HSK 3 grammar · new HSK syllabus
好像 and 看起来: it seems
好像 = it seems, as if: 他好像生病了. 看起来 = looks: 你看起来很累.
Structure
- Subject + 好像 + …
- Subject + 看起来 + adjective
How it works
好像 shows you are not sure: 他好像不在家 = he doesn’t seem to be home.
好像…一样 compares: 他跑得好像飞一样.
看起来 describes how something looks: 这个菜看起来很好吃.
Examples
-
他好像生病了。
Tā hǎoxiàng shēngbìng le.
He seems to be ill.
-
外面好像下雨了。
Wàimiàn hǎoxiàng xiàyǔ le.
It seems to be raining outside.
-
我好像在哪儿见过你。
Wǒ hǎoxiàng zài nǎr jiàn guò nǐ.
I think I’ve seen you somewhere before.
-
你看起来很累，休息一下吧。
Nǐ kàn qǐlái hěn lèi, xiūxi yíxià ba.
You look tired. Have a rest.
-
这个菜看起来很好吃。
Zhège cài kàn qǐlái hěn hǎochī.
This dish looks delicious.
Words in these examples (22)
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 好像 | hǎoxiàng | to seem; as if | HSK 3 |
| 生病 | shēngbìng | to get sick | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 外面 | wàimiàn | outside | HSK 2 |
| 下雨 | xiàyǔ | to rain | HSK 1 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 在 | zài | to be at; at; in; (before a verb) in the middle of doing | HSK 1 |
| 哪儿 | nǎr | where | HSK 1 |
| 见 | jiàn | to see; to meet | HSK 1 |
| 过 | guò | to cross; to pass; to spend (time); to celebrate | HSK 2 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 起来 | qǐlái | to get up; to stand up | HSK 2 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 累 | lèi | tired | HSK 2 |
| 休息 | xiūxi | to rest; rest | HSK 1 |
| 一下 | yíxià | (after a verb) a bit; one time | HSK 1 |
| 吧 | ba | (particle for suggestions: "let's…", "…, OK?") | HSK 1 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 菜 | cài | dish (of food); vegetable | HSK 1 |
| 好吃 | hǎochī | tasty; delicious | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗好像他生病。
✓他好像生病了。
好像 usually follows the subject, and a change needs 了.
-
✗他看起来是很累。
✓他看起来很累。
No 是 before an adjective.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 天这么阴， 要下雨了。
2. 你 很高兴，有什么好事？
3. 我好像 过这个人。