Set phrase “看来”

In Chinese “看来” (kànlái) conveys a conclusion or guess the speaker draws from what they observe or think.

In English it usually comes out as:

it seems... apparently... by the looks of it...

Basic Structure

看来 + conclusion / guess

That is:

Observation or reasoning → conclusion

Examples

看(Kàn)来(lái)我(wǒ)没(méi)办(bàn)法(fǎ)解(jiě)决(jué)这(zhè)个(ge)问(wèn)题(tí)。

It seems I have no way to solve this problem.

Structure

看来 + 我没办法解决这个问题 it seems + I have no way to solve this problem 看来 — it seems / apparently 没办法 — to have no way / to be unable 解决这个问题 — to solve this problem

这(Zhè)么(me)晚(wǎn)了(le)，看(kàn)来(lái)他(tā)今(jīn)天(tiān)不(bú)会(huì)来(lái)了(le)。

It's so late already — it seems he isn't coming today.

Structure

这么晚了 + 看来 + 他今天不会来了 it's so late + it seems + he isn't coming today 这么晚了 — it's so late already 看来 — it seems 他今天不会来了 — he isn't coming today

Here the speaker draws the conclusion from how late it already is.

电(Diàn)梯(tī)坏(huài)了(le)，看(kàn)来(lái)咱(zán)们(men)只(zhǐ)能(néng)走(zǒu)下(xià)去(qu)了(le)。

The lift is broken — it seems we can only walk down.

Structure

电梯坏了 + 看来 + 咱们只能走下去了 the lift is broken + it seems + we can only walk down 电梯坏了 — the lift is broken 看来 — it seems 咱们 — we 只能 — can only 走下去 — to walk down

Quick Rule

看来 + conclusion / guess

Meaning: the speaker draws a conclusion or makes a guess from the present situation.

Examples:

看(Kàn)来(lái)我(wǒ)没(méi)办(bàn)法(fǎ)解(jiě)决(jué)这(zhè)个(ge)问(wèn)题(tí)。

It seems I have no way to solve this problem.

看(Kàn)来(lái)他(tā)今(jīn)天(tiān)不(bú)会(huì)来(lái)了(le)。

It seems he isn't coming today.

看(Kàn)来(lái)咱(zán)们(men)只(zhǐ)能(néng)走(zǒu)下(xià)去(qu)了(le)。

It seems we'll just have to walk down.