar verbs.
Someone seems slimmer when wearing a particular outfit. 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.