Meaning
眺 means to look or gaze into the distance, typically from an elevated position or vantage point. It conveys a sense of looking far away with purpose or contemplation, often to observe scenery or survey a wide area. The character combines the eye radical (目) with components suggesting leaping or distance.
Usage
眺 is somewhat literary and formal, more common in written Chinese than everyday speech. It often appears in compounds like 眺望 (tiàowàng) or 远眺 (yuǎntiào). Native speakers use it when describing looking at distant scenery, especially from mountains, towers, or other high places. It implies a broader, more contemplative viewing than simply 看 (kàn).
Examples
- 01我们登上山顶,眺望远处的城市风光。, .We climbed to the mountaintop and gazed at the distant city scenery.
- 02站在阳台上,他静静地眺着海平线。, .Standing on the balcony, he quietly gazed at the horizon.
Common collocations
- 眺望远方gaze into the distance
- 登高眺远climb high and gaze far (idiom)
- 凭窗眺望lean by the window and gaze out
Origin
The character 眺 consists of the eye radical 目 (mù, eye) on the left, combined with 兆 (zhào) on the right, which originally depicted cracks in oracle bones used for divination and suggests distance or far-reaching. Together they create the meaning of eyes looking far into the distance.