Chinese–EnglishWith examples

袖手旁观

xiù shǒu páng guān · xiu shou pang guan

Traditional 袖手旁觀

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to watch with folded arms (idiom); to look on without lifting a finger
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

Do not just watch

  1. Leon

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，什么是(shénmeshì)袖手旁观(xiùshǒupángguān)？

    Dengdeng, what is 袖手旁观?

  2. Dengdeng

    袖手旁观(xiùshǒupángguān)，就是(jiùshì)别人(biéren)需要(xūyào)帮忙(bāngmáng)，你(nǐ)光(guāng)看着(kànzhe)。

    It means others need help and you just watch.

  3. Leon

    比如(bǐrú)呢(ne)？

    For example?

  4. Dengdeng

    比如(bǐrú)现在(xiànzài)，我(wǒ)搬(bān)箱子(xiāngzi)，你(nǐ)站在(zhànzài)旁边(pángbiān)看(kàn)。

    For example now: I carry a box and you stand next to me watching.

  5. Leon

    啊(a)！我(wǒ)现在(xiànzài)是(shì)袖手旁观(xiùshǒupángguān)！我(wǒ)来(lái)帮你(bāngnǐ)！

    Ah! I am standing by right now! I will help you!

  6. Dengdeng

    谢谢(xièxie)！你(nǐ)拿(ná)那个(nàge)轻的(qīngde)。

    Thanks! You take the light one.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

你(nǐ)要(yào)是(shì)不(bù)答(dā)应(yìng)的(de)话(huà)，我(wǒ)就(jiù)袖(xiù)手(shǒu)旁(páng)观(guān)。

If you don't make the promise, then I'll just stand by and watch.

Tatoeba: Chinese by GlossaMatik · English by FeuDRenais2 · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

只(zhǐ)要(yào)好(hǎo)人(rén)袖(xiù)手(shǒu)旁(páng)观(guān)，恶(è)人(rén)就(jiù)会(huì)得(dé)胜(shèng)。

As long as good people do nothing, evil will triumph.

Tatoeba: Chinese by GlossaMatik · English by CM · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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