觑

覷
qù
虚 + 见

Definitions

qù to spy; watch for

Etymology phono-semantic

see

Semantic: 见 Phonetic: 虚

About

The character 觑 (traditional 覷) is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic radical 見/见 'to see' with the phonetic 虛/虚 (xū). The semantic component, 見 (jiàn) in traditional and 见 (jiàn) in simplified, points to eyesight or looking; the phonetic 虛 (xū) / 虚 (xū) marks the pronunciation. In the traditional form, 見 is on the right and 虛 on the left, while the simplified form streamlines both to 见 and 虚. The original meaning is to narrow one's eyes to examine something closely, to peep covertly through a narrow gap, or to observe a distant target intently.

Example Sentences Hide

他偷偷觑了对方一眼。

Tā tōutōu qù le duìfāng yī yǎn.

He secretly peeked at the other person.

不要小觑他的能力。

Bùyào xiǎo qù tā de nénglì.

Do not underestimate his ability.

她从门缝里觑见一个人影。

Tā cóng ménfèng lǐ qù jiàn yī gè rényǐng.

She peeped through the door crack and saw a figure.

观众们静静地觑着舞台上的表演。

Guānzhòngmen jìngjìng de qù zhe wǔtái shàng de biǎoyǎn.

The audience quietly watched the performance on stage.

他觑准时机，迅速采取了行动。

Tā qù zhǔn shíjī, xùnsù cǎiqǔ le xíngdòng.

He spotted the right moment and quickly took action.

在黑暗中，我们只能互相觑视。

Zài hēi'àn zhōng, wǒmen zhǐ néng hùxiāng qù shì.

In the darkness, we could only peer at each other.

她觑了他一眼，示意他不要说话。

Tā qù le tā yī yǎn, shìyì tā bùyào shuōhuà.

She glanced at him, signaling him not to speak.

尽管他试图掩饰，但敏锐的观察者仍能觑出其内心的不安。

Jǐnguǎn tā shìtú yǎnshì, dàn mǐnruì de guānchá zhě réng néng qù chū qí nèixīn de bù'ān.

Although he tried to hide it, sharp observers could still perceive the unease in his heart.

Related Characters

Component: 虚

墟 嘘 虡 魖 戯 歔 覷

Component: 见

现 见 规 觉 观 视 舰 览 觅 砚 觐 觎 觊 靓

Example Words

不容小觑 小觑 面面相觑 相觑