{{Grammar Box}}
Both 显得 (xiǎnde) and 看起来 (kànqǐlái) have meanings in English like "to appear to be" or "seems like," but their connotations are pretty different.
== 显得 emphasizes objectivity ==
显得 is used for objective descriptions and comparisons. Therefore, if you want to say that something is not very good, you can use 显得 to emphasize your objectiveness. It can be a "tactical" way to talk.
=== Structure ===
A + 显得 + B + Predicate
=== Examples ===
* 这样 穿 显得 我 比较 成熟 。Zhèyàng chuān xiǎnde wǒ bǐjiào chéngshú.Dressing like this makes me look more mature.
* 那样 吃 显得 你 很 没 礼貌 。 Nàyàng chī xiǎnde nǐ hěn méi lǐmào.Eating like that makes you look not very polite.
* 这么 做 会 显得 你 很 小气 。 Zhème zuò huì xiǎnde nǐ hěn xiǎoqì.Doing it like this makes you seem stingy.
* 那样 说 显得 她 很 笨 。 Nàyàng shuō xiǎnde tā hěn bèn.Talking like that makes her look stupid.
* 这 种 颜色 的 衣服 显得 你 的 脸色 不 好看 。 Zhè zhǒng yánsè de yīfu xiǎnde nǐ de liǎnsè bù hǎokàn.This color of clothing doesn't go well with your complexion.
== 看起来 emphasize subjectivity ==
看起来 is the opposite in that it emphasizes subjectivity, paying close attention to how the observer feels.
=== Structure ===
Subj. + 看起来 + Predicate
=== Examples ===
* 你 今天 看起来 很 高兴 。 Nǐ jīntiān kànqǐlái hěn gāoxìng.You seem very happy today.
* 这个 餐厅 看起来 不错，我们 可以 试试。 Zhège cāntīng kànqǐlái bùcuò, wǒmen kěyǐ shìshi.This restaurant doesn't seem too bad, let's try it out.
* 她 看起来 有 点 生气 。 Tā kànqǐlái yǒu diǎn shēngqì.She seems a little angry.
* 你 的 衣服 看起来 挺 贵 的 。 Nǐ de yīfu kànqǐlái tǐng guì de.Your clothes seems expensive to me.
* 你 女朋友 看起来 像 我 的 中文 老师 。 Nǐ nǚpéngyou kànqǐlái xiàng wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī.Your girlfriend seems like my Chinese teacher.
== Example Dialog ==
* A: 你 今天 看起来 很 苗条。A- : Nǐ jīntiān kànqǐlái hěn miáotiáo.You seem very slim today.
* B: 可能 是 这 件 衣服 显得我 很 苗条 。 B: Kěnéng shì zhè jiàn yīfu xiǎnde wǒ hěn miáotiáo.It's probably these clothes that makes me seem that way.
== Sources and further reading ==
=== Dictionaries ===
* [[现代汉语词典（第5版）]] (显得 p. 1477) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
{{Basic Grammar|显得|B2|显得 vs 看起来|你 看起来 很 苗条 ，可能 是 这 件 衣服 显得 你 很 苗条 。|grammar point|ASGKQEG9}}
{{Rel char|看起来}}
{{Used for|Describing things}}
{{Used for|Describing people}}
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{Comparison|Verbs}}