袖手旁观

xiùshǒu-pángguān

HSK 3.0 Level 7

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Definitions

1. to stand by with folded arms

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 参与 cān yù 参与 cān yù to participate (in sth) cānyù, to participate: to participate (in sth)

Related words

1 item

• 冷眼旁观 lěng yǎn páng guān 冷眼旁观 lěng yǎn páng guān the cool eye of a bystander lěngyǎn-pángguān, watch coldly without participating, stronger sense of indifference: the cool eye of a bystander

Usage notes

Collocations

Often used with 不能/不要 (bùnéng/bùyào) to urge involvement: 我们不能袖手旁观 (we can't just stand by).

Formality

袖手旁观 is a formal, literary idiom used in both written and formal spoken contexts; it may sound overly dramatic in casual conversation.

Example Sentences

1 shown

我不能 袖手旁观 。

I cannot just stand by and do nothing.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 袖手旁观

• 手 手 shǒu: hand
• 旁 旁 páng: one side
• 旁观 旁观 páng guān: spectator
• 袖 袖 xiù: sleeve
• 观 观 guān: to look at
• 观 观 guàn: Taoist monastery