4 · Expressions (level 4)
It seems, I hear: kànqǐlai, tīngshuō
saying where an impression comes from
Four ways to say that something seems so — from how it looks, from what you conclude, or from what you have heard.
看起来 describes how something looks: 他看起来很累, “he looks tired”. It normally stands right after the subject. 看上去 means the same, and the family extends to the other senses: 听起来, it sounds; 吃起来, it tastes.
看来 draws a conclusion from evidence: “so it seems, judging by this”. It usually opens the sentence: 看来今天要下雨了, “looks like it is going to rain today” — said while looking at the clouds. The speaker is reasoning, not describing an appearance.
听说 reports something heard: 听说你要结婚了, “I hear you are getting married”. It is personal and spoken, and the source can be put inside it: 我听朋友说…. 据说 means “it is said, reportedly”: impersonal and a little more formal, with no 我 in front of it.
English “it seems” and “apparently” blur these four together, and the commonest mix-up is between 看起来 and 看来. One describes a look, the other states a conclusion the speaker believes. “He looks young, but actually he is fifty” needs 看起来, because the speaker does not believe the look.
The form
| from how it looks | 他看起来很累。 |
| a conclusion | 看来他今天不来了。 |
| heard from somebody | 听说她要搬家了。 |
| naming the source | 我听朋友说… |
| it is said | 据说这里以前是一片湖。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
Kànqǐlai describes how something looks and usually stands right after the subject.
这件衣服看起来很贵。This piece of clothing looks expensive.
Kànlái draws a conclusion from what the speaker has noticed, and usually opens the sentence.
他还没回消息，看来他很忙。He still has not replied — he must be busy.
Tīngshuō reports what you have heard; the person you heard it from can go inside: tīng … shuō.
我听同事说，下个月要加工资。I heard from a colleague that we are getting a pay rise next month.
Jùshuō is impersonal — “it is said” — and takes no wǒ in front of it.
据说这座桥已经有几百年的历史了。This bridge is said to be several hundred years old.
A closer look
The family of qǐlai
起来 after a verb of the senses means “when you … it”, and it produces a whole family of impressions: 听起来, it sounds; 吃起来, it tastes; 闻起来, it smells; 用起来, it is (easy, handy) to use. 这个办法听起来不错 — this idea sounds good.
The best-known member is a saying: 说起来容易，做起来难, “easier said than done” — literally, “when you say it, it is easy; when you do it, it is hard”.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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kànqǐlai opens the sentence
it can mean the same as kànlái: “by the look of things”.
看起来今天不会下雨了。By the look of it, it is not going to rain today.
At the front it no longer describes one person or thing; it covers the whole situation.
How to spot it
- 看起来
- 看上去
- 看来
- 听说
- 据说
Example sentences
你看起来比上次瘦了。You look thinner than last time.
看来今天的会要开到很晚了。It looks as if today’s meeting is going to run late.
听说那家新开的面馆很好吃。I hear the new noodle place is very good.
据说这种茶对睡眠有好处。This kind of tea is said to be good for sleep.
这道菜看起来很辣，其实一点儿也不辣。This dish looks spicy, but actually it is not spicy at all.
地上都是湿的，看来昨晚下过雨。The ground is all wet — it must have rained last night.
8 more example sentences
她今天看起来心情不错。She seems to be in a good mood today.
这个办法听起来不错，我们试试吧。This idea sounds good — let us give it a try.
看来你已经知道了。So you already know.
听说王老师下学期不教我们了。I hear Mr Wang will not be teaching us next term.
据说这个小镇的名字来自一个古老的传说。The little town’s name is said to come from an old legend.
外面的人都打着伞，看来又下雨了。Everyone outside has an umbrella up — it looks as if it is raining again.
我听我妈说，你小时候特别淘气。My mum told me you were really naughty as a child.
这台电脑看上去很旧，但是还很好用。This computer looks old, but it still works well.
Worth knowing (1)
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Naming the source with jù
我据说 is impossible, but 据 can take a person if 说 follows: 据他说, “according to him”. It is the formal counterpart of 我听他说.
据他说，这家店开了三十年了。According to him, this shop has been open for thirty years.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English “he seems young” covers both. 看起来 is about appearance — which is exactly what 其实 then corrects. 看来 states a conclusion the speaker believes, so following it with 其实 contradicts yourself.
Kànqǐlai: it looks so; kànlái: so I conclude; tīngshuō: so I heard; jùshuō: so they say.
Your turn
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