sit by and watch; look on without helping
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to watch the fighting from the safety of the ramparts; to sit by and watch others struggle without offering help
Derived from historical military contexts, this idiom criticizes those who remain aloof and refuse to assist others in difficulty. It carries a negative connotation when used to describe someone's behavior.
Zài在
zhè这
gè个
guān关
jiàn键
shí时
kè刻
，
wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
zuò坐
bì壁
shàng上
guān观
，
bì必
xū须
cǎi采
qǔ取
xíng行
dòng动
。
At this critical moment, we cannot sit by and watch; we must take action.
Miàn面
duì对
lín邻
jū居
de的
kùn困
nan难
，
tā他
xuǎn选
zé择
zuò坐
bì壁
shàng上
guān观
，
xiǎn显
de得
fēi非
cháng常
lěng冷
mò漠
。
Facing his neighbor's difficulties, he chose to look on without helping, appearing very indifferent.
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Guó国
jì际
shè社
huì会
bù不
yīng应
gāi该
duì对
zhè这
chǎng场
rén人
dào道
wēi危
jī机
zuò坐
bì壁
shàng上
guān观
。
The international community should not sit by and watch this humanitarian crisis.
Tā他
zǒng总
shì是
xǐ喜
huan欢
zuò坐
bì壁
shàng上
guān观
，
cóng从
bù不
zhǔ主
dòng动
bāng帮
zhù助
bié别
rén人
。
He always likes to watch from the sidelines, never actively helping others.