look on as an outsider; observe from the sidelines
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to look on as an outsider; to observe from the sidelines
Often used to describe a passive or detached attitude towards an event or situation, implying non-involvement. Can carry a neutral or slightly negative connotation.
Dà大
jiā家
dōu都
zài在
nǔ努
lì力
bāng帮
máng忙
，
tā他
què却
zài在
yī一
biān边
lěng冷
yǎn眼
páng旁
guān观
。
Everyone was trying to help, but he was just looking on coldly from the sidelines.
Duì对
yú于
gōng公
sī司
de的
nèi内
bù部
dòu斗
zhēng争
，
tā他
xuǎn选
zé择
xiù袖
shǒu手
páng旁
guān观
。
He chose to stand by and do nothing about the company's internal strife.
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Wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
duì对
bù不
gōng公
zhèng正
de的
xiàn现
xiàng象
zhǐ只
shì是
páng旁
guān观
。
We cannot just stand by and watch unjust phenomena.
Tā他
shì是
yī一
gè个
lěng冷
jìng静
de的
páng旁
guān观
zhě者
，
bǎ把
zhěng整
gè个
shì事
jiàn件
kàn看
dé得
hěn很
qīng清
chu楚
。
He is a cool observer who sees the whole incident very clearly.