verb HSK 5
Traditional 遙望
to gaze into the distance · to look far away · to look from afar
Meaning
遥望 means to look at something from a great distance, often with a sense of longing, contemplation, or reverence. It conveys both the physical act of gazing across a large space and the emotional or spiritual dimension of looking toward something distant and perhaps unattainable.
Usage
This word is more literary and formal than everyday 看 (kàn). It's commonly used in written Chinese, poetry, and formal contexts when describing looking at distant mountains, stars, horizons, or one's homeland from afar. Native speakers often use it to express a contemplative or wistful mood.
Examples
- 01他站在山顶上遥望远方的大海。.He stood on the mountaintop gazing at the distant sea.
- 02每当夜晚，她都会遥望星空，思念远方的亲人。, , .Every night, she gazes at the starry sky, missing her relatives far away.
Characters
Common collocations
- 遥望星空to gaze at the starry sky
- 遥望远方to gaze into the distance
- 遥望故乡to gaze toward one's hometown from afar
Antonyms
Origin
遥 originally meant 'distant' or 'remote,' while 望 depicts a person standing and looking toward the horizon. Together they emphasize looking toward something far away.