Definitions

kàn to look down from a height; to spy on sth
kàn variant of 瞰[kàn]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 瞰, meaning to look down from a height, combines the semantic component 目, representing the eye and thus vision, with the phonetic element 敢, which historically guided its pronunciation while also implying a sense of daring or intentional action. Originally conveying a broader notion of vigilant watching or even spying, its meaning gradually specialized to denote the specific act of overlooking or surveying from an elevated vantage point. This semantic refinement is evident in its enduring use in compounds such as 鸟瞰, which explicitly captures the concept of a bird's-eye view. Throughout its history, the character's graphical form has maintained stability, with its compositional logic consistently reflecting its core association with directed sight from above.

Example Sentences Hide

我俯美丽的湖泊。

Wǒ fǔkàn měilì de húpō.

I overlook the beautiful lake.

他从高楼俯街道。

Tā cóng gāolóu fǔkàn jiēdào.

He looks down at the street from the tall building.

飞机上我们可以鸟整个城市。

Fēijī shàng wǒmen kěyǐ niǎokàn zhěnggè chéngshì.

From the plane, we can have a bird's-eye view of the entire city.

站在山顶,俯着下方的村庄。

Zhàn zài shāndǐng, fǔkàn zhe xiàfāng de cūnzhuāng.

Standing on the mountaintop, overlooking the village below.

摄影师用无人机俯拍摄了这片区域。

Shèyǐngshī yòng wúrénjī fǔkàn pāishèle zhè piàn qūyù.

The photographer used a drone to overlook and photograph this area.

通过卫星图像,我们可以俯地球的每一个角落。

Tōngguò wèixīng túxiàng, wǒmen kěyǐ fǔkàn dìqiú de měi yīgè jiǎoluò.

Through satellite images, we can overlook every corner of the Earth.

在规划城市布局时,官员们经常借助地图来俯全局。

Zài guīhuà chéngshì bùjú shí, guānyuánmen jīngcháng jièzhù dìtú lái fǔkàn quánjú.

When planning the city layout, officials often use maps to overlook the overall situation.

从哲学的角度俯人类历史,我们能得到更深刻的洞察。

Cóng zhéxué de jiǎodù fǔkàn rénlèi lìshǐ, wǒmen néng dédào gèng shēnkè de dòngchá.

From a philosophical perspective, overlooking human history, we can gain deeper insights.