When we say something or someone is 难看 (nánkàn), we mean they are ugly or unsightly. It's a direct way to describe something that isn't pleasing to the eye.
For instance, if a piece of clothing looks bad, you can say 这件衣服很难看 (zhè jiàn yīfu hěn nánkàn - This piece of clothing is very ugly). You can also use it to describe a person's appearance, though it's quite strong. If someone makes an unpleasant face, you might say 他的脸色很难看 (tā de liǎnsè hěn nánkàn - His expression is unsightly).
When using 难看 (nánkàn), it means something is ugly or unsightly. It literally translates to 'hard to look at.' It can describe a person's appearance, an object, or even something abstract like a situation or a facial expression.
For example, you could say someone's new haircut is 难看 if it doesn't look good. Or, if a painting is not aesthetically pleasing, you can describe it as 难看. It carries a moderately strong negative connotation.
When we describe something or someone as 难看 (nánkàn), we are directly stating that they are unpleasant or ugly to look at. The character 难 (nán) means difficult, and 看 (kàn) means to see, so literally it means "difficult to see" or "unpleasant to look at."
You might use 难看 to describe a bad outfit, a poorly designed building, or even a facial expression. For example, if someone makes an angry face, you could say 他的脸色很难看 (tā de liǎnsè hěn nánkàn), meaning "His facial expression is unpleasant/ugly to look at." It's a straightforward word without much nuance beyond its core meaning of ugliness or unsightliness.
§ What 难看 (nánkàn) means
- Definition
- Ugly, unsightly, unpleasant to look at.
The word 难看 (nánkàn) is a common adjective in Chinese. It literally breaks down to 难 (nán), meaning 'difficult' or 'hard,' and 看 (kàn), meaning 'to look' or 'to see.' So, something that is 难看 (nánkàn) is 'difficult to look at,' or simply, ugly.
§ How to use 难看 (nánkàn)
You can use 难看 (nánkàn) to describe people, objects, or even situations. It's pretty straightforward.
这条裙子太难看了。
Translation hint: This skirt is too ugly.
他今天脸色很难看。
Translation hint: His face today is very unpleasant (to look at, implying he looks upset or pale).
§ Similar words and when to use 难看 (nánkàn) vs alternatives
While 难看 (nánkàn) is a versatile word, you'll encounter other terms that convey similar ideas. Understanding the nuances helps you sound more natural.
- 丑 (chǒu) - Ugly, repulsive
丑 (chǒu) is a stronger word than 难看 (nánkàn). It often implies a more severe level of ugliness or even a moral ugliness. It's direct and can be quite harsh. Use 丑 (chǒu) when something is truly unsightly or even morally objectionable. While 难看 (nánkàn) can describe a bad outfit, 丑 (chǒu) might describe a genuinely hideous monster.
这个雕塑真丑。
Translation hint: This sculpture is truly ugly.
- 不好看 (bù hǎokàn) - Not good-looking, unattractive
不好看 (bù hǎokàn) is the direct opposite of 好看 (hǎokàn), which means 'good-looking' or 'pretty.' It's a milder way to say something is not attractive. Think of it as 'not pretty' rather than 'ugly.' If you want to be less direct or less critical, 不好看 (bù hǎokàn) is a good choice.
这件衣服有点儿不好看。
Translation hint: This piece of clothing is a bit unattractive.
When to use 难看 (nánkàn):
- Use 难看 (nánkàn) when you want to describe something as ugly, unsightly, or unpleasant to look at. It's a general-purpose term for 'ugly.'
- It's also useful for describing a situation that is embarrassing or a facial expression that shows displeasure or anger.
Difficulty Rating
Two common characters. Relatively easy to recognize.
Two common characters. Stroke order is straightforward.
Pronunciation is clear. Tones are not complex.
Common sound combination. Easy to distinguish.
What to Learn Next
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Examples by Level
这件衣服很难看。
This piece of clothing is ugly.
那个画儿真难看。
That painting is really unsightly.
你穿的鞋子有点难看。
The shoes you're wearing are a bit ugly.
他的字写得很难看。
His handwriting is very ugly.
这个颜色太难看了。
This color is too ugly.
别做难看的表情。
Don't make an ugly face.
我觉得这个故事很难看。
I find this story hard to look at (unpleasant).
他的脸色很难看。
His complexion is ugly (he looks unhappy/angry).
这个包太难看了，我不想买。
This bag is too ugly, I don't want to buy it.
你穿这件衣服有点难看。
You look a bit unsightly in this outfit.
他做菜难看是难看，但是味道还不错。
His cooking doesn't look good, but it tastes pretty good.
画得这么难看，还好意思拿出来？
It's drawn so ugly, and you still have the nerve to show it?
这幅画虽然有点难看，但很有意义。
Although this painting is a bit unsightly, it's very meaningful.
别难过了，哭起来就更难看了。
Don't be sad anymore, you'll look even worse when you cry.
我觉得这个颜色搭配太难看了。
I think this color combination is too ugly.
他以前的品味有点难看，现在好多了。
His taste used to be a bit unsightly, but it's much better now.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
这 件 衣服 真 难看。
This piece of clothing is really ugly.
你 的 字 写 得 有点儿 难看。
Your handwriting is a bit ugly.
他 的 表情 很 难看，好像 生气 了。
His expression was ugly, as if he was angry.
别 哭，哭 起来 就 难看 了。
Don't cry, you'll look ugly if you cry.
这 幅 画 太 难看 了，我 不 喜欢。
This painting is too ugly, I don't like it.
他 输 了 比赛，脸色 很 难看。
He lost the game, his face looked ugly (he looked upset).
把 那些 难看 的 东西 扔 掉 吧。
Throw away those ugly things.
这个 颜色 太 难看 了，我 不会 买。
This color is too ugly, I won't buy it.
她 化妆 化 得 很 难看。
Her makeup was applied very badly (looks ugly).
这个 结果 让 大家 都 觉得 很难看。
This outcome made everyone feel embarrassed/looked bad.
How to Use It
难看 (nánkàn) is a common adjective in Chinese, meaning ugly or unsightly. It's straightforward to use and generally applied to things that are displeasing to the eye. You can use it to describe physical appearance, objects, or even situations that are considered bad or embarrassing.
A common mistake for English speakers is to directly translate 'ugly' into other contexts where 难看 might not be the most natural fit. For instance, while you can say something like 这件衣服很难看 (Zhè jiàn yīfú hěn nánkàn – This piece of clothing is very ugly), you wouldn't typically use 难看 to describe a person's behavior as 'ugly' in the same way you might in English. Instead, you'd use words like 糟糕 (zāogāo – terrible) or 恶劣 (èliè – vile) for behavior.
Test Yourself 42 questions
这件衣服太___了，我不喜欢。
The sentence means 'This dress is too ugly, I don't like it.' '难看' (nánkàn) means 'ugly' or 'unsightly'.
他画的画有点___。
The sentence means 'The picture he drew is a bit ugly.' '难看' (nánkàn) means 'ugly' or 'unsightly'.
不要穿这件___的衬衫。
The sentence means 'Don't wear this ugly shirt.' '难看' (nánkàn) means 'ugly' or 'unsightly'.
这个字写得真___。
The sentence means 'This character is written really ugly.' '难看' (nánkàn) means 'ugly' or 'unsightly'.
我觉得他的表演很___。
The sentence means 'I think his performance was very ugly/bad.' '难看' (nánkàn) can also describe something visually unappealing or not good to watch.
这个颜色太___了，我不喜欢。
The sentence means 'This color is too ugly/unpleasant, I don't like it.' '难看' (nánkàn) means 'ugly' or 'unsightly'.
Describe something you saw today that you thought was ugly, using '难看'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
今天我看到一件难看的衣服。 (Jīntiān wǒ kàndào yī jiàn nánkàn de yīfu. - Today I saw an ugly piece of clothing.)
Write a short sentence about why you wouldn't buy something because it's ugly, using '难看'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这双鞋子太难看了，我不想买。 (Zhè shuāng xiézi tài nánkàn le, wǒ bù xiǎng mǎi. - These shoes are too ugly, I don't want to buy them.)
Complete the sentence: '这张画很___.' (This painting is very ___.) using '难看'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这张画很难看。 (Zhè zhāng huà hěn nánkàn. - This painting is very ugly.)
他为什么不喜欢这件衣服？ (Tā wèishénme bù xǐhuān zhè jiàn yīfu? - Why doesn't he like this piece of clothing?)
Read this passage:
他不喜欢这件衣服，因为这件衣服很难看。 (Tā bù xǐhuān zhè jiàn yīfu, yīnwèi zhè jiàn yīfu hěn nánkàn.)
他为什么不喜欢这件衣服？ (Tā wèishénme bù xǐhuān zhè jiàn yīfu? - Why doesn't he like this piece of clothing?)
The passage states '因为这件衣服很难看' (because this piece of clothing is very ugly).
The passage states '因为这件衣服很难看' (because this piece of clothing is very ugly).
我的朋友觉得那朵花怎么样？ (Wǒ de péngyou juéde nà duǒ huā zěnmeyàng? - What does my friend think about that flower?)
Read this passage:
我觉得那朵花很漂亮，但是我的朋友说它很难看。 (Wǒ juéde nà duǒ huā hěn piàoliang, dànshì wǒ de péngyou shuō tā hěn nánkàn.)
我的朋友觉得那朵花怎么样？ (Wǒ de péngyou juéde nà duǒ huā zěnmeyàng? - What does my friend think about that flower?)
The sentence '但是我的朋友说它很难看' (but my friend said it was very ugly) directly answers the question.
The sentence '但是我的朋友说它很难看' (but my friend said it was very ugly) directly answers the question.
老师觉得这个字写得怎么样？ (Lǎoshī juéde zhège zì xiě de zěnmeyàng? - What does the teacher think about how this character is written?)
Read this passage:
老师说这个字写得有点难看。 (Lǎoshī shuō zhège zì xiě de yǒudiǎn nánkàn.)
老师觉得这个字写得怎么样？ (Lǎoshī juéde zhège zì xiě de zěnmeyàng? - What does the teacher think about how this character is written?)
The passage states '老师说这个字写得有点难看' (The teacher said this character was written a bit ugly).
The passage states '老师说这个字写得有点难看' (The teacher said this character was written a bit ugly).
这张画太___了，我一点都不喜欢。
The sentence expresses dislike for the painting, so 'ugly' (难看) is the appropriate choice.
我觉得他今天穿的衣服有点___，不适合这个场合。
The speaker thinks the clothes are not suitable for the occasion, implying they are 'ugly' or 'unsightly' (难看).
这部电影的结局太___了，让观众很难接受。
If the ending makes it difficult for the audience to accept, it's likely 'ugly' or 'unpleasant' (难看).
一个人穿的衣服很漂亮，我们可以说他穿得很难看。
If someone's clothes are beautiful, you would not say they are ugly (难看). '难看' means ugly or unsightly.
如果一个东西的外观很糟糕，我们可以用“难看”来形容。
'难看' is used to describe something that has an ugly or unsightly appearance.
“难看”可以用来形容一个人唱歌很好听。
'难看' describes visual ugliness, not how someone sings. For singing, you might use '好听' (pleasant to hear) or '难听' (unpleasant to hear).
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: “这部电影的结局真是太___了，完全出乎我的意料。” (The ending of this movie was truly too ___, completely beyond my expectations.)
The sentence expresses surprise and suggests a positive outcome, making '精彩' (brilliant) the best fit. '难看' (ugly) would imply a bad ending, which doesn't fit '出乎我的意料' in a positive context. '无聊' (boring) and '普通' (ordinary) also don't align with the surprise indicated.
Which of the following describes something that is visually unpleasant?
'难看' directly translates to ugly or unsightly, which describes something visually unpleasant. The other options describe things that are visually appealing.
Select the sentence where '难看' is used correctly to describe a person's expression.
When describing a person's expression, '脸色很难看' means their face looks displeased, angry, or upset, rather than literally ugly. The other options use '难看' to describe physical appearance or quality.
If someone says '这幅画太难看了', they are expressing admiration for the painting.
'难看' means ugly or unsightly. Therefore, saying '这幅画太难看了' means 'This painting is too ugly,' which expresses disapproval, not admiration.
You can use '难看' to describe a situation that is embarrassing or disgraceful.
Besides describing visual ugliness, '难看' can also be used to describe a situation or behavior that is embarrassing, disgraceful, or creates a bad impression. For example, '这场面太难看了' (This scene is too embarrassing/disgraceful).
It is appropriate to tell someone '你穿得很难看' to compliment their outfit.
Telling someone '你穿得很难看' means 'You are dressed very ugly' or 'Your outfit is unsightly.' This is a criticism, not a compliment.
她觉得这件衣服______，所以没有买。
The sentence implies a negative reason for not buying the clothes. '难看' (ugly) fits this context, meaning she found the clothes ugly.
这部电影的结局处理得______，让观众感到很不舒服。
'难看' can also describe something that is unpleasant or handled poorly, causing discomfort. Here, it refers to the unsatisfying or jarring ending of the movie.
尽管他努力练习，但他写出来的字还是有些______。
This sentence talks about the appearance of handwriting. '难看' describes something as unsightly or ugly, which applies to poorly written characters.
如果一个人非常生气，他可能会说：“你的吃相太难看了！”
When someone is very angry or disgusted, they might use '难看' to describe someone's unsightly or repulsive eating manners, implying that it's unpleasant to watch.
在中文语境中，说一个人“脸色难看”通常是指他心情非常好，面带笑容。
To say someone's '脸色难看' (lían sè nánkàn) means their face looks unpleasant, usually indicating that they are upset, angry, or unwell, not in a good mood.
“难看”这个词可以用来形容一个人的行为举止不得体，令人不齿。
'难看' can be used to describe behavior or conduct that is unsightly, disgraceful, or embarrassing, making it unpleasant to witness or consider.
你认为什么样的事物可以被称为“难看”？请描述一个你觉得难看的东西，并解释为什么。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我认为一辆设计过时、颜色搭配刺眼的汽车可以被称为“难看”。它的线条不够流畅，车身漆面斑驳，整体给人一种陈旧且不协调的感觉，与现代审美格格不入。
在日常生活中，我们有时会因为一些“难看”的现象而感到不适。请举例说明一个社会现象，你认为它“难看”的原因是什么？
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我认为在公共场合大声喧哗、随地吐痰是一种“难看”的社会现象。这不仅影响了他人的公共空间体验，也体现了个人文明素质的缺失，反映出一些人在公共道德方面的不足。
描述一个你曾经遇到过的，因为其“难看”的外表而被人误解或忽略的人或物的故事。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我曾经认识一位老先生，他穿着朴素，甚至有些破旧，面容也饱经风霜，初见时可能会觉得他有些“难看”。但深入了解后发现他是一位非常有学问、心地善良的人。他用自己的退休金资助贫困学生，从不张扬。这个经历让我明白，外表“难看”并不代表内在的价值不高。
根据这段文字，作者认为我们在评价事物时应该：
Read this passage:
在一个追求视觉美感的时代，我们常常被各种精致的商品和华丽的包装所吸引。然而，有些产品尽管外表“难看”，却凭借其卓越的性能和实用价值赢得了消费者的青睐。这提醒我们，在评价事物时，不应只停留在表象，更要关注其内在的品质和功能。
根据这段文字，作者认为我们在评价事物时应该：
文章提到“不应只停留在表象，更要关注其内在的品质和功能”，所以D是正确答案。
文章提到“不应只停留在表象，更要关注其内在的品质和功能”，所以D是正确答案。
文章中提到的“一个人的行为‘难看’”意味着什么？
Read this passage:
“难看”这个词汇，在不同的语境下可以有多种解读。它不仅可以指视觉上的不悦，还可以引申为不光彩、不体面。例如，一个人的行为“难看”，往往是指其举止失当，有损形象。理解其深层含义，有助于我们更准确地表达和理解。
文章中提到的“一个人的行为‘难看’”意味着什么？
文章明确指出“一个人的行为‘难看’，往往是指其举止失当，有损形象”，所以C是正确答案。
文章明确指出“一个人的行为‘难看’，往往是指其举止失当，有损形象”，所以C是正确答案。
根据这段文字，艺术作品中故意呈现“难看”的目的是什么？
Read this passage:
在艺术创作中，有时艺术家会故意呈现“难看”的元素，以此来挑战传统审美观念，引发观众的思考。这种“难看”并非是技术上的拙劣，而是审美上的一种反叛，旨在突破常规，传达更深刻的意义。因此，对艺术作品中的“难看”应有更宽广的理解。
根据这段文字，艺术作品中故意呈现“难看”的目的是什么？
文章明确提到“以此来挑战传统审美观念，引发观众的思考”，所以C是正确答案。
文章明确提到“以此来挑战传统审美观念，引发观众的思考”，所以C是正确答案。
This sentence describes a movie's ending being '难看' (unsatisfactory/ugly), leading to disappointment. The structure follows a typical Chinese sentence pattern of subject-verb-object with adjectival modification.
This sentence refers to a poorly designed (难看) piece of clothing that won't sell. It demonstrates the use of '难看' in the context of aesthetics and its consequence.
This sentence questions how a teacher can grade handwriting that is '难看' (illegible/ugly). It uses '难看' to describe the quality of handwriting.
/ 42 correct
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Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Grammar Rules
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
