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Expressing 'to observe' or 'view' with 观 (guān)
Actions & Events
Manner & Method
Structure
观 + Object
Explanation
观 (guān) means 'to observe,' 'to view,' or 'to watch.' It is a classical and formal character often found in compound words like 观察 (to observe) and 观点 (viewpoint). On its own, it carries a literary tone and is less common in casual speech.
Examples
站在山顶上可以观日出。
Zhàn zài shāndǐng shàng kěyǐ guān rìchū.
Standing on the mountaintop, you can watch the sunrise.
他喜欢坐在公园里观人来人往。
Tā xǐhuān zuò zài gōngyuán lǐ guān rén lái rén wǎng.
He likes to sit in the park and watch people come and go.
古人常常登高观景，写下许多好诗。
Gǔrén chángcháng dēnggāo guān jǐng, xiě xià xǔduō hǎo shī.
The ancients often climbed high to view the scenery and wrote many fine poems.