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
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
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
Category:grammar comparison