verb HSK 4
Traditional 觀賞
to watch and enjoy · to appreciate · to admire · ornamental
Meaning
观赏 means to watch or look at something with appreciation and enjoyment, often used for natural scenery, art, performances, or decorative objects. It emphasizes the aesthetic pleasure derived from observing something beautiful or interesting.
Usage
Commonly used for viewing flowers, gardens, art exhibitions, performances, fish, or natural landscapes. It's more formal than simply '看' (to look) and implies taking time to appreciate beauty. Also frequently used as an adjective before nouns to mean 'ornamental' (e.g., 观赏鱼 = ornamental fish).
Examples
- 01春天是观赏樱花的最佳季节。.Spring is the best season for viewing cherry blossoms.
- 02这些观赏鱼颜色非常漂亮。.These ornamental fish have very beautiful colors.
Characters
Common collocations
- 观赏花卉to admire flowers
- 观赏鱼ornamental fish
- 观赏植物ornamental plants
- 供人观赏for people to appreciate/admire
Origin
Combines 观 (to observe) with 赏 (to appreciate/reward), creating a compound that emphasizes viewing with appreciation rather than casual looking.