視

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Translingual

Han character

視 (Kangxi radical 147, 見+4, 11 strokes, cangjie input 戈火月山山 (IFBUU), four-corner 3621₀, composition ⿰礻見)

Derived characters

• 𮑖, 𮄚

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 1134, character 21
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 34827
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 6, page 3665, character 19
• Unihan data for U+8996

• Unihan data for U+FA61

• Unihan data for U+FAB8

Chinese

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 視
Shang	Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡljilʔ, *ɡljils, *ɢljils) : phonetic 示 (OC *ɡle, *ɢljils) + semantic 見 (“see”).

Related to 見 (“to see; to meet”). The Chu form did not include the phonetic 示 component, making it near-identical to 見, but with the lower component a kneeling figure rather than a standing one. (Galambos, 2006)

Pronunciation

Definitions

視 (literary, or in compounds)

1. to watch; to look; to view; to look at; compare 見／见 (“to see”).

   • 非禮勿視，非禮勿聽，非禮勿言，非禮勿動。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     非礼勿视，非礼勿听，非礼勿言，非礼勿动。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

     Fēi lǐ wù shì, fēi lǐ wù tīng, fēi lǐ wù yán, fēi lǐ wù dòng.

     If it is not propriety, do not look at it. If it is not propriety, do not listen to it. If it is not propriety, do not speak it out. If it is not propriety, do not act it out.

   • 鬼神之為德，其盛矣乎！視之而弗見，聽之而弗聞，體物而不可遺。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     鬼神之为德，其盛矣乎！视之而弗见，听之而弗闻，体物而不可遗。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

     Guǐshén zhī wèi dé, qí shèng yǐ hū! Shì zhī ér fú jiàn, tīng zhī ér fú wén, tǐ wù ér bù kě yí.

     The spirits' manifestation of potency: how abundant it is! We watch for them and do not see them; we listen for them and do not hear them. they are the essences of things, and cannot be discarded.

   1. to inspect; to examine

      • 叔魚生，其母視之，曰：「是虎目而豕喙，鳶肩而牛腹，谿壑可盈，是不可饜也，必以賄死。」遂不視。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        叔鱼生，其母视之，曰：「是虎目而豕喙，鸢肩而牛腹，谿壑可盈，是不可餍也，必以贿死。」遂不视。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: Guoyu, circa 4^th century BCE

        Shūyú shēng, qí mǔ shì zhī, yuē: “Shì hǔ mù ér shǐ huì, yuān jiān ér niú fù, jīhè kě yíng, shì bù kě yàn yě, bì yǐ huì sǐ.” Suì bù shì.

        When Shuyu was born, his mother examined him. She said, "These are a tiger's eyes and a swine's mouth, a kite-bird's shoulders and a cow's belly. Even if a gorge can be filled, his greed cannot be sated. He will surely die from taking bribes." Then she did not take care of him.

   2. to regard as; to consider as; to take as

      • 回也視予猶父也，予不得視猶子也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        回也视予犹父也，予不得视犹子也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

        Huí yě shì yǔ yóu fù yě, yǔ bù dé shì yóu zǐ yě.

        Hui saw me as a father; I could not see him as a son.

   3. to visit

      • 疾，君視之，東首，加朝服，拖紳。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        疾，君视之，东首，加朝服，拖绅。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

        Jí, jūn shì zhī, dōngshǒu, jiā cháofú, tuō shēn.

        He was ill, and the ruler visited him. He faced east, wore his court robes, and put on his girdle.

   4. to follow the example of; to take as one's model; to pattern after; to imitate

      • 王懋乃德，視乃厥祖，無時豫怠。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        王懋乃德，视乃厥祖，无时豫怠。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Book of Documents, circa 7^th – 4^th centuries BCE

        Wáng mào nǎi dé, shì nǎi jué zǔ, wú shí yùdài.

        O king, strive for your potency; follow the example of your grandfather; do not be indulgent for a single moment.

   5. to deal with; to manage; to care for

      • 叔魚生，其母視之，曰：「是虎目而豕喙，鳶肩而牛腹，谿壑可盈，是不可饜也，必以賄死。」遂不視。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        叔鱼生，其母视之，曰：「是虎目而豕喙，鸢肩而牛腹，谿壑可盈，是不可餍也，必以贿死。」遂不视。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: Guoyu, circa 4^th century BCE

        Shūyú shēng, qí mǔ shì zhī, yuē: “Shì hǔ mù ér shǐ huì, yuān jiān ér niú fù, jīhè kě yíng, shì bù kě yàn yě, bì yǐ huì sǐ.” Suì bù shì.

        When Shuyu was born, his mother examined him. She said, "These are a tiger's eyes and a swine's mouth, a kite-bird's shoulders and a cow's belly. Even if a gorge can be filled, his greed cannot be sated. He will surely die from taking bribes." Then she did not take care of him.

2. to compare with
   1. to be comparable

      • 天子之卿受地視侯，大夫受地視伯，元士受地視子、男。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        天子之卿受地视侯，大夫受地视伯，元士受地视子、男。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

        Tiānzǐ zhī qīng shòu dì shì hóu, dàfū shòu dì shì bó, yuánshì shòu dì shì zǐ, nán.

        The Son of Heaven's ministers received land that compares with a marquis. The high officers received land that compares with a count. The senior knights received land that compares with a viscount or marquis.

3. eyesight; sight

   • 曰：「天子之視聽也神。」先王之言曰：「非神也，夫唯能使人之耳目助己視聽。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     曰：「天子之视听也神。」先王之言曰：「非神也，夫唯能使人之耳目助己视听。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mozi, c. 4^th century BCE

     Yuē: “Tiānzǐ zhī shìtīng yě shén.” Xiānwáng zhī yán yuē: “Fēi shén yě, fú wéi néng shǐ rén zhī ěrmù zhù jǐ shìtīng.”

     They said, "The Son of Heaven's sight and hearing are divine!" The ancient kings said, "Not divine; it is only that they could make the people's ears and eyes aid their own sight and hearing."

4. Alternative form of 示 (“to show”)
5. 63rd tetragram of the Taixuanjing (𝍄)

Synonyms

• (to see):

• (to inspect):

• (to regard):

• (eyesight):

• (to compare):

• (to follow the example of):

Compounds